The Best Fine Dining Restaurants In Wellington New Zealand

Wellington’s eclectic restaurant scene caters to all palates, budgets and seasons. If it’s a fine dining experience that you seek, you’ll be treated with an incredible selection of places that wow locals and visitors time and again. We’re about to whet your appetite by showcasing some of the best.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Logan Brown Restaurant

Since opening its doors in 1996, Logan Brown has made a name for itself with its innovative, contemporary flavours and its dedication to evolve with emerging dining trends and service styles. The restaurant’s a la carte dining menu emphasises the greatest New Zealand ingredients, from fresh seafood to beef, lamb and locally-sourced produce. On Saturdays, Logan Brown changes things up a notch by offering five- and seven-course degustation sessions, as well as a three-course bistro option.

Ortega is an upscale restaurant renowned for its delicious seafood, extensive drinks menu and all-round good ambiance. What’s on the plate will change daily — it’s all dependent on the fresh ingredients that were gathered during the day. Bookings are recommended as this place gets quite busy.

Boulcott Street Bistro Restaurant

A charming Victorian cottage is home to the local dining institution known as the Boulcott Street Bistro. The restaurant has been dishing out a range of classic bistro-style dishes, contemporary creations and comprehensive wine lists since 1991, so they’re well established in the capital’s fine dining scene. Set menus are available for groups, and the restaurant even has a birthday cake-making service for those extra-special celebrations.

Hippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

Part of Wellington’s QT Hotel, Hippopotamus offers a French fine dining experience with a contemporary twist. There’s something for everyone here, from lavish treats to comfort classics and the house’s famous cocktail concoctions. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner. Cocktails are served everyday from 2 pm, and degustation dining (which calls for advanced bookings) is available from 6 pm.

Shed 5

Shed 5 took one of the oldest wharf stores in Lambton Harbour and transformed it into a stunning waterfront dining establishment. Besides offering some great ocean views, the restaurant is renowned for its meticulously-plated dishes. Seasonal vegetables, freshly caught fish, venison, lamb and Angus beef are among the options patrons can sink their teeth into.

Jano Bistro

Jano Bistro only arrived on Wellington’s restaurant scene in 2015, but has already earned itself a couple of national accolades for its flavoursome culinary creations. The restaurant is set in a bright, fully-refurbished heritage house that truly appeals to its bistro-style offerings. An exquisite degustation menu is one of Janos Bistro’s biggest fine-dining draw cards.

Jardin Grill

Sofitel Wellington’s Jardin Grill is known for its elegant interior design, relaxed setting and fabulous cuisine. Dinnertime patrons are presented with a variety of beautifully presented dishes, from wood-fired meats to lavish sharing platters–and even some caviar with champagne for those really wanting a full VIP experience.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.