17 most romantic dining spots in Wellington for date night

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From a local, a secret guide to the most romantic dining spots in Wellington perfect to let sparks fly on date night.

Wellington, New Zealand

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Wellington is a city of romance. I may be biased because I met my partner here and we’ve spent the last five years in a whirlwind of romance and adventure, nesting in central Wellington. We’re both foodies and devote our weekends to scoping out the best food in the most unique restaurants and convenient locations to continue the night afterward.

And I figured, I can’t keep all this expertise to myself. I’m keen to share the most romantic Wellington dining spots so you can charm the pants off your date… pun intended.

Wellington is a collection of small and quirky eateries, a product of limited space and creativity in spades. I will keep updating the list below since new restaurants are always popping up, one of many reasons living in Wellington never gets boring.

If you’re planning a first date (nerves!) or celebrating an anniversary, below is a local’s guide to the most romantic dining spots in Wellington. Have fun!

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1. Shed 5

I start with the iconic Shed 5, which is our go-to for double dates. Set in one of the oldest wharf stores on the waterfront, Shed 5 is an upscale venue with a menu inspired by the sea. Once a fish market, Shed 5 partners with local boats to bring the freshest catches from sea to table. 

The pale-blue heritage building wraps you in comfort and the seafood tastes indulgent. With views of the wharf and a premium drinks list, it’s the perfect romantic setting for date night. And be sure to finish off your meal with a chocolate truffle. Or several.

Queens Wharf, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

2. Hiakai

One of the most acclaimed restaurants in New Zealand, Hiakai made a reputation for itself by celebrating Māori cuisine. Their use of local ingredients and indigenous cooking techniques is a mission to preserve Māori knowledge and innovate the kai (food) experience.

They offer a degustation menu alongside beverage pairings, carefully selected to ensure a cultural experience you’ll never forget.

Hiakai continues to grow its list of accolades, its tables highly sought after. So you’ll need to plan ahead. But Hiakai will make the wait worth your while. This is a venue to celebrate something truly special with your significant other.

40 Wallace Street, Mount Cook, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

Related: Fine dining and casual food and drink in Queenstown

3. Jano Bistro

If you walk around the Wellington CBD, you might happen across an adorable yellow cottage on Willis Street, signposted as Jano Bistro. Intrigued, you might Google the place and be prompted to book a reservation immediately.

That’s how I found Jano Bistro. With two stories and a garden out back, it’s one of the most charming and romantic dining spots in Wellington. Jano Bistro proudly claims to offer a “bistronomy” menu, a marriage of bistro and gastronomy. I can vouch for the delectable “Jano Experience”. Set aside three hours and you’ll be well-looked after, enjoying a procession of incredible dishes where every mouthful is magic exploding in your mouth.

This is another tiny restaurant so make sure you book in advance to secure a table.

270 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

4. Hippopotamus Restaurant and Cocktail Bar

Described as “flamboyant Parisian chic”, Hippopotamus is a popular haunt for a degustation experience surrounded by eclectic decor in multi-colour. Attached to the QT Hotel, Hippopotamus serves scrumptious eats for breakfast, dinner, and high tea.

Your stomach will be satisfied by French cuisine and your soul quenched by the surrounded art, velvet seats, and colorful textures.

Every detail is accounted for at Hippopotamus, from presentation to whiteware to decor. It’s the perfect place to impress your date with your knowledge of avant-garde venues and refined style.

90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

5. Olive

For a more casual dining experience, head up Cuba Street for the rustic chic setting at Olive. Adored by the locals, Olive offers romantic window-seating where you can observe the bustle of Cuba Street outside, or a tropical courtyard out the back. In the courtyard grows a 20-year-old olive tree, after which the establishment is named.

The seasonal menu curates contemporary New Zealand cuisine. We always enjoy the seasonal three-course meal which makes fine dining accessible to the everyday Kiwi.

Bring your date for brunch or dinner, and enjoy a wine under the olive branches with the rest of the locals finding refuge from the clamor of the city centre.

170-172 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

6. Rita

Rita is on the fringes of the town centre, redefining what is means to be a “small” dining establishment. Each night, they offer two sittings only and you can watch the chefs prep your food before it arrives at your table.

It’s a highly intimate setting inside a wee cottage, perfect for a romantic dinner. And the food is outstanding. The three-course menu utilises fresh local ingredients and can cater to dietary requirements as long as you let them know beforehand.

This is a cozy venue to celebrate a special occasion with your loved one without getting pretentious, a local secret for those in the know.

89 Aro Street, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

7. Cicio Cacio Osteria

We weren’t sure what to expect as we looked around for the entrance to Cicio Cacio Osteria. It’s not immediately obvious from the street, hence why their address is “behind Moon Bar”. The name is also a tongue-twister, adding flavour to the retellings of your night.

Cicio Cacio Osteria is a portal into Italy… a hidey-hole of brick and stone with a small menu in Italian and more wine bottles than people. The restaurant aims to offer an authentic Italian experience and I can confirm they deliver. And since the Italians are one of the most romantic people on the planet, Cicio Cacio Osteria comes in strong as one of the most romantic dining spots in Wellington.

Enjoy house-made pasta, paired with freshly baked bread, with a deep glass of vino, while admiring the rustic Italian decor. And buon appetito.

behind Moon Bar 167 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

8. Salty Pidgin

Located in the hip suburb of Brooklyn, Salty Pidgin welcomes you with its relaxed atmosphere and award-winning wine list… the drinks menu features 150 wines! If you’re looking to indulge, I highly recommend ordering a pide, a giant Turkish pizza in the shape of a boat, to carb-load while sipping glass after glass of premium wines.

And be sure to book in advance since tables fill up quickly.

Salty Pidgin is also conveniently located next to retro Penthouse Cinema, an exquisite pairing for a romantic dinner-and-a-movie. 

5 Todman Street, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

9. Mother of Coffee

A trailblazer on the Wellington food scene, Mother of Coffee exploded in popularity and recently relocated from Newtown to the CBD. And if you taste their food, you’ll see why.

I’ve never had Ethiopian food before trying Mother of Coffee. With a balanced blend of herbs and spices, this quickly became one of our favourite dining spots in Wellington. The vegan combo is the most popular item on the menu, with enough food to feed four (or two very hungry foodies), complemeted by a heaping pile of injera, fluffy ethiopian bread that melts in your mouth.

The setting at Mother of Coffee is charming and cozy, tucked in the back of Left Bank with outdoor couches and furnaces to keep warm during those chilly Wellington nights.

210A left bank, Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

10. Ombra

This Venice-inspired eatery specialises in small plates, equipped with a bar leaden with wine. If you’re feeling peckish, Ombra is the perfect stop with lovely large windows and a menu that caters to different dietary requirements. I personally love their risotto, and you can’t beat a “pizzette” with wine for a romantic date night.

Ombra is conveniently located at the heart of Cuba Street, so you can work off the carbs by meandering the liveliest part of the city, wading in and out of quirky shops and craft breweries. See a list of the best breweries in this guide to the best of the best of Wellington city.

199 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

11. Tatsushi Japanese Restaurant

I’m quite pretentious about my sushi, so I was delighted when we found the well-hidden establishment of Tatsushi. We took three wrong turns before we found it, nestled across the alley from Little Beer Quarter (a romantic brewery in its own right).

Although Tatsushi is pricer than the average sushi joint, it makes up for it by using quality ingredients, hand-crafted and authentic to traditional Japanese cooking. Indeed you’ll find their menus written in Japanese, and the chef Tatsushi Mikuni worked many years in Japan, absorbing that ancient culinary knowledge.

My all-time favourite dish is agedashi tofu, and I highly recommend enjoying that while sipping on some warm sake.

19 Edward Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

12. Jardin Grill

Jardin Grill is our go-to for anniversary celebrations. Shaun introduced me to this upscale restaurant nestled beneath the grand Sofitel, for his desire to try their fancy steak and for my endless love of beautiful interiors.

Jardin Grill is a bastion for sophisticated Wellington gastronomy, serving a myriad of colourful innovative dishes. Each plate feels expertly balanced, dynamic as the environment around it. We usually tuck ourselves against the flowery wallpaper, and sink into the velvet seats with a glass of wine as dish after dish arrives to delight the senses.

11 Bolton Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

13. Dragonfly

After three failed walk-ins due to the restaurant being full, I made reservations at Dragonfly, determined to perch myself in its elegant interior.

Dragonfly is a surprise along boisterous Courtney Place. It has an air of quietude, with dim lighting and small intimate tables despite its sprawling size. 

Dragonfly is an Asian dining lounge, serving some of the best Asian food in Wellington. We ordered a collection of dumplings and the sticky pork belly. Each bite was an explosion of flavour that embedded itself in my memory. We finished with the star anise penna cotta, which nearly knocked me off my seat from deliciousness. 

This is a stylish space for you and your partner to reconnect over a glass of Dragonfly Gin, immersed in the warm atmosphere.

70 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

14. Ortega

Ortega is a small diner located in the prestigious suburb of Mount Victoria. A self-proclaimed “fish shack” lined with art, it’s a romantic locale for casual date night. Their a la carte menu ranges from fish dishes to steak, with a collection of mouth-watering desserts. Slide up along the windows or curl inside a booth, and enjoy an array of complex dishes paired with beautiful cocktails.

Ortega is also around the corner from the grand Embassy Theater, convenient for dinner and a movie in style.

16 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

15. Nicolini’s

Another bustling eatery in a tiny space, Nicolini’s is an experience of traditional Napolitan cuisine. The trattoria is lined with tightly-packed tables and wafts with the scent of garlic and cheese. The sprawling menu of comfort foods can be tailored to meet any dietary requirement, be it vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free or gluten-free.

Equally impressive is the wine selection… because you can’t pull off a romantic night at a Napolitan trattoria without a glass of vino in hand. And don’t forget dessert… the tiramisu is to die for.

26 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

16. Egmont Street Eatery

Back when I lived on Egmont Street, my favourite pastime was ambling down to Egmont Street Eatery for a coffee and snack. The eatery is tucked inside an industrial red brick alleyway with outdoor seating for the limited hours that the sun hits.

Cozy and modern, Egmont Street Eatery is a hidden gem perfect for a romantic lunch or intimate dinner under the twinkling lights. The menu is always changing, bringing together thoughtful local ingredients to create gorgeous contemporary foods.

This eatery is near and dear to my heart for being a comforting neighbour during a tumultuous period in my life. I have memories of Shaun and I sipping lattes outside its doors or perusing the collection of sweets in the cabinet.

11 Egmont Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

17. Boulcott Street Bistro

Boulcott Street Bistro is an upscale restaurant inside a gothic Victorian cottage. This bistro has romance written into its history since it was originally built as a wedding gift for a local Wellingtonian’s bride-to-be in the late 1870s. A story to inspire us all to step up our courting game.

The elegant space wraps its arms around you and you can enjoy a confit duck leg or butternut pumpkin parmentier with a glass of wine from their well-stocked bar. Finish with a frangipane tart and stumble home arm-in-arm with your love.

99 Boulcott Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

More romantic dining spots in Wellington for date night

Have you tried any of the romantic spots above? Have I missed any other romantic restaurants? There are so many in Wellington, it’s hard to keep track! I hope this guide has given you some ideas to plan the perfect romantic day with your significant other. Enjoy, have heaps of wine, and let me know how it goes.