Each year Wellington's close-knit hospitality community hosts Aotearoa’s largest food festival: Visa Wellington On a Plate.
This month-long festival sees the Greater Wellington region transform into a foodie's paradise; from the Kāpiti Coast to Porirua, across to the Wairarapa through the Hutt Valley, into the Wellington suburbs, and the CBD - there's hundred of options on offer.
There are three ways restaurants can participate in Visa Wellington On a Plate:
Ticketed Events
Non-Ticketed Events (AKA pop-ups or Pop Ups)
Burger Wellington
Festival Events
Plan your Festival by choosing from hundreds of events, with everything from hands-on masterclasses to multi-course degustations, and everything in between.
Ticketed Events - these culinary experiences are set to feed, educate, and challenge your senses. Tickets for 2024 will be available through the Visa Pre-sale from 17-19 June, or from General Release on 21 June. Be sure to plan ahead as events often have limited numbers, and tickets sell quickly.
Non-ticketed Events - These events do not require a ticket to attend, are free entry, and pay on consumption. You can try themed menus, creative delicacies or unique restaurant experiences. Just show up and have a good time!
Note: for some non-ticketed events reservations are available, contact the venue directly to confirm.
Visa Wellington On a Plate event Whakapapa of your Kai 2023 - photo credit Lightchasers
Burger Wellington
Burger Wellington is set to heat up your winter when it returns from 5 - 25 August. Prepare yourself as the region’s chefs get down to business creating the ultimate burger, exploring everything weird and wonderful that fits between two buns.
You’ll get to taste and rate all the burger goods across three delicious weeks. The only question that remains: who will be crowned with burger glory?
One80 Restaurant Goan Chicken Ros Pao
FESTIVAL THEME
Every year Visa Wellington On a Plate serves up a new festival theme to inspire participating venues and event organisers to create one-off menus, dishes, cocktails, burgers, and Festival Events. The theme marks a moment in time and inspires an exciting and unique programme each year.
2024 Festival Theme
We used to be told to “quit playing with your food”. But this time we’re asking the city's culinary minds to do the exact opposite. Food should be fun, so why don’t we have a play?
You can expect interactive elements, or “surprise and delight” moments. It could be a kid-like lens to an event, or draw on inspiration from childhood experiences or food. Perhaps it could be unexpected cooking methods or serving table side.
As always the theme is very much up for interpretation, all we ask is that you have a little fun.
The Festival is brought to you by the Wellington Culinary Events Trust, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting our local hospitality industry.
Play With Your Food - 2024 Theme
