Rainy days, Cuba Street, beautiful food. What more could a gal ask for on a Friday night?

Luckily, there's a place where it feels like everybody knows your name (to quote a certain famed 80's sitcom). It's called Laundry. Matt and I rolled up around 6:30 (he was late, having been drinking at work, but that's what life is - compromise, right?!) and got ourselves some beautiful food and drink, to the sweet beats of DJ/ Vic Uni lecturer, Geoff Stahl (classic, Welly). [NOTE: my regular jazzy Canon 700D camera was not able to take these photos due to the photographer having forgotten to re-charge the battery (ie me) so I was forced to take these snaps on my trusty iPhone 6S - she's still got it!).

Laundry is dirty, sexy and fun. It's the place you want to take your mum, your dad, your flatmates and your friends. You want to take everyone because Laundry promises a great time. And it delivers, abundantly on all fronts - food, atmosphere, service - all are a 10/10.

Start with some kick ass drinks such as an espresso martini, or a sour mojito... Then moved on to the main course.

"Laundry is dirty, sexy and fun. It's the place you want to take your mum, your dad, your flatmates and your friends"

Laundry's speciality is food that makes you hum. It warms you up at a deep, deep level, leaving you feeling full and content. It's made with love. Matt chose hot, hot Gumbo - prawns, chorizo, chicken, okra and rice in a warm Cajun stew.

I went after the Cajun Fish - cajun-spiced fish fillet (OMG it was sooooo good) with black beans, rice, guacamole and salsa on a crispy corn tortilla. The food was perfect. Hot, crispy and delicious. It just melted in my mouth and gave me sweet southern feels.

"Laundry's speciality is food that makes you hum. It warms you up at a deep, deep level, leaving you feeling full and content. It's made with love"

Southern feels are the perfect antidote to a grey wet evening. What I love about a rainy night on Cuba Street, is it makes you feel all warm and cosy. It amplifies the personality of wherever you stop into for a drink, and is cause to reflect on why you live in this miserable rainy small town and why you still love it (HANG that overrated sunshine).

Here, the rain is dripping off the courtyard roof in the courtyard. And below it, are some cheerful punters, not put off by the drizzle.

Laundry is like the old heart of Wellington, brought back to new life. It's messy, glam and ramshackle but when it all comes together it's something magical. It's full of eclectic magic, you want to just sing along with and party the night away. Live music, raucus fun, belly feeds and killer cocktails.

How fresh is Laundry? Well, you see the food literally being prepared before your eyes. All the food is made in a caravan out the back which functions as a kitchen. As we took a break from eating and went outside, we saw the Chefs murmuring around the food like bees, busy creating honey.

Laundry is a place that might have fallen off your radar. However, I'd encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, make the hike up Cuba Street and throw yourself into the soul food it has on offer, and excellent service. Every weekend they have a variety of evening events too, harking back to Wellington's golden period in Cuba Street, or maybe just continuing it, until it be thoroughly fiinish, giving us true glory.