Overview
Diehard foodies, come one, come all. Wellington's latest courtyard-style eatery is opening on Willis Street, bringing together flavours from all over the world.
Developer Maurice Clarke has nearly completed the $10million reconstruction of an 85-year-old community centre in central Wellington. What was once home to The Evenings Post printing press has been transformed into an around-the-world dining experience.
After an initial struggle to get contributors on the same conceptual page, the project has come together, and project manager William Broadmore believes it will be a huge success. The restructure has seen the laneway and courtyard packed with well-known restaurants expected to attract thousands.
Featuring restaurants such as Tommy Millions (in their third location) and Fratelli that already boast a cult following, Press Hall is sure to appeal to food lovers from all over Wellington. With a pick-your-own pasta bar and a wide range of cultural dishes, it seems it will soon prove to be the undisputed cool kid of local eateries. Clarke claims the food will certainly not be "white tablecloth stuff," hinting at an exotic downtown mix, with something suited to all tastes.
The venue will comprise ten different cuisines in total, including steamed buns from Bao Boy (the owners of Dragonfly), teppanyaki from Teppan Hayashi, plant-based cuisine from Aroha, sushi and bento from Yoshi, Vietnamese street food from NAM D, souvlaki and authentic Greek pita bread courtesy of Souvlaki at Acropolis and much more, all accessible via the laneway from 78 Willis Street. Press Hall is scheduled to open early 2018.
For more information about Press Hall and the featured restaurants, visit presshall.co.nz.
Image: Tommy Millions.