Wellington chef enjoys sammies, saunas and walks
Saturday, 30 August 2025
**Chetan Pangam is executive chef at the Copthorne Hotel’s *award-wining* One80 Restaurant.**
My favourite thing about this part of Wellington is …
I've been here for over 15 years. I think one of the best parts is viewing the whole of Oriental Parade … After so many years, that view hasn't really got old or stale. You get to see the changing colours of the water.
A hidden gem in my hood is …
In the suburb that I live in, Johnsonville, there's a place called Refresh Espresso. They do Havana coffee, and they probably make some of the best coffee I've had in Wellington, I think. It’s very consistent and amazing.
l travel by car because …
I'm quite lucky because I have a car park. I drive to work for multiple reasons. One is obviously convenience, because there are things I have to do during the day that require a car. But also, my son goes to college just around the corner here at Wellington College, so I sometimes have to drop him off.
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in Wellington, you can’t go past …
I love Fred’s Sandos on Cuba St. There's a place called Chilli Masala in Lower Hutt. That's one of my favourites. They do very good South Indian, but they do North Indian food as well. Another one of my favourite places to eat is Cin Cin on lower Cuba St.
My favourite place to take a visitor to Wellington would be …
We make sure we go to Mt Victoria, because it gives everyone a 360 view of just how big Wellington is. When people think of Wellington … they actually think it's a very tiny place. It's not. I think taking people up there gives them a huge perspective of the size, of how big and vast Wellington is.
The most contentious issue on my neighbourhood Facebook page is …
I'd have to say Johnsonville Mall. Back in the day, it was quite vibrant. There was a lot going on there. Something needs to give.
The perfect Saturday morning in the city/my suburb is …
Spending time with my kids. I have a 15-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl, and I have an almost three-year-old dog. I go for a walk with him and the kids and the wife to either Oriental Parade or Petone Beach, and go to the markets, depending on what day it is.
Not many people know this about Johnsonville but …
Mount Kaukau is literally where we are. It's an amazing walk. I think a lot of locals know about it, but not a lot of other people. It's something that is quite peaceful, calm and relaxing.
When I need to clear my head, I go to …
I go out and walk on Oriental Parade during summers and when the weather is OK. I like to go on long drives. I love to go sit in a sauna. In Johnsonville, they've got a great sauna.
My guilty pleasure in the city is to go to …
One of my all time favourites is Hawthorn Lounge for a nice cocktail. And one of my recent ones is coconut buns at Dragons yum cha.
If I were mayor for a day I would …
Just really support lot of the local businesses, especially hospitality. I think hospitality needs a lot of love, especially for the amount of effort and work we put in as hospitality operators, right through to chefs, owners, bars: everyone, really. I think we need to do more to bring more events in Wellington … It's either everything's happening in one week, or there's nothing happening for a while.
My nominee for Wellingtonian of the Year would be …
One of the first people I could think of is Beth Brash, who is the festival director of Wellington on a Plate. She's doing an amazing job. Also, Dominique Fourie McMillan from Loretta and Floriditas.