Friday Five: Cool things to do on Cuba Street

1. Embrace the vintage vibe 

Indulge in funky, boho, and vintage vibes on Cuba by exploring a range of designer stores, op shops, and everything in between. From vintage consignment Hunters & Collectors, to retro Spacesuit, treasure trove Ziggurat to Paper Bag Princess - there’s something for all tastes, and budgets. Top tip – veer off the corner from Ombra Bar & Restaurant and find Recycle Boutique!  

2. Follow your art up Cuba Street 

Gallery-hop your way up Cuba. See Ans Westra at Suite Gallery, and peek into their hidden courtyard! Visit Thistle Hall on Upper Cuba, or pop round the corner of Abel Smith Street to go to Toi Pōneke Arts Centre, where you can see a new show every month.  

Then had to the Kiwi Art House Gallery which displays Wellington’s famous artist Vincent, or walk your way to Left Bank to see ‘Enjoy Contemporary Art Space’, and take the stairs at 147 Cuba to McLeavey Gallery.      

3. Watch the world go by 

Take a break and watch our diverse capital go by. Sit next to the Bucket Fountain, Wellington’s perfectly imperfect living sculpture, and let the kids have a play. Or why not try out the Parklets at Fidel’s Cafe, Dirty Burger and Santeria, and watch the hustle and bustle of the city. 

When you’re ready to go, take a walk across the Rainbow crossing and celebrate diversity in our city’s most famous street.

4. Bop to the top

Give the top of Cuba Street some love! There’s so much more to explore if you venture out a little further. Check out the art galleries, eateries and clothing stores like Velvet Cherry. There’s even a DIY/eco store, Good Housekeeping, where you can refill your cleaning products and shampoo bottles to keep them out of landfill. These spots are not to be missed!  

5. Eat around the world

Enjoy a meal at some of the trendiest spots in Pōneke. Eat Ethiopian on the Left Bank, Malaysian and Indian on the mall. The Flying Burrito Brothers will take you to Mexico, and the sushi train (Kazu Sushi go-round) to Japan. Fidel’s courtyard and Olive’s secret garden are two of Wellington’s top eating spots. Or have an ice-cream or award-winning gelato on the go from Ben & Jerry’s, Kaffee Eis, Zelati or Duck Island. 

Wanna go fancy? Try Logan Brown. 

Watch out each Friday for a fun list of five great activities to do, places to explore, or things to discover in our awesome city.