Hummingbird

Large, illuminated letters have stood curving around a Courtenay Place verandah since 2000. Beneath, Hummingbird Eatery and Bar provides an excellent dose of Wellington hospitality. The venue’s neighbours offer lively spots to enjoy the city’s nightlife. Hummingbird is an oasis offering an elegant restaurant and lounge bar.

Hummingbird’s menu serves both the restaurant and bar. Hummingbird manager Patrick Ferrier says the chef Gareth Bolesworth has concocted a modernist menu based on European cuisine. “It’s designed around small and large share plates that always create a convivial atmosphere. If your table wants to go with individual choice, that’s also fine.” Throughout the restaurant’s long history, it’s been a safe bet there’ll be a lamb dish on the menu. Patrick says chef Gareth’s version is a 12-hour lamb shoulder. The slow roast delicacy is served with salsa verde and lamb jus. 

Patrick says the venue suits all ages but is likely to attract those who want a quiet, chic evening out. “During dinner service, the music is kept low, but we turn it up later during the night.”

The adjoining lounge bar offers a second space to relax. There’s a baby-grand piano there and Patrick says live jazz and small concerts are part of the entertainment mix. Access is via a hidden door within the restaurant. There is also an entrance off Blair Street allowing the bar to be used separately. 

Both the lounge and restaurant have a moody ambience. Low lighting, dark green tiled bars, and a mix of rattan-backed dining chairs and plush velvet banquettes create a polished atmosphere. Wallpaper adorned with bold hummingbirds and flowers completes the look. 

Like many locals, Patrick has fond memories of the hospitality hotspot and its long history. “When I moved back to Wellington at 18, I had friends working the bar, and others who hung out here regularly.  It’s always had a reputation as a quality local haunt.” Now, over two decades later, the same attention to quality with food and service still rings true.