16 Epic Things To Do At Visa Wellington On A Plate 2021
You’re invited to the largest food festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
For those of you who don’t know, Visa Wellington On A Plate is a delicious month-long celebration of food, drink and music right in the heart of the capital. From August 1 to 31, you’ll be able to go on one of the world’s greatest culinary adventures. From authentic dishes, burger and cocktail events, family-friendly chocolate and cereal making, foodie-themed art exhibitions, and hundreds of more events…you’ll be spoilt for choice. Course, we understand it can be difficult to pick the best ones to attend, hence why we decided to round up our top 16 Wellington On A Plate events to delight in this August.
1. Chocoholics Anonymous
From August 12 to 15, Zelati Dessert Café is hosting the ultimate chocolate indulgent themed feast. You’ll be offered a range of cocoa-themed desserts like brownies and sundaes, as well as 12 different chocolate gelato flavours created by local chocolatiers. Indeed, this is an unmissable experience for Wellington chocoholics.
📍 116 Cuba Street Left Bank Arcade, Te Aro, Wellington
2. Chocolatier For The Day
From August 4 to 29, Wellington Chocolate Factory will play host to an incredible bean-to-bar chocolate making experience where you’ll get to craft your own chocolate bars. Sessions offer an insightful learning experience along with plenty of chocolate tasting, chocolate drinks and 85g of chocolate bars created by you. Certainly, you must take advantage of this ultimate chocolate experience. Get your tickets via the Itickets website.
📍 5 Eva Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
3. Le Samourai Pop-Up Cereal Bar
This fantastic bar and café is teaming up with US2U to host a unique family-friendly cereal bar experience. Every Saturday in August, you can head down to be treated to classic American cereals like Lucky Charms and Chip’s Ahoy, cereal sundae bowls with ice cream, and plenty more rare cereal food pairings. Cereal lovers and families can’t miss out on this delightful event.
📍 Ground Floor/45 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
4. Dine Wellington
From August 1 to 15, hundreds of restaurants are taking part in Dine Wellington where they will serve a range of diverse experimental dishes, and where you will be transported to far-flung international destinations as well as back in time through a unique food experience. For listing information, visit the WOAP website.
5. Shepherd At Sea
On August 22, Interislander will kick things up a notch by taking their culinary captain, Shepherd Elliot, away to sea to cook up a storm, and provide fine dining and entertainment in a unique setting. Passengers will feel as if they’ve stumbled back to the Golden Age of travel, being treated to cocktails, canapes, panoramic views and more. Unfortunately, this event has sold out, but keep your eyes peeled for some resells.
📍 1 Aotea Quay, Pipitea, Wellington
6. Cicio & Loco
Step right into the heart of Spain at this wonderful must-visit pop-up Spanish restaurant operating from the Cicio Cacio Italian kitchen. Expect authentic Spanish cuisine with a mix of tapas, seafood, paellas, meats like chorizos, combined with exclusive Spanish wines. Additionally, there will be live gypsy music and flamingo dancing to compliment your visit.
📍 167 Riddiford St, Newtown, Wellington
7. A 101 In Dumpling Making
On August 21, you can hone your dumpling-making skills with the help of Vicky Ha, the dumpling Queen of House of Dumplings, in a three-course dumpling-making class. You’ll learn how to make dumplings from scratch, and be treated to a gin cocktail or non-alcoholic beverages. Buy tickets now via the Iticket website.
📍 117 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington
8. Beervana
Get the full festival experience between August 13 and 15 by pairing New Zealand’s best and interactive beer festival with Dine Wellington, Burger Wellington and Cocktail Wellington. The two-day event is a fantastic way to meet likeminded individuals and try a selection of beers while meeting brewers and taking part in some fun activities.
📍 Sky Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Wellington
9. Burger Wellington
Love a mouth-watering massive burger? Well, hundreds of Wellington eateries will be taking part in Burger Wellington to offer you exclusive deals, a rare selection of burgers and much more. Additionally, you can avail of Burger Masterclasses by experts such as Ollie Edwards to help hone your burger-making skills. Check out the list of places taking part via the WOAP website.
10. Cocktail Wellington
Sip on the best and rarest cocktails around this month. From The Garden Hotel serving up a classic Kiwi fish and chips liquid cocktail to Charley Noble Eatery & Bar crafting gin cocktails with Manzanilla sherry, Koakoa Limoncello, and covered in jellies, just to name a few. For a full list of cocktail joints taking part visit the WOAP website.
11. Monsterlicious
Rizzo’s Pizzeria at Station Garden will be hosting an interactive burger event that parents and kids will absolutely enjoy. On August 21 and 22, simply, bring your child to the eatery to take part in a monster burger competition. All they have to do is decorate a burger of their choosing to be in with a chance of winning some prizes.
📍 499-501 Hutt Rd, Alicetown, Wellington
12. Hippopotamus Restaurant High Tea
Hippopotamus Restaurant and Cocktail Bar will be hosting an exclusive and elegant High Tea event, in an old-world French setting, paired with a live model drawing experience. Indeed, this rare event should not be missed if you are a foodie who loves the Wellington art scene. Tickets are available through the QT Hotels website.
📍 90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
13. Ice Cream Burgers
From August 13 to 31, you must head over to Rosie’s Cantina to try this extremely weird but indulgent meal that includes a fried chicken burger with bacon, American cheese, crispy fried potatoes, and bizarrely chili ice cream in between. Indeed, this is the authentic tasting experience all foodies need to try at least once in a while.
📍 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington
14. Fryday Donuts x L’affare
Get some exclusive mouth-watering sweet and savoury Fryday Donuts at Caffe L’Affare for limited time only. Think caramel filled cookies and cream, banoffee pie, glazed ring donuts, burger donuts, the list is endless. Undoubtedly, those with a sweet tooth won’t be able to resist this one.
📍 27 College Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
15. Flavours Of Syria
Send your tastebuds on an adventure by dining at the much-loved Damascus Restaurant between August 7 and 28. Expect some unique and traditional Syrian dishes and flavours in an all you can eat buffet event. Think spinach and feta manakeesh, zaatar, hummus, just to name a few. Likewise, you’ll be treated to plenty of tea, live music and rare Syrian goodies. The event is almost sold out, so be quick and grab your ticket via the Iticket website.
📍 Vogelmorn Bowling Club, 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
16. Cheese Scone Making at Pravda
Learn the secret to Pravda’s famous cheese scones by taking part in a masterclass with top pastry chefs, where you’ll learn how to make their delicious scones and be treated to refreshments. Surely, one of the best things to do at Wellington On A Plate. Be sure to join the waitlist via the WOAP website.
📍 07 Customhouse Quay, Te Aro, Wellington