When do you close for Christmas 2026 and re-open in 2027 ?
Our final day of catering is the Saturday before Christmas Day. In 2026, this is Saturday 19th December. We re-open on Tuesday the 26th of January - the day after Wellington Anniversary is observed. You can already order online for delivery on tuesday 26th January.
Are you open on the weekend?
We are definitely open Saturdays! For Sunday orders please contact us. We will open the kitchen for large catering orders if we can secure the kitchen staff.
Do you charge a delivery fee?
Yes, we do. Delivery starts at $15 + GST which is weekday CBD delivery & pick up. The rest of the drop-off and pick-up fees, are a one-direction fee. Pick-up from us at 141 Thorndon Quay is always an option.
| Zones - one way |
Weekday |
Weekend |
| Zone 1 / CBD and Thorndon |
$15 |
$25 |
| Zone 2 / Suburbs Kelburn, Wadestown, Karori |
$20 |
$35 |
| Zone 3 / Khandallah, Johnsonville and Newtown-Seatoun, plus Petone |
$30 |
$50 |
| Zone 4 / Lower Hutt, Eastbourne, Tawa |
$40 |
$60 |
| Zone 5 / Porirua, Stokes Valley, Silverstream |
$50 |
$70 |
Can I pick up my order from your kitchen?
Yes, you are very welcome to. We are located at 141 Thorndon Quay. Please note, our hours on-site vary. Generally, it is safe to expect someone here Mon-Sat, 7am-2pm.
How much notice do you require?
Our online ordering closes off at 10am the day before delivery. We do on occasion have close out days most often at Christmas. The Thursdays of late November and early December in particular are fully booked each year. Please always get in touch. We can almost always squeeze in a Chef's Choice order.
What time will you deliver my order?
When selecting a delivery time, allow 30 minutes between drop-off and your meal time. If you have staff at a cocktail function we tend to deliver and set up, an hour before service. Noting your meal time, in the order notes section, can help to avoid any ambiguity. Note also, that our driver often has a busy delivery schedule and the exact delivery time can depend upon his delivery rotation. At times your catering might arrive earlier than you expect.
What happens if there is a mistake with my order?
If you notice a mistake in an order .pdf, before it's delivered, contact us straight away. Email is fine if it's in a couple of days. A phonecall would be best if it's within the next 24 hours.
If you are missing items from a delivery, call 027-822-6273 immediately so that we can remedy the mistake.
How to order online
It's a piece of cake! Watch our tutorial here.
Do you deliver hot food?
Generally, we do not. Why? Because of production restraints and health & safety regulations. However, we provide heating instructions if required (we will always check with you first). In some situations, we are able to deliver and keep food warm in polybins.
Do you serve meals in boxes?
Yes, we can do anything in boxes or individually plated for an extra cost.
Do you supply beverages?
Absolutely. We have a full range of non-alcoholic beverages, including tea & coffee, available on our website. We also are able to provide alcoholic beverages upon enquiry. Please note, for licensing purposes a Duty Manager will be required. Our alcohol is “sale upon return” which means that anything unopened can be returned and will be taken off your final invoice. You must order non-alcoholic & low-alcoholic beverages when ordering alcohol. Of course, tap water is always free!
Do you provide staff for events?
Yes definitely! Our team is amazing at what they do. The minimum number of hours for waitstaff is 4 hours, this includes their travel time. A rule of thumb is one staff member per 20 guests.
Can you organize glassware and any other hireage we may need?
Yes we definitely can! We have a gorgeous range of glassware on our website. We also hire: table cloths, ice buckets & jugs. We have a strong relationship with Carlton Party Hire; so make sure you bring up anything else you may need - and we will be able to source it!
Do you have a minimum number you have to order?
If you’re ordering catering for fewer than 10 people for daily catering we can offer our wonderful Chef’s Choice menu (breakfast, morning and after tea, lunch). Why? To help us reduce food wastage & keep cooking seasonally. For Canapes & Manapes, or any item you are selecting yourself, the minimum quantity is either 10 or 12 people.
What do you mean by the "Chef's Choice" menu?
The wonderful team at Canape will choose the menu for you! This is based on seasonal produce, and allows us to keep our food wastage to a minimum. The menu and ingredients change daily, however there is usually a pattern. For instance a Chef's Choice lunch is always a roll, salad, sweet slice, fruit and an extra savoury item.
Do you cater for special diets?
Absolutely! We will cater for any of your dietary requirements. These are plated individually on a separate trolley in the kitchen to avoid cross contamination. There is an additional charge of $1.
Do you provide any styling services?
Absolutely! We have in house styling experts ready to dress up your event! Get in touch with your vision and we will make it happen. We are event planners as well as caterers and really do pride ourselves on making sure your event is perfect.
Are you fully licensed?
Yes, we can organise an event with alcohol under strict compliance of liquor licensing laws. We work with an excellent alcohol supplier who can help arrange the perfect wine & beer list for your event. We have licensed bar managers that will need to be rostered onto your event.
How much notice do you require for cancellation?
It depends on the style of event we are catering for you. Sometimes, we have gone to specific bespoke suppliers for ingredients for larger events. Sometimes we have already rostered the staff to prepare the food and have ordered in all the ingredients. In some cases it will be too late to cancel. In other cases we may recuperate costs for these ordered/prepped foods.
When will you collect the dishes?
We aim to pick up our plates the next day but in some locations we tie pickup into other deliveries so it may take a few days.
Do you charge a cleaning fee?
We expect all dishes to be scraped of food and rinsed at the end of the event. This assists with the keeping our delivery vans clean and helps us comply with health and safety! If this has not been done, we will charge you a dishes cleaning fee. This can increase based on the size of the order.
Do you have any venues you would recommend?
Did you know that we have our own venue!? Talk about glamorous… take a trip upstairs to the Canapé Speakeasy where you can have the cocktail party of your dreams with up to 50 people - let’s get planning!
We have a close relationship with these two exceptional venues in central Te Aro, Wellington
- Whisky & Wood
Soaring 8 metre high ceilings, washed-brick walls and industrial charm, Whisky & Wood pairs character and function perfectly. This 350m2 venue can accommodate up to 120 guests.
- Prefab Hall
Stunning modern venue with exceptional access, sound and quality furnishings. Prefab Hall can accommodate 130 guests seated at tables for dinner, 150 guests theatre-style and 250 guests cocktail style.
Depending on the style of event and capacity we also provide catering for the following venues:
- New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Shed 11
This is one of the most stunning spaces in Wellington. Right on the waterfront, surrounded by beautiful art - what more could you want.
10-200 guests this is a remarkable space for a cocktail party, dinner, launch, concert,... the world's your oyster really!
- The Boatshed
Panoramic water views & beautiful arched ceilings. We have always loved catering weddings, work parties or charity events here.
10-300 guests (200 seated, 300 cocktail) what a special place to spend your evening.
- Royal Society of New Zealand
Just around the corner from us are some seriously stunning meeting spaces. Whether it's a small gathering or a huge conference, we can help the team help you out. 15-180, they've got the space for you!
- Begonia House (Botanic Gardens)
We've done many a wedding and birthday party here and it's always a massive crowd pleaser! Truly immerse yourself in the Botanical Gardens.
90 seated to 120 standing this is the perfect spot!
- The City Gallery
Look, we just love it here! Towering high ceilings, dramatic entrance & wonderful art - what more could you want. The City Gallery has a manor of different rooms that you can look into hiring.
- City to Sea Museum
These venues are a fabulous spot for a theme! Really emerge your guests into Wellington. There are so many different spaces to choose from - so have a look!|
- Kelburn Croquet Club
- Wilton Bowling Club
- Mount Victoria Bowling Club
- Carter Observatory
- Dowse Art museum
- Lowry Bay Yacht Club