Barbers on Manners is a barbershop at 131 Manners Street in the heart of Wellington CBD, carrying a barbering legacy that began in the 1940s when Greek immigrant James Soteros first opened his doors at this very location. Today the tradition continues under German barber Nils, who together with his team has built one of Wellington's most respected barbershops — awarded three times best in class by the booking platform Fresha.
The team specialises in both modern and classic barbering: classic haircuts, skin, zero and taper fades, buzz cuts, scissor cuts and long-hair restyles, plus beard trims, beard shaping and traditional cutthroat shaves. All of the barbers are experienced professionals, and the shop prides itself on customer service, attention to detail and consistent, high-quality cuts in a welcoming environment for everyone — including kids of all ages.
Open seven days a week, Barbers on Manners welcomes walk-ins for quick trims and offers online booking through Fresha for those who prefer to skip the wait. You'll find them on Manners Street, between Taranaki Street and Cuba Street.
Step onto Manners Street in the heart of Wellington CBD and you'll find a barbershop that has been part of the city for generations. Barbers on Manners traces its roots back to the 1940s, when James Soteros, a Greek immigrant, first opened his doors at this very location. Today the tradition is carried on by German barber Nils and his team, who have built the shop into one of Wellington's most respected barbershops — recognised three times as best in class by the booking platform Fresha.
There aren't many city barbershops with a connection to a single address going back to the 1940s. James Soteros started that story, and Nils — who hails from Zwickau in Germany and has been cutting hair for 22 years — has written its modern chapter. The shop's motto, 'saving the world a haircut at a time', sums up the tone: serious about the craft, relaxed about everything else.
The team keeps the legacy alive with a mix of experience and backgrounds. Nils brings 22 years behind the chair, Chris Horns adds ten years from Bedfordshire, England, Geo Robertson contributes five years from Ōtautahi Christchurch, and Boaz Mellor four years from Taupō. All are experienced, trained professionals offering a customised grooming experience.
Barbers on Manners describes its work as 'a modern twist on classic cuts' — bespoke barbering for the modern man. In practice that means the full range: classic haircuts, sharp skin fades, zero fades and taper fades, buzz cuts with or without a fade, and scissor-cut trims and restyles for longer hair. Beards get equal attention, from simple trims and buzzes through to full shape-and-style sessions and traditional cutthroat shaves.
Consistency is the recurring theme in what the shop prides itself on: customer service, attention to detail, and experienced professionals delivering high-quality cuts in a welcoming environment for everyone. Families are well catered for too, with the shop noting a growing clientele of kids of all ages.
Part of the appeal is that each barber brings a distinct specialty. Nils is best known for scissor cuts, long hair, old-school and traditional styles and cutthroat shaves — his favourite looks include the pushback and the 'scumbag boogie' — and works Thursday to Monday. Chris is the skinfade specialist, along with classic pompadours and messy textured short cuts, and is famously keen to talk you into a buzzcut skinfade; he works Tuesday to Sunday. Boaz covers the new school: burst fades, tapers, drop fades and modern mullets, working Sunday to Friday. Geo, whose specialties are tapers and scissor cuts with a soft spot for mullets and even the occasional skullet, works Sundays and is known for creating a safe space for queer clientele.
Customer reviews paint a consistent picture: friendly, welcoming and very professional. One regular calls the workmanship 'top notch' and praises the fine finish; another highlights a 'precise and meticulous' longer layered cut and beard trim in a 'very pleasant' atmosphere. Nils describes the shop as not just a place to work but a place to hang out and meet friends, and he's explicit about the culture — no macho behaviour, no racism or sexism, just good vibes. That inclusive, easy-going atmosphere, paired with genuine technical skill, is what keeps Wellingtonians coming back.
Barbers on Manners is open seven days a week: Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 18.30, Saturday from 9.00 to 17.30, and Sunday from 9.00 to 16.30. Walk-ins are welcome — ideal for a quick trim — but booking online through Fresha lets you skip the wait and lock in your preferred barber. You'll find the shop at 131 Manners Street, between Taranaki Street and Cuba Street, and the team can be reached by phone on +64 21 254 8907 or by email at [email protected]. Whether you're after a classic cut, a fresh fade or a proper cutthroat shave, this is one of the CBD's most dependable chairs.