A vibrant Newtown favourite where creative European-leaning plates meet a standout natural wine list. Chef-owner Pasi Petänen brings unexpected flavour pairings—think potato dumplings with XO trout and devilled eggs with trout roe—served in a relaxed bar-bistro setting on King Street. Drop in for snacks and glasses or stay for something longer.

A Newtown pizzeria known for doing things its own way, Bella Brutta serves up what it calls “beautiful ugly” pizza. The dough is thin, blistered and a little charred, with bold toppings and a mix of Italian tradition and personal favourites from the team behind Porteño, Bastardo and Humble Bakery. Expect a few snacks to start, seriously good pizza, and a drinks list built for it, wine, beer and a strong gin and tonic. Dine in or takeaway!

Firedoor is a shrine to smoke, flame, and elemental cooking where chef Lennox Hastie harnesses the raw power of fire to spotlight hyperlocal, seasonal produce and dry-aged steaks, all cooked over a custom-built wood-fired furnace.