SUMMER’S come early this year, and restaurants and cafés with lovely areas are in high demand. Here are a few of Wellington’s best spots for sunshine, kai and a beer.

The Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street, Wellington
Voted Best Outdoor Bar in the annual Capital Times survey for the past five years,  the Southern Cross has a long and colourful history and a fond place in the memories of many students.
In the manner of all successful institutions it has re-invented itself. Long gone are the days of Wednesday night specials at Zebos. The Southern Cross manages to be sophisticated without pretension, a place for nights of revelry for the young suits as well as quiet dinners and time with the kids.
Their garden is massive; it includes a bar with cider on tap, and is never without some form of extra entertainment.
“There’s chess games, Uno and Jenga; we’ve got loads of board games. On a Sunday you can come and listen to sweet jazz, have a beer in the sun and play a game of dominos,” says Southern Cross events manager Mara Simpson.
All live bands are free, they’ve got free sausages on the BBQ on weekend evenings, and they even run a free service for Mums requiring a bit of time out.
“You can come along and have a massage and have your child baby-sat while you drink coffee and eat muffins.

Baobab Café, Riddiford Street, Newtown
Once a month Newtown is treated to Baobab Roots, an afternoon of open mic entertainment at Baobab Café. The event has just moved out back to their newly expanded garden, built by staff with the bricks from Manners Mall.
“We knew there were a lot of people tinkering around in their bedrooms in Newtown and we wanted to give them somewhere they could practice and feel the experience live. Quite a few established musicians come through and play too,” says owner Gabriel Johnston.
The afternoon usually includes poetry and stand-up comedy, and anybody is encouraged to come along and give it a go.
Baobab Roots, Baobab café, Newtown, Sunday December 5.

Parade Café, The Tugboat, Oriental Parade
A café on Oriental Parade away from the joggers and traffic and on top of the water? Yes please! Parade Café has recently shifted to the tugboat permanently anchored shoreside of the Freyberg Pool and the result is one of the best café views in Wellington. With the Sunday markets just down the road and the pool and the beach nearby, it’s the perfect coffee-after-a-shop spot.

The Eating House, The Terrace, Wellington
It can be hard to find good food and good spots to eat it in the CBD. The Eating House on The Terrace is open weekdays from 7am, and their raised patio offers a great opportunity for people watching. Watch as stern-faced suits rush by to meet deadlines while you sip coffee and enjoy a croissant, or join those same suits after work, now looking happily relaxed, “Antipasto and a chilled Pinot Gris on the balcony is a perfect way to spend an afternoon,” says one suit who doesn’t want to be named.
Chef Jonathan England sources the antipasto prosciutto and salami from Italy and hand cuts it to order.  

Beach Babylon has a great view of Wellington’s Oriental Bay and across it to the city.  A  retro beach décor  with a few seats outside, managed by three women it’s becoming a cool drop-in place particularly for harbourside residents..

Olive on Cuba St’s bricklined outside area is a hidden gem.
A suntrap with a faint Coro Steet vibe says one Wellington matron, who recommends the chargrilled squid with chorizo dish. Favoured by the whole spectrum of locals, from suits to creatives, wine buffs, and the richer students.

Fidel’s on Cuba St is busy, busy, busy. A steady stream of youthful patrons favour this café on sunny days. Its streetside space is in high demand, from in particular, all those poor young smoking students. Good food, and consistently good coffee keep the queues forming here. Particularly good service keeps me going back says a much older patron.