Ortega Fish Shack Wellington

Ortega Fish Shack sits on Majoribanks Street, a ten-minute walk from the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. It holds one hat from the NZ Cuisine Good Food Awards.

The restaurant serves contemporary seafood in a room that runs smart and elegant. While the city offers plenty of harbour-facing spots, the appeal here is the focus on the plate rather than the water. It prioritises the kitchen’s technical rigour over the scenery, making it a better choice for those who find the nearby Oriental Bay venues rely too heavily on their proximity to the coast. You come here for the cooking, not the stroll.