Where to eat, shop and go in Wellington this summer

There’s something special about picking a local’s brain to uncover a city’s tried-and-tested hotspots for food, shopping and culture, and how to spend the perfect summer’s day. It’s a rare glimpse into a curated list of recommendations that takes the guesswork out of where to go and what to do. And who better to unlock Wellington’s brimming potential than designer Julia Palm?

Fondly known as the mastermind behind JPALM, Julia has spent years building her slow-fashion label from a workroom in the heart of the city. Between the label and her cult SLUG pop-up, she has become one of the capital’s great creative connectors. With City Gallery Wellington back open and the Te Whare Whakarauika Wellington Town Hall, just across the road from her workroom, set to follow in February, there’s never been a better time to see the city through her eyes.

Image via @margot.newton
Margot, Naughty Milk & Midnight Umeshu
Which restaurant do you book for a special occasion, a Friday night with friends, a lazy Sunday lunch and a late-night bite after a show?
For birthdays and anniversaries, I will always go to my all-time favourite, Margot in Newtown. It has the perfect relaxed atmosphere, top-quality in-season dishes, and the most gorgeous hosting from Juno and Tom.
The perfect Friday night with friends might start with cocktails, dinner and, of course, the famous tiramisu at The Ram on Cuba Street, followed by a trip to Embassy Theatre or Light House Cuba to watch the latest sci-fi film.
Good Boy in Newtown is my go-to for a fun sandwich for lunch, and they always have an excellent vegetarian option.
Kazu Yakitori & Sake Bar is such a fun late-night spot on Courtenay Place. We often go for umeshu, sake, and a plethora of yummy little plates — agedashi tofu is my favourite.

Where do you go for a long summer lunch or outdoor evening drinks?
I absolutely adore Queen Sally's Diamond Deli in Lyall Bay for lunch. They're dog-friendly and have the best salads and treats. My new favourite is the white bean toast. Then I can nip across the road, take the dog for a walk on the beach, and it's basically the perfect summer day.
You can't go wrong with an evening at Puffin Wine Bar & Shop. They have great outdoor seating, and it's the perfect central city spot. They're dog-friendly too, and it's such a relaxed, friendly place to catch up with friends.

Image via @customsbrews
Which local hangout would you rather keep secret, but is too good not to share?
Kind Wish Cafe in Kelburn is such an easy go-to for me. The team is super friendly, the coffee is always perfect, and you can't go wrong with their classic blueberry muffin. Then you can take a stroll through the Wellington Botanic Garden.
Another recent spot we love is Mali Takeaway in Thorndon, serving traditional Lao and Thai dishes and run by a mother-daughter duo. It's absolutely delish!

Where do you get your coffee, and what's your order?
I’m a sucker for an iced coffee with 'naughty milk' from Customs on Ghuznee Street, but my die-hard regular is a mocha from Swimsuit Coffee on Lombard Street. It's so close to my workroom and, arguably, the best coffee in town.

Racks Worth Raiding
How does Wellington dress, and how has the city shaped JPALM?
Wellington doesn't really dress for trends — it dresses for real life. Clothes need to work here. They need to hold their shape in the wind, layer easily, and feel good on the body, but people still take plenty of creative risks. There's a real appreciation for interesting silhouettes, texture and pieces with personality, which is exactly where JPALM sits. Our clothes are unisex, durable and designed to be lived in, and I love seeing them worn by such a broad range of people. Wellington has given me the freedom to make clothes that are quite directional without feeling like they need to fit neatly into a trend. There's a really supportive community here for independent design, and I think that has allowed JPALM to grow quite organically over the years.

What does Wellington's fashion scene do better than anywhere else in the country?
I think there's a real sense of community and collaboration here. Wellington is small enough that everyone feels connected, but there's still a huge amount of talent and individuality. Designers, artists, photographers, musicians, stylists, makers and retailers all cross over into each other's worlds.
In Wellington, there is a strong culture of supporting independent design. People genuinely care about where things are made and who is behind them, and I think that has been really important to JPALM. I've been able to build the brand here over many years because there's an audience that values local design and is willing to seek it out and support it.
An important principle I hold is transparency and not gatekeeping information, whether it be industry tips or the creative process. I think Wellington does a good job of allowing people to find their own way. There's room for emerging designers alongside established brands — that mix is really important. The fashion scene feels much more like a network than a hierarchy, and that's something I really value.

Image via @laurencesabrine
Which Wellington labels should people be wearing right now?
Wellington has such an engaged fashion scene. We are so fortunate to have incredible brands like Jimmy D, twenty-seven names, Kowtow and Yu Mei based here. I was lucky enough to work with them earlier in the year on the Wellington Biennial: Common Material exhibition at City Gallery Wellington.
There are also some really cool emerging brands like Rhoda Nunn, Millar Boddington and Laurence Sabrine, who all have a unique contemporary approach to design. It's really exciting to see such a range of different voices coming through.

Where do you go for vintage and secondhand finds?
The team at Hunters & Collectors know what's up — they can find you anything! Chrissy and Cha have such a discerning eye, honed by decades of experience. There is nothing quite like it — they're the best in the biz. You can find secondhand Comme des Garçons, Margiela, Issey Miyake and so many other interesting and special pieces.
My other spot for secondhand designer clothing is Sully's. They have a perfectly curated selection of pre-loved items, with brands like Acne, Simone Rocha, Dries Van Noten and Henrik Vibskov, and sometimes even a tiny bit of JPALM! I love that garments can have a second life when they're no longer in high rotation, or someone's life has changed.

What's the one JPALM piece you'd pack for a Wellington summer?
The JPALM Gertrud Bomber Dress is the perfect summer piece — light, stylish, great for layering, and it has pockets! It looks great over the JPALM Lotta Dress, another favourite I bring back almost every collection.

Beyond clothing, which Wellington stores do you love for books, homewares, records or gifts?
If you're lucky enough to be in Wellington during my SLUG pop-up, we have everything covered! I run a temporary retail experience and exhibition space once or twice a year, and it has developed a bit of a local cult following. I love shopping with small independent brands, and that's a big part of why I curate SLUG pop-up. I wanted to create a space where I could bring together the kinds of designers, makers and artists I love discovering and give people a chance to shop them all in one place.
Unity Books is top-notch, and I often go there to browse photography, art and design books. It's always the first stop when I'm buying presents too. They will kindly order in speciality titles for me, which is such a fab service.
I'm also really excited about Octo in Aro Valley. They are part record store and cafe by day, then a yakitori and cocktail bar by night. It's a great space to dig through records, but also to hang out and relax.
UNDERLENA is another super-special spot, with the most inviting space on Ghuznee Street. Maxine will help you find not only the perfect lingerie, but lots of other treats too — like my favourite, the Bruxa body oil.
Another favourite is Jhana Millers Gallery on Victoria Street. Jhana represents some of my favourite artists, and I love popping in to see what's on. It's one of those spaces where you can discover something completely unexpected, and there's always an incredible selection of artwork available to purchase.

Culture Club
The Town Hall reopens in February after 13 years. Which artists are you hoping to see on the 2027 schedule?
The Town Hall is just across the road from the JPALM workroom, and I've loved watching the progress as the restoration has come together. It's going to bring so much life back to Wakefield Street, Lower Cuba Street and Te Ngākau Civic Square — and I cannot wait!
I would love to see international artists like Patti Smith, Chelsea Wolfe, Eartheater, Zola Jesus, Boy Harsher or even Ethel Cain on the schedule.
Locally, goth cowboy legend Hemi Hemingway would put on such an incredible performance in a venue like the Town Hall. And everyone's favourite sibling trio, Womb, would be so beautiful to see at that scale.

Image via @citygallerywellington & @frithstreetgallery
City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi has officially reopened with Cornelia Parker. What are you most looking forward to?
I am so hyped to see the Cornelia Parker exhibition! I can't wait to have my mind blown by the scale of the work, the complex detail and the presence it will have in the gallery.
It's so exciting to have our creative epicentre back in the heart of the city. We've missed City Gallery Wellington so much!

The gallery has brought Yayoi Kusama, Cindy Sherman and Hilma af Klint to Wellington. Which artist would you most love to see it bring next?
When I think about the most memorable exhibitions I've been to, it's always the ones that push scale and perception and explode the boundaries of what an exhibition can be. I love work that creates an immersive experience and leaves a lasting impression.
Some of my favourite gallery experiences have been at places like Dia Beacon, MoMA PS1, and New Museum, where I've seen what's possible with ambitious, large-scale, immersive works.
I'd love to see that kind of ambition and scale continued in Wellington. My extensive wishlist for City Gallery Wellington includes Jenny Holzer, Hannah Levy, Mire Lee, Ivana Bašić, Hito Steyerl, Isabelle Albuquerque, Nan Goldin, and Lee Bul.

What's one cultural experience in Wellington every visitor should have?
Zealandia is the perfect cultural experience. It's not too far from the central city. It is absolutely worth taking the time to immerse yourself in the bush, see so many native birds, and learn about Aotearoa's unique natural environment and conservation efforts.
It's one of those places where you can completely forget you're in the middle of a city for a few hours, which is one of my favourite things about Wellington.

Out & About
What's the most Wellington thing about you?
I think the most Wellington thing about me is probably that I've never really waited for permission to make something happen. JPALM grew out of that DIY, figure-it-out-as-you-go mentality, and a lot of what I do is about creating opportunities for myself and for other people around me. That's really where my brainchild SLUG pop-up came from too — wanting to bring people together, share resources and create a space for independent fashion and design to exist on its own terms. I love Wellington's real sense of independence and collaboration, and I think that's deeply embedded in how I work.

Image via @wellingtonnz
Describe the perfect summer's day in Wellington.
The perfect summer's day would start in my tomato garden, watering the summer produce. We live off tomatoes, zucchini and spinach in the summer months, and it takes a bit of upkeep!
We zoom into town around midday, get a coffee and fancy toast from Customs on Ghuznee Street, then check out the local art galleries like Jhana Millers, PEG, play_station and City Gallery Wellington.
We take the dog for a walk at Pariwhero/Red Rocks and watch the waves crashing against the black sand. Then we head over to Cutie Pie Pizza Workshop in Hataitai, get the most delish pizza ever to takeaway, and roll up to the Mount Victoria lookout to watch the sunset over the city.

When the wind drops and the sun comes out, where do you head for a swim, a walk or a view?
I adore walking the ridgeline at Te Ahumairangi and getting a 360-degree view of Wellington. My doggy Echo can run off-leash; I can spot Island Bay in the distance, see the hustle and bustle of the city, then turn around and see Ōtari-Wilton's Bush with the birds chirping — all in one go.
You can then walk to the end of the ridgeline and look out over Wadestown towards the harbour and the Hutt Valley — you can even see a glimpse of Eastbourne.
It's the perfect spot to unwind, get some fresh air, and take in the incredible vistas Wellington is known for.

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