Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Charley Noble
MODERN NZ $$$
$$$
(
www.charleynoble.co.nz
; Post Office Sq; starters & small plates $5-18, mains $22-40)
Paul Hoath-
er, chef-owner of the lauded and long-standing White House fine-dining restaurant,
loosens up at this grand establishment in a newly renovated heritage building. Raw
oysters and wood-fired meats follow fashion in ravishing style, but it's creative dishes
such as pig's tail and pomegranate salad, and grilled octopus with crispy capers that
really set this hot ticket alight.
Logan Brown
MODERN NZ $$$
$$$
( 04-801 5114;
www.loganbrown.co.nz
; 192 Cuba St; mains $45-51; noon-2pm Mon-Sat,
5.30pm-late Mon-Sun; )
Routinely and deservedly touted as Wellington's best restaurant,
Logan Brown oozes class without being pretentious or overly formal. Its 1920s banking
chamber dining room is a stunner, as is the menu, which features such treats as Waikanae
crab cakes and venison loin with goat's curd and cherry. The three-course bistro menu
($45) is an excellent and affordable way into Wellington's finest dining experience, al-
though the epic wine list might force a blow-out. Bookings recommended.
Drinking & Nightlife
Wellingtonians love a late night, and it's common to see the masses heading into town at
a time when normal folk would be boiling the kettle for cocoa. A lively music scene
keeps things humming, along with respectable bar food, competitive cocktail concoc-
tions, great NZ wines and tasty beer.
In fact the beer scene is where the action is, with Welly now a veritable whirlpool of
crafty bars circled by a batch of local breweries. Put yourself in the pitcher at boho Aro's
noon-8pm Tue-Sat)
microbrewery or fill a flagon at the bamboozling
Regional Wines &
Mon-Sat, 11am-7.30pm Sun)
. See
www.craftbeercapital.com
for more propaganda.
The inner city is riddled with bars, with high concentrations around Courtenay Pl
(short skirts, sexy shoes, and hair-raising hijinks); and Cuba/Victoria Sts (colourful and
groovy with personality in spades). A short pub crawl can also be had along the water-
front.
Wellington's music scene predominates in pint-sized venues, most often in the corner
of a bar. Big-gig listings can be found at
www.undertheradar.co.nz
and
