Hideout is an Asian fusion restaurant and cocktail bar on Courtenay Place, right in the heart of Wellington's nightlife strip. The name is the promise: a place for people to retreat to and connect, whether that's a long shared dinner, a round of margaritas, or a nightcap that turns into several. Founder Wen set out to create more than just incredible food — he wanted the entire experience of eating out, channelling the magic of the night found in the hustle and bustle of Asia's streets and mixing it with modern dining finesse.
In the kitchen, head chef Lee ties East to West using his vast experience with authentic Asian cooking techniques. The menu is deliberately playful — designed for having fun, indulging your tastebuds and trying new things — while still offering options for diners with more timid palates. Everything is built for sharing, so groups of any size and a variety of preferences are well catered for. Crowd favourites include the orange chicken, kimchi loaded fries, dumplings and bao.
The drinks list holds up its half of the 'cocktail bar' billing: New Zealand wines and beer, loads of cocktails, delicious mocktails, and a full range of liquors and spirits. Alongside the lunch, dinner, drinks and dessert menus, Hideout offers curated share menus that take the guesswork out of feeding a group. The week has its own rhythms too — Monday margaritas, Tuesday bao and beer, Wednesday cocktail night, and Thursday dumplings with wine.
Practicalities are covered as well: eat in, takeaway, or order via Uber Eats, DoorDash and DeliverEasy. Bring your own reusable container for takeaway and you'll get 50 cents off — because a beautiful environment starts with you and me. The team also handles catering and private event bookings.
Tucked into Courtenay Place, right in the thick of Wellington's nightlife, Hideout is what happens when a restaurant and a cocktail bar decide to go on a journey through Asia together. It's a fusion eatery built for sharing — plates designed to land in the middle of the table, cocktails designed to linger over. The name says it all: this is a place for people to retreat to and connect, whether that's a long dinner with friends or a nightcap that turns into three.
Founder Wen is passionate about creating more than just incredible food. To him, eating out is about the entire experience, and what he has brought to Courtenay Place is the magic of the night found in the hustle and bustle of the streets of Asia, mixed with modern dining finesse. Step inside and you're meant to feel a little transported — the energy of Asian streets after dark, with the polish of a contemporary Wellington bar.
In the kitchen, head chef Lee ties East to West using his vast experience with authentic Asian cooking techniques. The menu is deliberately playful: it's about having fun, indulging your tastebuds and trying new things, while still offering options for diners with more timid palates. Groups of any size and a variety of preferences are catered for — exactly what you want from a sharing-focused menu.
Start with the dishes that have earned their reputation on social media. The orange chicken is a true classic and a self-declared crowd favourite. The kimchi loaded fries are pure fusion comfort — golden fries piled with punchy kimchi, made for the middle of the table. Dumplings and bao round out the greatest hits, and they double as gateways to Hideout's weekly rituals.
The drinks list is where the cocktail-bar half of the equation earns its keep: New Zealand wines and beer, loads of cocktails, delicious mocktails and a full range of liquors and spirits. Beyond the à la carte lunch, dinner, drinks and dessert menus, there are also curated share menus that take the guesswork out of feeding a group — a guided journey through the menu, ideal for bigger tables.
One of Hideout's nicest quirks is that the week comes with its own traditions. Mondays are for margaritas — doubles, no less. Tuesdays pair bao with beer. Wednesday is cocktail night, with deals flowing across the list. Thursdays bring the beloved dumpling ritual: six dumplings with a glass of wine. It's a schedule that gives regulars a reason to claim a night and newcomers an easy way in — walk in, book online, or call.
Hideout is open seven days a week, with lunch from 12pm to 2:30pm and dinner service from 5pm to 10pm. If you'd rather stay in, the options are covered: eat in, takeaway, or delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash and DeliverEasy, so your kai can be boxed up and sent straight to you.
There's a green streak here too — bring your own reusable container for takeaway and you'll get 50 cents off every meal. A beautiful environment starts with you and me, as they say.
For bigger occasions, Hideout also offers catering and welcomes private event bookings, making it a genuine option for group celebrations in the city. Whether you come for the orange chicken, stay for the margaritas, or simply want a hideout of your own on Courtenay Place, this is Wellington fusion dining that doesn't take itself too seriously — just seriously enough about flavour.