From underground markets to late night star gazing, two-for-one cocktails and Sunday roasts, here’s a few special events and dining deals you’ll find in Wellington on the weekend.
Go Underground
Tucked undercover in Frank Kitts car park on the waterfront, the Underground Market is a haven of locally crafted home wares, clothing, jewellery and gourmet food products. Saturdays 10am-4pm.
Hair today, gone tomorrow?
In town for a special night or event? Give your tresses some professional love and attention at one of Wellington’s favourite hair salons - try Glory (18 Bond St), Willis York (119 Taranaki St), or Buoy (100 Willis St).
Holy Chow!
Chow (45 Tory St and 11a Woodward St) offers two-for-one cocktails on Saturday nights. The classic Rosebud will be the perfect match for visitors with a sweet tooth, while those with a taste for puns might fancy an Apocalypse Meow.
Adding to your good fortune, the Chinese opium den-style ‘kitchen for cocktails’ Good Luck (Basement, 126 Cuba St) offers $10 cocktails Friday-Sunday.
Stars in your eyes
Spend a night with the stars at Carter Observatory; their late night Saturdays see special planetarium shows and telescope viewing as night falls (weather dependent). Bookings recommended.
Hidden Gems
Duck down Forresters Lane for a visit to cocktail legends Motel (Level 1, 4 Forresters Lane).Tucked at the end of the lane, Lewis Carroll’s beloved fairytale comes to life at Alice, with cocktails like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party served in a dainty China tea pot with two tea cups. The Library (upstairs 53 Courtenay Pl) and Hawthorn Lounge (Level 1, 82 Tory St) are also great spots to seek refuge from the hustle and
bustle of Courtenay Place.
Harbourside Market & City Market
Save some room in your suitcase to pack the goodies you won’t be able to resist from these neighbouring markets on the waterfront by Te Papa on Sundays.
WellingtonNZ.com/markets
La Famiglia
Osteria Del Toro’s (60 Tory St) family-style banquet serves up antipasto, salads, pasta, pizzas, stone oven roasted chicken, Spanish paella and plenty of good times. Adults $32.50, under 14s $14.90 and under 5s free. 11:30am - 3:30pm every Sunday. OPA!
BYO Sundays
Fine dining establishment The White House (232 Oriental Pde) offers a special BYO evening on Sundays. $10 per bottle corkage.
Sunday Roast
A number of great Wellington restaurants offer Sunday roast deals. Book in for Roast & Red at Boulcott Street Bistro ($35pp) or The Tasting Room’s Sunday Shared Roast ($30pp).
Tea time
Spend an afternoon with the girls in the style of yesteryear at your pick of many fine establishments offering high tea in the capital. Among the most popular are the gorgeous Martha’s Pantry (276 Cuba St) and Hippopotamus (90 Cable St).
Bean there, done that
Time for a coffee break? The caffeine capital is home to over a dozen roasteries, many of whom have their own cafes. Visit Havana Coffee Works (163 Tory St), Café L’affare (27 College St) and with 16 cafes throughout the city, a Mojo is never far away. Serious coffee lovers will also enjoy siphon espresso bar Lamason (28 Lombard St), Customs Brew Bar (39 Ghuznee St) and Memphis Belle Coffee House (38 Dixon St).
“The perfect place to spend a weekend.” AA Directions
