Forage Kitchen + Bar

Overlooking Wellington's cosmopolitan Te Aro district, Forage Kitchen & Bar enjoys an elevated standpoint from which great food and mesmerising views can be enjoyed in blissful comfort and luxury.

As its name suggests, Forage heralds the finest artisan products that can be found around the region. That includes specialties from surrounding farms and local producers. And whilst the food might be wonderfully rustic, the restaurant takes on a contemporary, polished look, reflecting the neighbouring skyline with a streamlined dining room that features glossy woods, velvet seating and ultra-modern lighting that affords the whole place a bit of an urban edge. Beautiful floral wall art serves as a reminder of Forage's farm-to-fork ethos that informs their winning menu.

Speaking of which, Forage's food sets it apart from the rest. The entrées waste no time in immersing diners in local specialties that include sous vide Ōra King Salmon, wild venison with sweetbread and a port wine jus, and grass-fed beef tartare with a quail egg and crostini. Elegant and modern, this is what Forage does best.

The mains go even further, celebrating premium cuts of meat from all around New Zealand and pairing them with seasonal vegetables and artisan sides. True to form, the Canterbury pork belly is an absolute sensation, made even better with saffron-poached fennel and a tangy granny apple puree. Up next is the lamb rump with a side of NZ's beloved pumpkin gnocchi and a confit duck from Canter Valley that finds its home alongside dauphinoise vegetables and pickled red cabbage. With each season comes its treasures, and this restaurant forages for the best of the best.