Explore the Best Restaurants in Wellington

Wellington is compact and walkable, with a food scene that runs deep for a city this size. It’s full of restaurants that work well for group dining, places where you can reserve a table, take over a room, or even book out the entire space depending on what you need. You’ll find venues across the city centre, up the hill in Kelburn, or just slightly further out in suburbs like Newtown and Thorndon, each offering their own take on shared meals, seasonal menus and local hospitality.

Most places are set up to handle small to mid-sized group bookings, especially if you’re organised with numbers and timing. If it’s a birthday dinner, end-of-year team lunch or just a long overdue catch-up with friends, the options here are flexible.

Wellington’s Dining Culture and What to Expect

Wellington’s restaurants are often small, independently run and shaped by the people behind them. Menus tend to draw from a mix of global influences like Southeast Asian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Japanese, and modern New Zealand. With a strong focus on fresh seafood, organic produce and regional wines. It’s common to see p_ua, snapper or blue cod on a dinner menu, alongside handmade pasta, chargrilled lamb or house-made pickles and preserves

You won’t find a lot of large, commercial venues here. Instead, you get wine bars that double as dining rooms, bistros that change their menus weekly, and cafés that switch to full-service restaurants at night. Shared plates are common, tasting menus are offered in higher-end spots, and most places have options for vegetarians, vegans and those with food sensitivities.

Events That Work in Restaurants

What usually determines the setup is your group size. For groups of 8 to 20, most places will seat you in one section and offer a set menu. If you’re planning for 30 or more, you might be looking at a partial or full buyout, especially on busy nights

Private dining rooms do exist but they’re not everywhere, and many restaurants offer semi-private spots that give your group space while keeping the atmosphere. The key is booking ahead, being clear on your needs, and working with what each venue already does well

Things to Ask Before Booking a Venue

Group bookings usually come with a set menu. That might be a shared table spread or two to three courses with a few options per dish. Ask if the venue offers flexibility on dietary requirements and if they’ll send sample menus in advance. It also helps to confirm how long you’ll have the space and if there are time limits for early or late bookings

Private or semi-private areas are ideal if your group wants to give a speech or play music. Some venues allow light styling like floral centrepieces or table signage, while others prefer to keep things as they are. 

Planning Tips 

Choose a location that suits how people are getting there. Wellington’s layout makes it easy to gather centrally. Cuba Street, Courtenay Place and the waterfront are packed with restaurants that offer group options. If you’re coming from out of town or via train, it’s worth choosing something close to the CBD to make it easier for guests. Suburbs like Newtown, Kelburn and Thorndon are only minutes away and have strong food scenes of their own if you’re looking for something slightly outside the usual zones

Weather can change quickly here, so if you’re booking an outdoor space, ask if there’s cover or heaters in place. Weekend nights book out fast, especially during festival season or when cruises are in town. If you’re looking for more availability or lower minimum spends, midweek dinners, Friday lunches or Sunday events are often easier to lock in.

Have your numbers ready, confirm early and ask the right questions

Before you reach out to a venue, have your group size, preferred date and any special requests ready to go. Ask for set menu options, let them know about dietary needs and check what’s included. The earlier you book, the more flexible they’ll likely be.

Once the key details are confirmed, the venue will usually take care of the rest. Wellington’s best restaurants know how to handle groups and they’ll keep the process smooth if you keep the communication clear.

How much do restaurants in Wellington cost for events?

Based on VenueNow's historic data, on average, Wellington restaurants cost between 65 to 95 NZD per person for functions. For example, an event for 100 people could cost between 0-0 NZD. Costs may differ based on your food and beverage requirements, AV requirements, event date and time and the type of venue you decide to book.

What should I consider when comparing Wellington restaurants for events?

There are a number of different factors you should consider when comparing Wellington restaurants for events. Firstly, you should review the standing and seated capacity of the venue to see if they can fit your attendees. Next you should review the costs associated with hiring the venue such as venue hire fees, food & drink packages, additional costs such as audio-visual equipment, and whether there is a minimum spend to hire the venue. Other important factors include the location, aesthetic, amenities and facilities of the venue to understand if the venue fits all of your requirements. A great way to do this is review the venue's listings on VenueNow and review their function packs attached to the page.

How do I find and book Wellington restaurants for events?

Finding and booking Wellington restaurants for events is easy with VenueNow. Simply follow these steps: (1) Enter your location, event type and number of people into VenueNow's search engine. (2) Narrow down your search results by adding filters such as your event date and time, preferred room layout and budget. (3) Once you've found some venues you're interested in, visit the venue listings and send your enquiry via VenueNow. The venue will receive your enquiry immediately and respond to you within 24 hours via email. We recommend contacting 3-5 different venues to ensure you get the best price. (4) Venues will respond with a quote via email based on your requirements, and may suggest alternate dates when they can host your event. (5) Once you're happy with the quote, you can confirm your booking with the venue, pay your deposit and start planning your event.

How far in advance should I book Wellington restaurants for events?

On average, VenueNow customers book a venue 90 days in advance of the event. In some cases you are able to find venues that are available at short notice, however, availability for your preferred date and time may be limited. For large corporate events or weddings, we recommend booking your venue at least 3-6 months in advance, to ensure plenty of venues are available and you can lock in the best price for your requirements. Larger events also typically require additional planning with your attendees as well as any suppliers that may be required for the event.

Can VenueNow help me find Wellington restaurants for an event?

We sure can! Not only can you find and book venues via on VenueNow yourself or using our Match AI feature, our team of Venue Booking Experts can help you find the perfect venue, collect quotes from multiple venues on your behalf, negotiate the best price with venues and book venues, all for free. Simply send us your event brief and our team will be in contact with venue recommendations within 24-48 hours.