Wellington - Recommendations & Stuff to do

Hey guys, thought this would be the best place for it and couldn't find anything else related so I'll give this a go.

Essentially, what I'm after is recommendations on cool things to do and nice places to eat in Wellington. I'm coming down with my partner as a surprise for her Birthday from 29th-31st of October and staying in downtown Wellington. I'm familiar with a few haunts and whatnot but it's been pretty much 18 months since I was there last, and when I am there it tends to be almost whistle stop in nature. As such, I hardly get time to go out and do much around town.

I have a rough idea on what I want to do down there and I've planned and budgeted accordingly. Ideally after some good quick eateries or food places/bars etc for the Friday night as we'll most likely be making a night out of it. Then will be doing a bit of shopping for the missus on the Saturday - I'm after a real good quality restaurant for the Saturday night so any ideas on that would be appreciated too. Sunday will be a bit of a lazy day I'm guessing but I'm just wanting to see if there is any other cool little places you Wellingtonians can pass on that we can fill our time with until afternoon/evening before heading back to the airport.

All suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance!

places to go and see.
https://www.newzealand.com/nz/feature/ten-unmissable-experiences-in-wellington/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw18WKBhCUARIsAFiW7JwKfQ0gMNQRTyk47lv5SNdl9gH5qJQG53RSsYDNhNoXWXOuEToMK_MaApsqEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wellington has to be the best places for a foody, so many options.
https://www.theurbanlist.com/nz/a-list/best-restaurants-wellington

There's the normal tourist traps like Weta Workshop, TePapa, Cable Car to Botanic Gardens to Zealandia (via the free shuttle in the botanic gardens).

But, just hanging around on the waterfront on a nice day is good, walking to Oriental Bay and up the Mt Vic lookout (if you're fit, otherwise drive), is good. 

Or do the craft beer thing: https://www.craftbeercapital.com/

Or the coffee thing with all the roasters.

Also, some of the hidden cocktail bars like Hawthorn Lounge and Forrester's. 

I had a few mates in town from Canada just before covid and they literally spent a day wondering around town following their noses to roasteries, breweries, chocolate makers, etc.

Shame you're not in town now, there's Burger Wellington going until next weekend.

My favourite restaurant is Ombra on Cuba St. As an Italian, the food there is as good as we get it back home. And reasonably priced. Not cheap, but nothing like Logan Brown or similar. 

In terms of things to do, if the weather is nice you could try Red Rocks or Makara Beach, or Bell Track in Ngaio. 
More off the beaten track and all with wonderful views! 

Watching the Nix play at the Stadium?

Lonegunmen

Watching the Nix play at the Stadium?

That would have been preferable. Not sure I could swing that with the missus even if it was possible 🤣

Thanks for the help so far guys 👍

newzealandpower

My favourite restaurant is Ombra on Cuba St. As an Italian, the food there is as good as we get it back home. And reasonably priced. Not cheap, but nothing like Logan Brown or similar. 

In terms of things to do, if the weather is nice you could try Red Rocks or Makara Beach, or Bell Track in Ngaio. 
More off the beaten track and all with wonderful views! 

Yeah, seals will be at Red Rocks so worth a look, I saw a dead infant at Lyall Bay over the weekend :(

Not watch Steven Taylor jetskiing