The Best Seafood Restaurants in Wellington to Visit this Summer

Dockside Restaurant & Bar is one of Wellington’s most iconic waterfront and seafood spots. It exudes luxury, as its dining hall sits over the water, featuring a retractable roof for year-round outdoor dining. Offering stunning views of Wellington’s sparkling waterfront, Dockside focuses on serving fresh and locally sourced seafood, crafting a seasonal menu that showcases the best of New Zealand cuisine. They also accommodate dietary needs, making it a great choice for a family or a group of friends. Dockside has exceptional service, quality, and a relaxed and scenic ambience.

Exuding a charming nautical ambience, Ortega is popular amongst locals and visitors to Wellington alike for its fine dining. Their philosophy is rooted in “a lifelong love of food, wine, and good times around the table.” Their menu, which changes depending on the season, offers upsale and creative seafood dishes in a relaxed and bustling atmosphere. Popular dishes include the oysters, kingfish ceviche snapper, and the Catalan crepes to finish. They also have an extensive wine list, perfect for pairing with your dishes. Delivering prompt and attentive service, Ortega is not one to miss!

Shed 5 is another top seafood restaurant in Wellington, nestled on the waterfront. Housed within an old wharf store originally built in 1887 and a vital beacon of Wellington’s early economy, Shed 5 oozes with historic charm and welcomes guests with its warm and rustic ambience. The menu focuses on seafood, serving up fresh and local catches for a classic and elegant ocean-to-table dining experience. A must-try off the menu is their seafood risotto, which changes daily depending on the finest catch of the day.

Capturing a refined seafood menu that blends Asian flavours, Lola Rouge offers a unique twist on your seafood dining experience. Its menu is designed to showcase the essence of Asian cuisine, where flavours, textures, and colours come together for a traditional and contemporary fusion. Lola Rouge, as the name suggests, has a red-themed dining suite, where the shades craft an elegant yet distinct setting for your high tea or dinner. For a truly unforgettable seafood dining experience, book a table at Lola Rouge!

Coene's Bar & Eatery in the heart of Wellington is a nautical-chic hub serving up stunning waterfront views, creative seafood dishes, and craft cocktails. Take in the stunning views of Oriental Bay while enjoying a menu inspired by dishes all around the world, using the freshest New Zealand ingredients. Featuring oysters, octopus, prawn toast, and saffron seafood risotto, this is a seafood lover’s paradise! Coene's provides a warm and inviting atmosphere and an open deck perfect for watching the world go by, catching up with friends over a casual lunch, or enjoying the lively ambient evenings.