Landmark Cuba St cafe Fidel's up for sale

Tuesday, 12 August 2025

Wellington institution and Cuba St landmark Fidel’s is on the market.

The all-things Cuban-themed cafe closed its doors in June while earthquake strengthening of the building was carried out. The closure was to have been temporary, but on Tuesday co-owner and hospo stalwart Roger Young confirmed he was now ready to hand over the reins and was open to offers for the landmark Cuba St venue.

Opening a pop-up Fidel’s around the corner in its sister premises Havana Bar had been a revelation for both him and offsider Potti Wagstaff, as had the untimely death of Fat Freddy’s Drop founder Christopher Ta'aloga Faiumu ( DJ Mu) last month, Young said.

The pair had “worked their arses” off for 35 years; the slower pace of operating from Havana had brought home how stressful running a large, seven-day-a-week café had become.

“Since we’ve been over there, I’ve been going, this is really nice. I’m loving it. Me cooking and cleaning, doing dishes, him doing front of house—it’s taken us back to the old days,” Young said.

Operating just five days a week instead of the usual seven had been a revelation, especially after recovering from a broken back last year.

The long-time friends, who had previously run Ernesto’s and the Havana Brothers Coldpress, were now looking to trade early-morning coffee rushes for school runs and other “dad” stuff.

“We’ve both got young kids. I just want to simplify life, you know ‒ spend more time with my kids, be there for my daughter’s football team, all those things that are really important to me.”

Young said it had been an amazing business, especially one that had stood the test of time for 30 years to become a Wellington institution.

“We are super proud of being an integral part of the upper [Cuba] street community all these years. But it is time to chill out a bit and time to pass on the mantra to someone who is vibrant and hard-working, who can carry on the history and brand, which has become known around the world.”

Mu’s death, in his mid 50s, had also been a wake-up call, Young said. “I look at my dear friend who passed away a couple of weeks ago … it makes you think.”

He said there had been plenty of buyer interest in the well-known cafe over the years, with requests to open offshoots in other cities, but with the strengthening work now under way, and the two friends now in their mid-to-late 50s, it was right time to hand it on.

“It’s got a great brand. If there’s someone young that’s got the right backing and the nous, they could just take that and run.”

Young said there was a new nine-year lease on the building. “And I’d be happy to stick around and show the new owner the ropes.”