It is said that Wellington has more bars and restaurants per capita than New York City. “The Windy City” is renowned for its appreciation of fine dining, excellent cheap eats, specialty coffee, superb wine and craft beer. Courtenay Place is where you will find the heart of Wellington’s culinary culture. It is also the entertainment hub with bars, clubs, theatres and cinemas.
Explore the shops, historic buildings, cafés, restaurants and public art works on one of Wellington’s most historic streets. Originally an industrial area, today it is the centre of Wellington’s fashionable social life. Foodies will love the self-guided food tour. Begin with a coffee, where the coffee beans have been directly sourced from the growers and roasted on the premises. Try uniquely flavoured chocolates, freshly made ice cream, locally made cheeses, craft beer or New Zealand’s renowned manuka honey. Sample contemporary Māori cuisine or dance the night away in a funky bar.
Browse through elegant boutiques and specialty stores. A walk down Cuba Street, just off Courtenay Place, will take you through Wellington’s bohemian centre. Discover ethnic restaurants, secondhand bookstores, vintage stores and and hip cafés full of students and artists.
Courtenay Place has a thriving arts and culture scene. Over seven theatres and cinemas show classic and contemporary films, theatre shows and cultural performances. Check out the Embassy Theatre where Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings had its world premiere. Courtenay Place is also host to the biannual New Zealand International Arts Festival.
Courtenay Place is located in the inner-city district of Te Aro and is the main street of the Courtenay Quarter. It is served by bus routes and is a short walk from Lambton Quay. On-street and garaged car parking is available.
