A Love Letter To Newtown
If you live in Wellington, you’ll be familiar with one of our quirkiest and coolest little suburbs, Newtown! This little pocket of Welly is home to some of the cutest cafes, most eclectic second-hand stores and so many gorgeous properties. We’ve had the pleasure of spending time in several lovely homes in Newtown over the years and it’s truly become one of our favourite spots.
So, today we wanted to share a little love letter to Newtown and give a shout out to some of our favourite local businesses that make this suburb what it is. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to do some cafe hopping, second-hand shopping or enjoy a late lunch or dinner this weekend, look no further…
Creeps Record Parlour
154a Riddiford Street, Newtown
If you like vintage vinyl, cassettes and retro decor, you’re gonna love Creeps Record Parlour. Open since 2019, Creeps offers an eclectic mix of pre-loved records, including an amazing selection from local Aotearoa artists. You could spend hours sifting through the extensive collection of LP’s and cassettes in this store, it’s the perfect spot to pick up a gift for a vinyl lover or simply enjoy a trip down musical memory lane.
Chan’s Eatery
170 Riddiford Street, Newtown
It wouldn’t be a love letter to Newtown without shouting out one of our all-time favourite spots to grab lunch, Chan’s Eatery. This spot offers a massive menu inspired by Thai, Chinese and Malaysian cuisine, as well as an extensive vegan / vegetarian menu. We’ve tried several things from Chan’s over the years, but we’ll always come back to our favourite - the vegan dumplings.
Bebemos
88 Riddiford Street, Newtown
If you’re looking for a spot that has a great menu, delicious cocktails and great outdoor seating options, it doesn’t get much better than Bebemos. We loved the atmosphere at this South American influenced bar and restaurant, the staff were lovely and they’re even dog friendly! Bebemos also offers a great range of community focused events including quiz nights, live jazz and bingo.
Margot
163 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Nestled just off Riddiford Street is another one of our favourite local eateries, Margot. The vibe inside this restaurant is intimate, but beautifully curated and the menu is consistently immaculate. We’ve celebrated several special occasions at Margot over the years, so we were stoked to see them recognized as a Michelin Select Venue earlier this year. With an ever changing seasonal menu, it’s always exciting to see the new dishes they have on offer, they truly never miss!
The Ramen Shop
191 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Although The Ramen Shop is not exclusive to Newtown, with several locations now open across the Wellington Region, I couldn’t write this post without a shout out to one of my favourite Welly eateries. The Ramen Shop has consistently been my go-to for Japanese cuisine, especially (of course) ramen. Their Newtown location is perfect for solo eaters or a quick lunch on the go and I would especially recommend their Chicken Bao Buns and Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen.
Rice Pudding Gallery
91 Constable Street, Newtown
As a suburb known for its creative and artistic scene, Newtown has a plethora of galleries showing work from a variety of talented local artists, Rice Pudding being one of them. This gallery might be small, but it packs a punch with a consistent rotation of vibrant and unique exhibitions. Their current show ‘Allsorts’ by Duncan Sargent focuses on his colourful ceramic and painting work, check it out before it closes on the 23rd of August!
Second-Hand Book Shops & Op Shops
Book Haven (160 Riddiford Street)
Book Hound (132 Riddiford Street)
Aunty Dana’s Op Shop (130 Riddiford Street)
Opportunity For Animals (162 Riddiford Street)
Vinnies Newtown (207 Riddiford Street)
The Salvation Army Family Store (223 Riddiford Street)
Newtown is definitely known for its incredible selection of second-hand stores, and for good reason! With several second-hand book stores and op shops scattered across Riddiford Street, if you love hunting for preloved treasures, Newtown is the perfect spot to make a day of it.