Set in an elegant historic art-deco building on the corner of Featherston and Johnston Streets, The Featherston is acclaimed as Wellington's finest city bar. Host Geordie Craib oversees a menu that ranges from tasty 'Finger & Fork' snack dishes to substantial communal offerings suitable for sharing between two, alongside a beverage list built around craft beers from local guest brewers and a five-star wine selection.
The bar runs a Tuesday quiz night at 6.30pm with prizes, and hosts a popular Sunday roast alongside its regular menu of pub classics, schnitzels, burgers and vegetarian and vegan options. The Featherston also operates as a function venue, able to fully cater private events for up to 180 guests, with everything from the first canape to the last taxi handled on-site.
A seasonal Christmas menu runs each December, offering a set two- or three-course option alongside the regular à la carte range, making The Featherston a go-to for both casual visits and larger celebrations in the heart of Wellington.
On the corner of Featherston and Johnston Streets, in an elegant historic art-deco building, sits a bar that's built a reputation as one of Wellington's best: The Featherston. Under host Geordie Craib, the venue pairs a considered food menu with a strong drinks list, aiming to be, as it puts it, peerless in the city.
The food menu is built around a 'Finger & Fork' concept — dishes that range from tasty snacks through to more substantial communal offerings suitable for two. Expect a Steak & Guinness Pie, Lamb & Mint Sausages with mash and porter gravy, Beef Olives with peas, carrots and gravy, and lighter options like Lisa's Hummus with housemade tomato sauce and melted cheese, or Pumpkin & Haloumi Fritters with rémoulade. For those wanting a taste of several dishes, the Finger & Fork Share-Platter brings together a selection from across the menu.
Seafood gets its due too, with John Dory & Handcut Chips served alongside tartare sauce, and homemade Prawn Fritters with a chilli soy dipping sauce.
Each month brings a set of Blue Plate Specials — Chicken, Pork, Eggplant and Beef Schnitzels, each with their own sauce, from chip shop curry sauce to sweet & sour. The standout, though, is the Sunday Roast: pork or beef with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, gravy, and unlimited Yorkshire puddings, a weekend fixture at The Featherston.
The Mains section rounds things out with Chicken Cordon Bleu, Vegan Gnocchi with pumpkin and truffle oil puree, a Veggie Mince Burger, and the Beef Brisket Burger with crispy onion, cheese fondue and horseradish mayo. Sides span the usual suspects — fries, mash, salad, coleslaw, mushrooms — for building out a plate.
Beyond the food, The Featherston's drinks list includes craft beers from local guest brewers alongside a five-star wine selection, making it a genuine destination bar rather than just a place to eat. Every Tuesday at 6.30pm, the bar runs a quiz night with, in its own words, "great prizes" up for grabs — a long-running fixture for regulars.
Each December, from the 1st through the 23rd, The Featherston runs a dedicated Christmas menu. Starters include a Classic Prawn Cocktail and Woodys Smoked Free Range Chicken Breast, with mains like Pan Fried Salmon, Tegel Turkey Roast, and Honey Mustard Glazed Ham off the Bone. Desserts cover an Eton Mess, Traditional Christmas Pudding, and Barlovska Spiced Honey Liqueur Ice Cream. The set menu runs at two courses or three courses per head, with all dishes also available à la carte, and prior booking is recommended.
For larger events, The Featherston doubles as a sophisticated function venue, offering what it calls some of the best value in Wellington. Up to 180 guests can be accommodated in a fully catered, private event space, with the venue handling everything from the first canape to the last taxi home.
The Featherston is open Monday to Saturday from 11.30am, and Sunday from midday until 8pm. Diners should note that a credit card or PayWave surcharge of 2% may apply, and that the kitchen prepares food in an environment where allergens including nuts, gluten, dairy, and shellfish may be present.