Feeling peckish? Where to brunch in Wellington

If you’re reading this over brunch, don’t forget to thank Guy Beringer.

He was the English writer who created this hybrid meal in 1895 when he had the bright idea of combining breakfast and lunch. It’s rumoured the patron saint of brunch was suffering from a hangover when he decided that Saturday night revellers should be able to sleep late the next day but still enjoy a good meal.

“Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting,'' Beringer wrote. ''It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.”

Over the past decade, Kiwis have taken to brunch like smashed avocado to multi-grain toast. If you find yourself in capital in need of brunch, try one of these places for possibly the greatest meal of your week.

Okay I’m biased, but I have a soft spot for this eatery on the lower reaches of Cuba Street.

Taking its name from the location – Wellington harbour’s high-water mark which used to extend this far – this is an all-day eatery that takes a walk on the adventurous side with dishes such as home-made wagu pastrami with fried eggs and Tora octopus, sourced from the Wairarapa and served with a generous dollop of ‘nduja and butter beans.

If Wellington runs on anything, it is good coffee and some of the best can be had at August, a newish eatery in Taranaki Street (next to the beautiful old church).

The only problem is choosing what to order – do you go for the Istanbul eggs with Aleppo pepper butter, the Tsoureki French toast with orange curd or the intriguing sounding wild dandelion pie with herbs and feta?

Brunch is for lingering over eggs and coffee, for spending time with good friends in great surroundings. And what better spot to enjoy Wellington’s coastal location than at Maranui Café, a 10-minute drive from the CBD.

This is prime real estate – plonked on top of a surf lifesaving club and right on the beach, with views that arc across Cook Strait (on a good day, you can see the South Island).

It doesn’t really matter what you order, it will be good (but save room for one of the delicious baked goodies from the counter). Then walk off the calories with a wander around the coast to the Taputeranga Marine Reserve at Princess Bay.

There’s a reason this whitewashed eatery has been open for 17 years – it serves good, honest food with a cool Wellington vibe and has possibly the nicest staff on the planet.

It might not be top of everyone’s brunch list, but no matter what time of the day you visit, you can’t go past Flo’s fish pie which has been on the menu since it opened. If that’s a bit much, the cherry and nectarine granola is also a winner.

Don’t bother asking for the brunch menu at this Eva Street restaurant from Monday to Friday – brunch is a weekend only thing here. But gosh it’s worth waiting for: truffled mushrooms with pickled rhubarb or waffles with caramelised macadamias that are big on flavour and even bigger on joy.

One of Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s favourite brunch spots has recently had a nip and tuck and now it’s even cooler.

I’m a bit of a sucker for the harissa baked beans on sourdough but am often tempted by my dining companion’s buttermilk pancakes with lashings of lemon mascarpone and pecan brittle. Because who can resist the allure of maple syrup, especially when it comes flavoured with rum?

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