Cuba St Tavern fills Olive-sized hole on capital’s most eclectic street

Thursday, 24 April 2025

Cuba St Tavern owner Richard Walshe says the restaurant is looking to carve out its own niche in the Wellington CBD.

A new eatery has opened replacing a Wellington institution, with the owner saying he is keen to make his mark on Cuba St.

The Cuba St Tavern opened in March, with co-owner Richard Walshe saying the tavern was looking to branch away from the legacy former restaurant Olive had brought to the location.

Following two decades in Wellington, popular restaurant Olive - owned by Jamie Morgan and brothers Ferdi and Carlo Petagna - shut its doors in January. It followed a wave of hospitality closures which had hit the capital over the previous months.

Walshe, who also owns Thorndon’s Thistle Inn, said he and Tavern co-owner Scott Benton were looking to provide a dining atmosphere which allowed customers to have a delicious meal at any time of the day - and maybe a boogie in the evenings.

The interior of the tavern reflects its locale’s exciting history and eclectic vibe, says co-owner Richard Walshe.

Walshe said the Cuba St Tavern was looking to do things a little differently from Olive, while still appealing to the customers who had frequented the former restaurant.

“Olive, obviously, was an institution. I don't know if we've got big shoes to fill, because we're different, and we wanted to be unique.”

The Cuba St community was an eclectic space, he said, so inside the tavern had had been painted with “bright and punchy” pastels to reflect the vibrancy of the area.

The walls are adorned with Wellington-focused art, including a portrait of Carmen Rupe, owner of a nightclub and tea room formerly based on Vivian St.

Opening from 10am Tuesday to Sunday, the eatery offers brunch, alongside sharing plates in the evenings, as well as a cocktail or pint for those who wish to indulge.

There was currently a gap in Wellington’s hospitality scene for places where people could have both a cocktail and dinner, Walshe said, one that the tavern would hopefully fill.

“The reason why we call it a tavern is because a tavern is all about community, and [the restaurant is] sort of a offering to everyone in the community.”

It will also be hosting live music gigs. The official opening saw DJ Christoper Tubbs perform for two days in April, and during CubaDupa the tavern hosted a two-day all star DJ line up in association with radio station RadioActive.FM.

The gigs had been so successful, Walshe was already planning more.

He said the tavern was looking to be a space where guests could come and have a great dining experience, while at the same time, a dance party raged in the “little oasis” out back.

When Dobbs played, he said it had been fantastic to come into the tavern and see a sizeable crowd dancing in the venue’s back garden, as early as 7.30pm.

“I was amazed to see everyone dancing and having such a good time.”