Where to eat near St James Theatre

Owned and run by a pair of brothers, Scopa is a beloved locally Italian restaurant. While it's known as a pizzeria, they do a range of delicious Italian food. As well as pizza, the menu covers pasta, salads, and snacks. The ‘sexy fries’ are an excellent side to go with your pick from the wood-fired pizza oven.

If you've got room for dessert, order one of their famous hot chocolates. Known to be thick enough to eat with a spoon, they're a classic Scopa (and Wellington) experience.

In warm weather, they fling open the vast sliding glass doors. Diners eat al fresco, with a front-row seat to bustling Cuba Street outside.

Modern yum cha is about three things: dim sum, tea, and connection. Dragons Restaurant on Tory Street nails each one.

Yum cha involves small portions of steamed, pan-fried, and deep-fried dim sum dishes, served in bamboo steamers and washed down with tea. All dishes are designed to be eaten communally, because, at its core, yum cha is about people meeting and sharing food.

The busiest day at Dragons is Sunday when the whole restaurant is bustling with large groups. If you like people watching it’s a great time to head along. If you’re after a quieter experience, try a weekday lunch.

A local favourite since 2002, Capitol is a vibrant, family-run restaurant with a bistro-style menu. Operating from a busy corner next to the Embassy Theatre, it’s in the thick of the action at the top of Courtenay Place. 

The menu features a strong selection of seafood. Capitol’s owner and head chef Tom Hutchison is particularly skilled at cooking it. Aside from seafood, the menu is seasonal and sustainable. The team prides itself on dishes that are simple and uncluttered, focusing on flavours. An extensive wine cellar means regular menu rotations, so you're sure to find a new and exciting drop.

Intimate and relaxed, Supra is a no-frills restaurant that focuses on food over fanfare. Come for shared plates or a quick snack, with natural wine and hand-picked records. Owner and head chef Thom Millott is all about “just making things delicious.”

Head up a discreet laneway staircase to find the 18-seater space. With a front row seat to the busy city below and across the road from The Opera House, Supra is right in the thick of it. But, its unusual (for Wellington) placement on a first storey makes it feel like a well-kept secret. 

Specialising in pan-Asian cuisine, Mr Go’s is a popular gathering point in the central city. The 140-seat restaurant has a large bar and all-weather outside dining area so it’s a great choice for a large gathering.

Officially, Mr Go’s serves “modern pan-Asian” cuisine. The menu focuses on Taiwanese and Chinese food with nods to Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. The portions are designed to share so the more the merrier, and the more you have a good chance of trying most cuisines.

Tucked into the corner of The Opera House, Crumpet is a cute and cosy bar.

Cocktails and, you guessed it, crumpets, are the star of the show here.

Thirsty? Let the talented bar staff shake up your tastebuds with a new take on an old favourite. Or, flick through the extensive Rolodex of cocktail options to tempt your palate. Seasonal drinks are always on offer, reflecting the weather or the mood of the evening.

Crumpets are served with a selection of sweet or savoury toppings. They’re a great snack to start or finish an evening.

Tucked away in Hannahs Laneway, Golding’s Free Dive is a much-loved Wellington bar.

Flanked by a bakery, a pizzeria, a chocolate factory, and an award-winning restaurant, it’s right in the thick of things. Golding’s pays tribute to the dive bar scene of North America, but with less grime and more polish.

The bar is a cacophony of twinkling lights, taxidermy, photographs, and Star Wars memorabilia jostling for attention. Serving pizzas from Pizza Pomodoro across the laneway, it’s the perfect spot for a casual drink, slice, and debrief on the evening.