Why Wellington?

I first visited the city during a stand-up tour of New Zealand in 1998 and returned earlier this year to record my new DVD at Wellington Opera House. I love the relaxed and informal atmosphere. The really big appeal is the great outdoors; Wellington’s scenic natural harbour and green hillsides adorned with colonial villas are stunning – and there are three great buildings: the opera house, Te Papa Tongarewa (a striking modern building housing the national museum and art gallery) and the beautiful art deco Roxy Cinema. Wellington is also just the right size and has been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world.

An aerial view of Wellington Credit: AP

Anything special I should pack?

A windbreaker! Welcome to Windy Wellington.

What do you miss most when you’re away?

The scenery; there’s nowhere more beautiful. New Zealanders also do breakfast far better than we do, so visiting cafés in Wellington is a great pleasure. There’s usually avocado, goat’s cheese, tasty fried mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, as well as fresh bread and great coffee.

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive?

I head for Waitangi Park on the waterfront. It has a large grassed area and a beautiful wetland. I love watching the boats in Wellington Harbour.

Where’s the best place to stay?

The Museum Art Hotel (0064 4 802 8900; museumhotel.co.nz) on Wellington’s waterfront. It offers all the things you’d want from a top-end hotel in a big city – comfortable beds, a really good breakfast and an excellent bar serving great cocktails. But it’s different from the usual luxury hotels because it’s packed with contemporary New Zealand art. I’m not just talking paintings: there are sculptures, classic motorcycles in the foyer – even the light fittings are art statements. You’ll also find unusual art works in your room, a real talking point at breakfast.

Museum Art Hotel, New Zealand

Where would you meet friends for a drink?

The Vinyl Bar (0064 4 385 6713; ilovevinylbar.co.nz) is groovy. Everywhere you look there are vinyl records on display and they serve a wide selection of drinks. The wine in Wellington is fantastic. I get through litres of New Zealand sauvignon blanc when I’m there.

The Vinyl Bar

Where is the best place for lunch?

A traditional Japanese restaurant called Kazu (0064 4 802 5298; kazu.co.nz). You can watch the chefs preparing your meal in the open kitchen.

And for dinner?

Whitebait (0064 4 385 8555; white-bait.nz), an award-winning restaurant which specialises in seafood cooked simply on a charcoal-fired oven. The main selling point is its harbourfront location. You can watch the boats bobbing around as you tuck into your meal.

We're excited to be in the list of top restaurants in NZ @cuisinemagazine. Congrats to other Welly nominees #CGFA pic.twitter.com/FSix21kgCx — Whitebait (@WhitebaitWlgtn) July 19, 2016

Where would you take a first-time visitor?

Te Papa Tongarewa (0064 4 381 7000; tepapa.govt.nz), which broadly means “the place of treasures of this land”, houses an amazing collection of Maori artefacts and the national art collection. I’d also go to a comedy show at the Opera House (0064 4 801 4231; pwv.co.nz/our-venues/opera-house) and to a film at the Roxy Cinema (0064 4 388 5555; roxycinema.co.nz). With its 1928 facade, grand entrance hall and leather seating, it’s the nicest cinema I’ve been in.

What should I avoid?

Visiting in October. That’s when it’s windiest and there’s a good chance of being blown off your feet.

What should I bring home?

If you like cultural souvenirs, I suggest you come home with some authentic Maori carvings. I don’t tend to fill my suitcase with mementoes when I travel, but I couldn’t resist buying a little wooden frog on my last visit. When you run a stick along its serrated back, it makes a croaking noise. It’s brilliant.

Public transport or taxi?

Neither. My suggestion would be to go everywhere on foot because Wellington is quite compact.

Maori wood carvings Credit: AP

Manbag or money belt?

A bag should be absolutely fine. I haven’t encountered any pickpocketing or crime on my visits.

Anywhere that isn’t your kind of town?

Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the most downmarket place I’ve ever visited. There’s a huge amount of tat on sale in the shops, displaying really inappropriate, non-PC slogans. I can’t overstate how tacky the place is.

Alan Davies: Little Victories is available on DVD release and to download at £19.99

Interview by Angela Wintle