Smith the Grocer Café is nestled amongst the classic surroundings of the Old Bank Arcade, and one of few affordable stops in the six block area of Wellington, New Zealand’s InterContinental Wellington. Smith the Grocer is a catering company, with a comfort food and retail outlet in Wellington’s city centre.
Award-winning cafe Smith the Grocer located inside Old Bank Arcade in Wellington.
After a seemingly unending red-eye Air New Zealand flight, I’d checked into the InterContinental Wellington and wanted a light lunch, without breaking the bank. At the suggestion of a local, I entered the Old Bank Arcade to dine at Smith the Grocer. The Old Bank Arcade is located in a restored bank building with an open air dining area and a perfect shopping and dining location for a quick bite.
Perfect for a light breakfast or lunch before doing the Lord of the Rings tour, Smith the Grocer serves Kiwi coffee the way you like it – flat white to black, with light fare such as breakfast croissants or salads. Unfortunately even with such a great location and endless potential, the food is adequate and the service is sketchy at best.
My friend ordered a lamb burger, which he noted was tasty, but dry – and definitely overpriced. My meal of choice was a breakfast croissant which again was adequate but nothing spectacular.
Kiwi coffee served at Smith the Grocer.
We sat in the open foyer, with birds swooping down in an eerily Alfred Hitchcock movie déjà vu, but the old bank building could’ve been a perfect setting for an amazing meal. Unfortunately, it fell short, with only average tasting food and counter service that lacked personality. However, the Kiwi coffee – hello flat white – and the breakfast pastries are worth the stop.
Smith the Grocer
The Old Bank Arcade
233-237 Lambton Quay
Wellington
Tel + 0 11 0800 764 843
- If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
- Share
- Prev/Next
4 Responses
[...] dining locations, occupying the oldest wool shed (1888) in Lambton Harbour. Walkable from Wellington’s city centre dining, Shed 5 is so close to the water’s edge – literally steps away – that that guests can enjoy [...]
[...] by Wellington, New Zealand’s award-winning Floriditas Café & Restaurant. Floriditas is a popular cafe in Wellington located on Cuba Street, and Floriditas Bakery is around the corner in a former potter’s studio [...]
[...] farm, Ruth Pretty and her staff welcomed us, and then promptly escorted us into the gift shop for a coffee – Kiwi’s flat white, if you please. Ruth Pretty takes a moment to pose with cooking class students in her herb [...]
[...] the morning with hot freshly roasted coffee – Kiwi flat white, if you please — and a choice of breakfast fare. Then take in the live music, the smells of [...]