Plant-Based Pastries That Surprise

Belén isn’t your usual bakery. Everything in the cabinet – the croissants, the donuts, the pies, the savouries, is completely plant-based, handcrafted to surprise you and to challenge everything you thought vegan food could be. Whether you’re a committed plant-based eater or simply here for a very good donut, Belén delights.

The menu is forever changing, so there’s always something new to discover. Flaky croissants have earned a loyal following (the ham and cheese and the almond especially), alongside stacks of donuts in rotating flavours, creative pies, generous sandwiches, salads and high-protein options – all rounded out with excellent coffee from local roaster Good Fortune.

The Jackson Street site is special because it’s far more than a café. It’s the heart of the whole operation: the main kitchen where the team creates and bakes everything that supplies Belén’s stores across the region. Every croissant, donut, pie and pastry begins its journey right here in Petone before making its way out across Wellington. Visit during the day, and you’ll often catch the bakers in full swing – trays moving in and out, donuts being glazed, pastries finished fresh from morning to afternoon.

Since opening the Petone location in 2025, Belén has been warmly embraced by the neighbourhood: regulars who call in several times a week, families who’ve made it their weekend ritual, and people who travel from all over Wellington to see what’s new. For co-founder Chris Calle, that’s exactly the point. Jackson Street still feels like a real neighbourhood, where people walk, stop for a chat, know their local business owners, and genuinely get behind independent makers. It’s a place that still feels human, and that’s exactly the kind of place Belén wants to be.

So whether you’re a longtime plant-based fan or just curious, pull up a chair, order a coffee and something fresh from the cabinet, and see what all the fuss is about.