Where to eat, drink, and be merry on Cuba Street
For many, Cuba Street captures the spirit of Wellington. It’s quirky, bustling, and full of creative life.
Gear Street Union is a fun and vibrant diner-style bar. Housed in the old Wellington Motorcycles building, it’s full of character.
Always bustling on Friday and Saturday nights, it’s a popular destination for after-work drinks. There’s a long list of craft beers on tap, a selection of themed cocktails, and lots of local wines to choose from. If you don’t want to wait your turn at the bar, choose a drink from the huge industrial self-service fridge.
Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, the diner theme continues throughout the menu. There’s a mix of American-influenced and Kiwi fare. Try macaroni cheese bites, buffalo chicken tenders, and fish and chips. Breakfast options range from eggs to smashed avocado.
The interior is bright, bold and full of character. Barbershop booths, bright neon signs, and diner merchandise line the walls. The main bar sits atop a huge pickup truck. The music is infectious, and the hospitality is fast and friendly.
Join other diners at large communal tables or tuck into a cosy corner in one of the booths. If the weather permits, the outdoor area is a welcome place to gather with friends under the festoon lights.
Looking for more?
At start of items
Highwater
Inner-city restaurant and bar Highwater Eatery walks the talk on sustainably sourced food. Chefs make bread rolls, bacon, sausages, and sauces in-house.
Cuba Street Tavern
In the heart of Wellington, Cuba Street Tavern is a lively bar and eatery with a secret garden, craft beers, cocktails, and locally inspired cuisine.
Loretta
Gather for a fun, relaxed meal at Loretta, a lively Cuba Street restaurant. Best known for its wood-fired pizzas, which use fresh local ingredients.
Floriditas
Floriditas is a grand café-style restaurant serving seasonal New Zealand-European fare in an opulent, welcoming setting.
Nolita
Nolita is a vegan pizzeria and pastaria on Cuba Street. The menu offers Italian classics made from plant-based ingredients. Visit for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Astoria
A downtown Wellington classic, Astoria has a strong café focus during the day, and in the evenings, the focus switches to wine, pizza, and pasta.
Union Square Bistro & Bar
Union Square Bistro & Bar in the historic Martinborough Hotel is bistro dining meets classic country pub. It’s the place to go when in the Wairarapa region.
Heyday
On Wellington’s Upper Cuba Street, Heyday’s mint green exterior is unmissable. Find local beer, delicious food, and dog-friendly indoor and outdoor spaces.
Ombra
Inspired by the backstreet restaurants of Venice, Ombra is an Italian dining experience in Wellington, serving modern Italian plates on Cuba Street.