Cuba Street

Wellington's most characterful pedestrian street, with a bucket fountain, graffiti, vintage shops, record stores and countless cafés and bars. It is the heart of the 'world's coolest little capital'.

Cuba Street is named after the Cuba, the ship that brought the first group of settlers in 1840 (it has no connection to the nation of Cuba). It is a historic district running from the waterfront up to the Aro Valley. Its middle section, Cuba Mall, is a pedestrian zone flanked by well-preserved Edwardian and Art Deco buildings, which are listed as heritage. This is the centre of Wellington's bohemian spirit: the 1969 Bucket Fountain (when the buckets tip, water splashes onto passers-by, and it is the city's most famous landmark), street murals and graffiti, buskers, second-hand clothing shops, independent bookshops and record stores such as Slow Boat Records, designer boutiques, and a dense cluster of eateries. These include the long-running Fidel's café, Midnight Espresso (open until the small hours), brunch at Loretta, Olive and Floriditas, Logan Brown (a refined restaurant serving New Zealand produce), and bars such as Havana Bar and Laundry. The nearby Left Bank lanes have more small Asian eateries. Every late March, the CubaDupa street arts festival closes the street for two days, with over 1,000 performers and food stalls. At the far end, the street connects to the Courtenay Place entertainment district and Te Aro Park. The weekend Harbourside farmers' market is on the waterfront, about 10 minutes away from the street. Getting around: walk within the city centre, or catch a bus from the stops on Courtenay Place and Manners Street. Tips: the bar area is noisy at night, and there are drunk revellers in the early hours on Friday and Saturday; you may get splashed if you linger near the Bucket Fountain; many small shops close on Sundays and Mondays; and cafés generally close around 3–4 pm.

Cuba Street

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby