Wellington Night Market

Overview

We often hear Wellington referred to as the cultural capital of New Zealand. While this is undoubtedly true, sometimes it can be tricky to access the cultural scene if you're short on cash or time, or both. Luckily, every Friday the Wellington Night Market has your cultural needs covered. Equally true if you can't decide what to have for dinner, or if your friends/flatmates/other half can't come to an agreement.

Countless food stalls miraculously appear around 5pm - offering a diverse range of delicacies from dumplings, to roti, to hangi, mussels, ramen, crepes, Sichuan spice, waffles, the list goes on. In the middle of it all, live performers provide entertainment to give you something to focus on while you wait in line - or to purely enjoy.

For the past few years the Wellington Night Market has set up on Fridays from 5pm - 11pm at the Left Bank arcade, off to the side of Cuba St. It's so successful and depended on by inner-city dwellers, that it seems to be one of the most permanent temporary sets ups in town. You can now also enjoy the Night Market on Saturdays down the road a bit at Lower Cuba Street, down the bottom end past Manners Street.

If you're struck by option-paralysis, a handy trick is to try something small from a few different stalls - a dumpling here, yakitori there, and a chimney cake to finish it all off. The chimney cake is non-negotiable.

Photo credit: Miso Peckish