Preservatorium Cafe is a cosy cafe with an old-school charm at 39 Webb Street in Te Aro, Wellington, rated 4.6 from 299 reviews. Reviewers say its cute interior is easy to miss on a street shared with a car repair shop and a fish market, and food is prepared quickly.
A big breakfast is one of the truest tests of a cafe kitchen: eggs, bacon, sausage and beans all have to land right at once, and shortcuts show quickly. Eggs Benedict is similar: poaching and hollandaise forgive nothing. Wellington regulars also know the city's most-loved cafes often hide down side streets and in light-industrial blocks, where the cooking does the talking. A proper scone or a good smoothie list usually signals a kitchen that cares beyond the standard menu.
Preservatorium Cafe sounds like just such a find: reviewers single out its cannery breakfast, eggs benedict, scones and french toast, and it is worth seeking out on Webb Street.