Egmont St Deli & Diner sits empty as a glum reminder of the culinary delights that are no more. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Egmont St Deli & Diner sits empty as a glum reminder of the culinary delights that are no more. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Wellington’s hospitality scene has faced a wave of closures, including Shepherd and Nikau Cafe, due to economic challenges and construction disruption.
New venues like Baar-Baar and Saigon Delights have opened in some former restaurant sites.
However, some venues remain empty leaving noticeable holes in the city’s culinary offering.
Closures in 2024 came thick and fast, from restaurants to bakeries.
The Herald visited the sites of some of the most high-profile closures to see what was there now.
Some venues have made way for new offerings and in one case, possibly apartments, while others sit empty with bare shelves serving as a glum reminder of the culinary delights that are no more.
Shepherd
Award-winning restaurant Shepherd, co-owned by Shepherd Elliot and Sean Golding, shut its doors in November 2023.
“The restaurant world changes continuously. Culinary moods ebb and flow and to remain at the top of one’s game and be consistent and excellent requires enormous effort and passion, without these it becomes very difficult to maintain the high standards one strives for,” a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page said.
Baar-Baar has now opened at the site on Eva St.
Baar-Baar's cuisine is described as a fusion of old and new. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The restaurant’s website describes it as Wellington’s premium Indian gastro bar.
The cuisine is a fusion of old and new: “A vibrant celebration of India’s rich culinary heritage, our menu masterfully blends the diverse flavours of its regions with the finest locally sourced ingredients”.
Baar-Baar’s cocktails are named and inspired by iconic Bollywood movies spanning from the 1950s to 2020.
Concord Bistro & Bar
Announcing Concord’s closure at the end of August, a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page said the city’s hospitality scene was hurting.
The appetite for dining out was understandably low in the current economic climate, the restaurant said.
“This unprecedented few years of challenges for everyone trying to forge a living in our mercurial little city has taken its toll on some of our most cherished places to eat, drink and socialise in our favourite ‘3rd Places’.
“Alas, we must be added to the increasing number of casualties.”
Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Delights has opened at the Victoria St site and has kept much of Concord’s fit-out.
The plush orange dining chairs are gone but the statement light shades with tassels remain.
Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Delights has replaced Concord. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Saigon Delights has had its own struggles and shut its previous sites in the city last year before reopening.
The menu has soups, salads, hot plates and interesting cocktails like the lychee rose gin spritz.
The new restaurant has also kept the outdoor seating area on the pavement making it a desirable lunch spot on a warm day.
However, the clanging noise of nearby construction cannot be avoided.
Nikau Cafe
That construction site is the Te Ngākau Civic Precinct.
Wellington City Council is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on earthquake-strengthening the central library and town hall buildings. Other buildings in the precinct have been demolished.
Some nearby businesses, including Nikau Cafe, have considered taking legal action against the council. They have claimed dust and fumes from the site were affecting the health of staff and the disruptive construction work was “driving people out of the area”.
Confused tourists were consulting a map of the square trying to decipher whether they could still walk through to the waterfront when the Herald was in the area last week.
Nikau Cafe posted on social media: “The ongoing construction in Civic Square and related challenges have made it increasingly difficult for us to operate in our usual way.
“In addition, the building we occupy, shared with the City Gallery, is scheduled to close in February 2025 for essential earthquake strengthening.”
The business plans to reopen and is now on the hunt for a new location “befitting Nikau Cafe’s iconic status”.
The building Nikau was located in is owned by Wellington City Council.
Council spokesman Richard MacLean said of the vacant lease: “Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington is refurbishing the gallery over the next 12 months and is taking this time to consider the options”.
Apache
Apache, on Wakefield St, is opposite the tower of scaffolding that is Civic Square.
Apache chef and owner Le Minh posted on Facebook that there were many reasons for closing the restaurant.
“However, rather than blame and pointing fingers, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who has been supporting us throughout the last 10 years.”
The Double Happiness burgers by Apache were a finalist in the Burger Wellington competition 2024. Photo / WOAP
When the announcement was made in December, Le Minh said the plan was to reopen the restaurant at a new location.
Marlar Boon and her husband Ian started the restaurant as a tribute to Boon’s late phwa phwa (grandmother) Mabel, who opened Aotearoa’s first Burmese restaurant, The Monsoon, in 1978.
A post from Boon on Mabel’s Instagram page said they were ready for the next chapter.
“We have missed our kids terribly (Ian has worked nights all of our eldest son Maxim’s life) and are looking forward for some Summer 2025 downtime, celebrating my little brother’s wedding and catching up with extended whānau.”
Marlar Boon opened Mabel's with her husband Ian in 2022. Photo / Marty Melville
However, the doors will not stay shut for long.
Apache is moving into the space.
A sign on the window said: “Yes, Yes, Yes. Apache opening here soon”.
Egmont St Deli & Diner
Egmont St Deli & Diner, previously known as Egmont St Eatery, closed at the end of September, leaving 15 people without jobs.
The deli and diner posted on social media that the current economic climate had created huge challenges.
A stack of recipe books could be seen through the closed doors of the former restaurant as well as some bar stools, wine glasses and a few tins of paint.
Egmont St Deli & Diner has closed. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Outside, a sculpture of a bronze pigeon sitting on a pile of coins remained. It was part of a campaign to share stories of how successful local Wellington businesses had come to life.
The pigeon is a nod to Sharesies and a brunch some of its founders had at Egmont St Eatery when they had the idea to start the business.
While the restaurant is closed, Egmont is still doing pop-up offerings including recent events with Ata Rangi vineyard in Martinborough.
The restaurant, located in the heart of Te Aro, was opened by chef Laura Greenfield and Raechal Ferguson in 2015.
The pair said they made the decision with heavy hearts.
“It’s been a very tough time in hospitality for a while, but the major factor in our decision is that our lease is ending in the new year.
“This has given us the opportunity to move on to the next chapter in our lives. Field & Green has been the most wonderful home to both of us for over eight years.”
Laura Greenfield of Field & Green. Photo / Nicola Edmonds
Legend Kitchen has opened where Field & Green once operated. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Legend Kitchen has opened at the site and is known as an Asian fusion restaurant.
The menu includes dishes such as barbecue pork buns, wonton noodle soup and beef brisket with radish on rice.
Olive
Much-loved restaurant Olive, described as a Wellington “institution”, has been sold.
It had been serving French and Italian-inspired contemporary New Zealand cuisine on Cuba St for more than two decades.
Co-owner Carlo Petagna said when they took over the restaurant, they were in a “different stage of life” and now all have young families and want to step back.
Olive officially closed last week with its “OG vegan lasagne” with crumbed cashew mozzarella on the menu. The dish was also part of a special five-course set menu called “Olive’s Last Hurrah”.
Richard Walshe and business partner Scott Benton have purchased the business.
Walshe also purchased historic Wellington pub the Thistle Inn 10 years ago and said he “transformed” it from making no money into a “hugely successful” venue.
He said the new venue to replace Olive would open in late February to early March after the premises receive a “refresh”, but wanted to assure loyal customers “your favourite nook will still be there”.
Opened initially as a pop-up by chef Monique Fiso in 2016, Hiakai’s bricks-and-mortar restaurant opened its doors in 2018 and was named one of TimeMagazine’s 100 Things to Do in the World.
Monique Fiso brought a new level of sophistication to Maori cuisine. Picture / Greg Bowker
Hiakai focused on fresh, innovative Māori cuisine and people loved it. As a result, Hiakai was booked out a year in advance as people flocked to try what Fiso was cooking up.
There was no sign of a new restaurant offering at the Mt Cook site when the Herald visited last week.
Owner Tony Beazley blamed the struggling local economy, more people working from home and moves by Wellington City Council to install cycleways and bus lanes, removing car parking for customers.
Pandoro's closed site on Woodward St. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A sign on Pandoro's closed door thanked loyal customers. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Woodward St site is shut up with most of the interior stripped out.
A sign on the door said: “Thank you to all our loyal customers for your valued support over the years. We regret to inform you that our doors are now permanently closed.”
Soru has opened new cafes at the Willis St and Allan St sites.
When the Herald visited last week, they were advertising for staff who could start immediately including barista, baker and pastry chef positions.
Operating at the foot of Mt Victoria on Kent Tce since 2021, the small-batch bakery had become popular for its handmade bread and baked goods.
Myrtle bakery on Kent Terrace. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Owners Jacob Brown and Sarah Bullock said on social media they had made the decision because their “cherished site” was no longer available to them.
“Over time, we’ve come to realise just how deeply intertwined our identity is with the place and community that surrounds us [...] we feel it is impossible to simply relocate and remain true to who we are”, the post said.
There are reports the site is earmarked for apartments. Wellington City Council confirmed it has had one “pre-application” meeting about future development at 23 Kent Tce.
Bordeaux Bakery
Wellington’s Bordeaux Bakery has closed all three of its stores, with the owner blaming council road changes outside its Thorndon Quay business for a significant reduction in revenue.
Owner Tony Bates told the Herald he was devastated to have to shut up shop, and primarily blames the council’s “ongoing removal of car parks”.
“Everyone keeps telling us how hard it is to get to us.”
The sites on Thorndon Quay, Lambton Quay and Featherston St have been emptied out.
Bordeaux's owner blamed council road changes outside his Thorndon Quay business for a significant reduction in revenue. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Le Ciel bakery and patisserie will soon be opening on Featherston St where Bordeaux Bakery used to operate. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A sign on the door at the Featherston St site says a new bakery and patisserie Le Ciel will be opening there on Wednesday.
Le Ciel also operates at a Tory St site.
Alamir
Alamir Bakery, which had been producing Lebanese food for 32 years, was put into liquidation in December.
The family-run business supplied a product range of pita bread, hummus, tahini, pita chips, falafel, and baba ghanouj to all major supermarkets, stocked in both Foodstuffs and Woolworths stores nationwide.
Alamir Bakery sold its foods to supermarkets, food stores and more than 100 restaurants. Photo / Supplied
There was no sign of the bakery when the Herald visited its Miramar address.
Night Flower
Night Flower, a punch house and cocktail lounge, operated for seven years before announcing its closure in July.
The defining feature of the pub is its large wraparound balcony hanging over one of the city’s most bustling pedestrian routes and offering “an awesome little vantage point over Cuba and Ghuznee St” for people-watching, and al fresco drinking.
The bar’s Guinness tap is a point of pride for the managers, as well as their “freezer martinis” which are super-chilled and served at -15C.
CGR Merchant
Courtenay Place cocktail bar CGR Merchant & Co closed in December.
“After nearly 17 years at 44 Courtenay Place, we have weathered a few storms along the way, but we are not immune to the economic, global and local issues that have seen so many businesses close this year,” a post on the bar’s Facebook page said.
The door to the stairs leading up to the bar was closed when the Herald visited last week.
McKenzie said they would be looking for interested parties to take on the premises shortly.
SugarWoods and Rubix
SugarWoods Limited, which operated Rubix Bar and SugarWoods Bar, was placed into liquidation on August 13 at the request of shareholders Jose Ubiago and Rachel Clark.
SugarWoods Limited, which operated Rubix Bar and SugarWoods Bar, was placed into liquidation on August 13 at the request of shareholders including Jose Ubiago. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The report said considerable expenditure was required to set the businesses up with fixtures and fittings. The company then faced issues with obtaining a liquor licence for one of its bars due to the conduct of the bar that previously operated from the same site.
Establishment 2.0 has now opened where Sugarwoods used to be. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Establishment 2.0 has now opened under Mike Drummond who has 13 years of experience in the industry and was “excited to be putting The Establishment 2.0 back on the map in the Wellington hospo scene”.
Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.
