Vintage and one of a kind shopping on Cuba Street
Home to eclectic fashion, vintage finds and independent boutiques, Cuba Street brings a slice of bohemia to the capital
FiveFortyFive
174 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
If you have a thing for collecting watches or if you’re looking for a new or vintage timepiece to adorn your wrist, FiveFortyFive is your place. Wellington’s only specialist pre-owned watch shop stocks an extensive range of watches ranging in age from new to antique and from Swiss to Japanese. Owner Malcolm Brow opened the store to help spread the in-decline joy of owning and wearing a beautiful watch. “In an increasingly digital world, there’s something incredibly grounding about owning and wearing a fine timepiece,” he says.
Ziggurat
144 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
In Wellington, if you see a stylish and well put-together person and ask 'where did you get jacket/dress/shoes/sunglasses from?' the answer may well be Ziggurat.
The unfortunate thing for you is that Ziggurat specialises in vintage and contemporary labels which you're unlikely to find again. But the good news is that there's plenty of other inspiring style discoveries to be made in-store.
Ziggurat has been selling pre-loved clothing and accessories for men and women since 1980 and it's become a must-visit for fans of vintage or anyone who wants to find something that no one else is wearing.
Slow Boat Records
183 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
The kind of record store you thought only existed in movies from the 1980s and 90s, Slow Boat Records on Cuba Street is a must-visit for anyone who is into music. The store is always playing some interesting music and it’s not uncommon for customers to walk up to the counter to say, ‘I’d like to buy the album you’re playing’ and from time-to-time there are live performances in-store. The staff are passionate about music and all have their own specialist genres and are happy for customers to browse the new and used CDs, vinyl, DVDs, posters and t-shirts to their hearts’ content.
Pegasus Books
Cuba Mall, 204 Left Bank, Te Aro, Wellington
The home of unexpected one-off finds from rare and unusual books to poetry slam nights and gigs, to spotting local literary heroes. Pegasus Books is a small, independent bookseller who stock quality books, ranging from antiquarian to near new, at good prices. Their well-read staff have a wide knowledge of books and the literary world and will be more than happy to help you find something that's just your cup of tea. More than just a store, Pegasus Books regularly hold events and gigs, including Friday night Fiction Room, where musicians, writers and poets perform in the fiction section to a packed-out room. Pegasus Books are also a venue for Wellington's annual literary festival, Verb Wellington.
Hunters & Collectors
134 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Hunters and Collectors is an expertly-curated trove of eclectic clothing, curios and accessories from vintage to modern, skate, street and punk. Originally opened in 1984 by Christina O and Mike Zero, the shop was the first to combine high-end designer items with art deco antique pieces, curiosities, leatherwear, Doc Martens, and vintage clothing. Christina O still oversees the Cuba Street store, which is a go-to for anyone looking for hard-to-find, coveted designer items and anything rare and exotic.
You'll spot Hunters and Collectors from its wild window display, which often ties into what's going on in the city, and set aside some solid time for browsing.
Iko Iko
118 Cuba Mall, Te Aro, Wellington
Iko Iko is a treasure trove of trinkets, from pretty things for your home to interesting books on design, Iko Iko is full of the things you may not need but just must-have. Their window displays change regularly and are a riot of colour and fun themes which continue in-store.
There's a great range of gift cards, perfect for marking the traditional through to the non-traditional occasions. It's the kind of place that people of all ages will be into and it's a great place for a browse.
Area 51
Corner Cuba & Dixon Streets, Te Aro, Wellington
Area 51 is Wellington’s original premium contemporary street wear store for men and women. Established in 2000, the well laid-out store has a super friendly and low-key relaxed vibe and has become a Cuba Street destination for the well-dressed. With a carefully curated selection of local and emerging to leading and influential brands there’ll be something in-store that is exactly your sort of style – from Adidas to Huffer, Vans to Rains and more.
Emporium
103a Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Emporium is home to an impressive line-up of authentic American vintage streetwear, which the store owners hand-pick themselves on buying trips to the United States.
This is the place to find a treasure that you're unlikely to find anyone else wearing and the item of clothing you didn't know you needed in your life. From t-shirts to denim jackets, watches and caps, Emporium have a wide variety of stock.
Go for a browse and get some style inspiration.
Havilah
221 Cuba Street , Te Aro, Wellington
Designing for the creative, unapologetic women of New Zealand is Wellington’s very own Havilah Arendse.
Havilah's self-named label is a carefree, inclusive fashion brand. Its Cuba Street store is a joyful explosion of colour, with dresses, shirts, and skirts that are covered in frills, prints, and ruffles, and designed to be "a thrill to wear". Customers can purchase pieces off the shelf from small product runs or order a custom piece from the brand's made-to-order collection.
The brand makes a conscious effort to be sustainable and transparent in all of its practices. This includes calculating and offsetting carbon emissions where possible, using organic cotton or surplus fabrics that would have otherwise gone to landfill, and paying its machinists a living wage.
Minerva
237 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Calling all lovers of linen and fans of fabric, Minerva on Cuba Street is a rare type of bookshop that’s dedicated entirely to textile and handcraft books.
With a cool 4,000 titles in-store at any time on subjects ranging from interior design to crocket, knitting to fashion, Minerva is a fun place for a browse. There’s a good range of imported magazines which will look just perfect on your coffee table and there’s an incredible selection of greeting cards for stocking up your present drawer at home.
Wellington Apothecary
110a Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Follow your nose to Wellington Apothecary, a haven of essential oils and dreamy scents – sandalwood, lavender, and something you can’t quite put your finger on.
This locally-owned herbal dispensary specialises in locally-made natural remedies, botanical teas, homemade skincare, and gifts. All of their products are made fresh by hand in small batches, right in their Cuba St store. Everything is made from high-quality organic ingredients – including cacao butter from nearby Wellington Chocolate Factory.
The friendly team offer free advice or you can book a consultation with one of the qualified herbalists in the on-site clinic.
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