Huxley's

About Huxley's

Huxley's Bar and Eatery is a CBD escape on Bowen Street in Wellington, serving modern diner food alongside bottomless coffee, cold beer and tap cocktails from breakfast through to late. It's part of Star Group, one of Aotearoa's largest hospitality operators, which runs over 50 bars, pubs and restaurants across the North Island.

The all-day menu runs from shareables like pumpkin arancini and popcorn cauliflower through to classics such as a 250 gram sirloin steak, beer-battered fish and chips, and a seafood chowder loaded with clams, green-lipped mussels and prawns. Huxley's also does its own take on Detroit deep dish pizza, a burger line-up including a Wagyu beef burger, and a full breakfast menu with eggs benedict, smashed avocado and toasted banana bread.

On the drinks side, there's an extensive tap and bottle beer list, a full wine list spanning Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and more, champagne and sparkling by the glass or bottle, and a cocktail programme covering taptails, spritzers, Huxley's Classics and mocktails. The venue hosts a weekly pub quiz every Thursday at 6pm, offers function spaces with tailored food and beverage packages, and is part of the Star Social loyalty programme, which gives $1 back for every $10 spent.

Huxley's: Wellington's CBD Escape for All-Day Dining and Bottomless Coffee

Tucked into Bowen Street in the heart of Wellington's CBD, Huxley's Bar and Eatery bills itself as a CBD escape — a spot for a quick bite, a proper meal, or a cold drink to unwind, all in one place. It's part of Star Group, one of Aotearoa's largest hospitality operators, running more than 50 bars, pubs and restaurants across the North Island.

What They're Known For

Huxley's serves modern diner food across an all-day menu that moves easily from casual to indulgent. Shareables like pumpkin arancini with black garlic mayo and popcorn cauliflower tossed in buffalo sauce sit alongside heartier classics: a 250 gram sirloin steak with red wine jus, beer-battered fish and chips, and a seafood chowder loaded with clams, green-lipped mussels and prawns. The kitchen also turns out its own Detroit deep dish pizza — thick-crust pies like the Smoking Hot with salami, nduja and hot honey, available by the slice or whole.

Burgers are a strong suit too, from the Wagyu Beef Burger with black garlic mayo and chimichurri to a Bean Burger built for vegan diners. On the lighter side, the Bowls section offers a Caesar Salad and a Roast Pumpkin bowl with vegan feta and candied walnuts, both available with fried chicken or halloumi added.

Breakfast and Bottomless Coffee

Huxley's leans into its all-day identity with a full breakfast menu — Eggs Benedict, Smashed Avocado, and a Toasted Banana Bread finished with whipped coffee mascarpone are among the options, alongside a Bacon Egg Butty for something simpler. True to its tagline, bottomless coffee is a headline feature: the Bottomless Filter Coffee from Coffee Supreme comes with unlimited mugs, making Huxley's a natural spot to linger over breakfast or a work catch-up.

Drinks, On Tap and Beyond

The drinks list runs deep. On tap, there's a rotating line-up including Huxley's own house lager, Tuatara's hazy pale ale and IPA, and Monteith's pilsner and cider, plus a rotational guest tap for something different each visit. The wine list spans Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and more from Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and Central Otago, alongside international picks from France, Spain and Australia, with champagne and sparkling options including Veuve Clicquot and Cloudy Bay Pelorus.

Cocktail lovers have plenty to choose from too, from Huxley's Classics like the Penicillin and Negroni Sour to lighter Spritzers and a solid Mocktails list for those skipping alcohol, including a Lyres Mango Margarita made with a non-alcoholic spirit base.

Events, Loyalty and the Wider Experience

Huxley's hosts a weekly pub quiz every Thursday at 6pm, giving regulars a reason to come back beyond the food and drink. The venue also offers function spaces with tailored food and beverage packages and free event planning services for private celebrations. Customers can join Star Social, Star Group's loyalty programme, which gives $1 back for every $10 spent and is honoured across more than 50 venues nationwide.

Huxley's keeps standard weekday hours, open from 7:30am until late, Monday to Friday, and closed on Saturdays and Sundays — making it very much a CBD weekday destination rather than a weekend spot. Between the diner-style menu, the drinks list and the bottomless coffee, it's built to cover breakfast meetings, lunch catch-ups and after-work drinks all under one roof.

Signature items

• Wagyu Beef Burger
• 250 Gram Sirloin Steak
• Detroit Deep Dish Pizza
• Bottomless Filter Coffee
• Eggs Benedict
• Salted Caramel Espresso Martini

Menu

Tea

• English Breakfast — Tea.
• Earl Grey — Tea.
• Peppermint — Tea.
• Green — Tea.
• Berrylicious — Tea.
• Lemon, Honey & Ginger — Tea.

Bowls

• Caesar Salad — Cos lettuce, anchovy dressing, bacon, egg, croutons, parmesan cheese.
• Roast Pumpkin — Roast pumpkin, pickled radish, kale, baby spinach, vegan feta, vinaigrette, candied walnuts.

Sides

• Confit Duck Fat Potato — Served with crème fraîche chive dip.
• Seasonal Side Salad — A seasonal salad side.

Burgers

• Wagyu Beef Burger — Sesame seed milk bun, black garlic mayo, chimichurri, lettuce, tomato, smoked cheese, served with fries.
• Peach Chicken Burger — Sesame seed milk bun, peach jalapeño relish, crispy chicken, lettuce, smoked cheese, served with fries.
• Bean Burger — Sesame seed milk bun, bean patty, vegan yoghurt dressing, beetroot relish, lettuce, served with fries.

Classics

• 250 Gram Sirloin Steak — Confit baby potato, sautéed kale, red wine jus.
• Fish and Chips — Beer battered fish, remoulade, seasonal salad, charred lemon.
• Seafood Chowder — Creamy velouté with poached fish, clams, green lipped mussels, prawns, toasted sourdough.
• Soup of the Week — Changes weekly — see the specials menu or ask staff.

Breakfast

• Eggs on Toast — Free range eggs on toasted sourdough.
• Eggs Benedict — Poached eggs, spinach, hollandaise, served on a hashbrown.
• Smashed Avocado — Sourdough, sundried tomato, smashed avocado, vegan feta, fennel, dukkah.
• Toasted Banana Bread — Housemade banana bread, caramelised banana, oat crumble, whipped coffee mascarpone.
• Bacon Egg Butty — Sesame seed milk bun, fried egg, plum ketchup.

Cocktails

• Margarita (Mango, Strawberry or Pineapple) — El Jimador reposado tequila, triple sec, lime juice.
• Rotating Taptail — Ask staff what's pouring.
• Cranberry Moscow Mule — Finlandia vodka, lime, cranberry, ginger beer.
• Raspberry Daiquiri — Flor de Caña Extra Seco 4 rum, raspberry, lime.
• Penicillin — Whyte and Mackay scotch, lemon, Huxley's hot honey, egg whites, bitters.
• Negroni Sour — City of London gin, Campari, red vermouth, lemon, simple syrup, egg whites.
• Salted Caramel Espresso Martini — Absolut Vanilla, salted caramel Kahlúa, espresso, salted caramel.
• Winter Spiced Wine — Northrow Pinot Noir, apricot brandy, orange juice, brown sugar, spice mix.
• Hot Toddy — Wild Turkey bourbon, honey brown sugar syrup, lemon.
• Huxley's Spritz — St Germain, lime, prosecco, soda.
• Sloe Gin Spritz — Sloe gin, Lillet, lemon, prosecco, soda.

Mocktails

• Watermelon Spritz — Apple juice, watermelon, lime, soda.
• Blueberry Refresher — Blueberry lemonade.
• Rosebud Fizz — Cranberry, passionfruit, pineapple, vanilla, lemon, soda.
• Lyres Mango Margarita — Lyres Blanco 0% tequila, lime, mango, simple syrup.

Wine List

• Northrow Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough.
• Man O' War Swiftsure Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough.
• Duck Hunter Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough.
• Edenvale Sauvignon Blanc (Alcohol Free) — South Australia.
• Northrow Chardonnay — Gisborne.
• Coopers Creek Single Vineyard Limeworks Chardonnay — Hawke's Bay.
• Craggy Range Kidnappers Vineyard Chardonnay — Hawke's Bay.
• Northrow Pinot Gris — Gisborne.
• Paritua Stone Paddock Pinot Gris — Hawke's Bay.
• Church Road Gwen Pinot Gris — Hawke's Bay.
• Lake Chalice The Falcon Riesling — Marlborough.
• Matawhero Church House Chenin Blanc — Gisborne.
• Northrow Rosé — Hawke's Bay.
• Terroir Project Orange — Marlborough.
• Listel Rosé — France.
• Craggy Range Rosé — Hawke's Bay.
• Northrow Pinot Noir — Marlborough.
• Johnson Estate Pinot Noir — Marlborough.
• Rua Pinot Noir — Central Otago.
• Babich Syrah — Hawke's Bay.
• Faustino Tempranillo — Rioja, Spain.
• Mr Mick Shiraz — Clare Valley, Australia.
• Redmetal Vineyards Merlot Cabernet Franc — Hawke's Bay.
• Brookfields Sun-Dried Malbec — Hawke's Bay.

Hot Drinks

• Espresso — Coffee Supreme espresso.
• Long Black — Coffee Supreme.
• Americano — Coffee Supreme.
• Piccolo — Coffee Supreme.
• Short Macchiato — Coffee Supreme.
• Long Macchiato — Coffee Supreme.
• Flat White — Coffee Supreme, regular or large.
• Cappuccino — Coffee Supreme, regular or large.
• Latte — Coffee Supreme, regular or large.
• Iced Latte — Coffee Supreme.
• Iced Black — Coffee Supreme.
• Iced Mocha — Coffee Supreme.
• Iced Chocolate — Coffee Supreme.
• Bottomless Filter Coffee — Coffee Supreme filter coffee with unlimited mugs.

Shareables

• Pumpkin Arancini — Pumpkin and taleggio arancini with black garlic mayo.
• Flatbread & Dips — Housemade yoghurt flatbread with crème fraîche chive dip and peach jalapeño relish.
• Lemongrass Chicken — Battered fried chicken tossed in lemongrass glaze, sesame seed, spring onion.
• Popcorn Cauliflower — Crispy cauliflower tossed in buffalo sauce, ranch dip, pickles.
• Fried Camembert — Crumbed camembert served with cranberry compote.
• Fries — Served with garlic aioli.

Beer On Tap

• Heineken Lager 5% — On tap.
• Heineken Silver Low Carb 4% — On tap.
• Tiger Lager 5% — On tap.
• Huxley's Lager 4% — House lager, on tap.
• Tuatara Hazy Pale Ale 5.5% — On tap.
• Tuatara Adapt APA 5.6% — On tap.
• Tuatara Interstellar IPA 6.1% — On tap.
• Monteith's Wayfarer Pilsner 4.9% — On tap.
• Monteith's West Coastin' Hazy IPA 5.5% — On tap.
• Monteith's Crushed Apple Cider 4.5% — On tap.
• Rotational Guest Tap — Ask staff for today's selection.

Served Daily

• Huxley's Hot Buttered Cheese Scone — House-baked cheese scone, served hot with butter.
• Muffins — Freshly baked muffins.
• Banana Bread — Slice of housemade banana bread.

Non-Alcoholic

• Coca-Cola / Coca-Cola Zero Sugar — Soft drink.
• Coca-Cola Raspberry — Soft drink.
• Soda & Lime — Soft drink.
• Schweppes Range — Dry Lemonade, Ginger Beer, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water, or Lemon, Lime & Bitters.
• Soda Water — Soft drink.
• Fever-Tree Tonic — Light Mediterranean or Elderflower.
• Red Bull — Energy Drink, Sugarfree, or Coconut Edition Sugarfree.
• Keri Juices — Apple, Pineapple, Orange, Cranberry, Tomato or Spiced Tomato.
• Little City Kombucha — Lemon & Ginger or Green Apple.
• Voyage Water — Sparkling or still, 500ml or 1L.

Bottles & Cans

• Heineken Lager 5% — Bottled.
• Heineken Silver Ultra Low Carb 4% — Bottled.
• Heineken 0.0% — Low alcohol.
• Tiger Crystal Ultra Low Carb 4.2% — Bottled.
• Sol 4.2% — Bottled.
• Monteith's Golden Light 2.5% — Low alcohol.
• Garage Project Tiny Hazy IPA <0.5% — Low alcohol.
• Garage Project Fugazi IPA 2.2% — Low alcohol.
• Orchard Thieves Cider Berry 4% — Bottled cider.

Speciality Drinks

• Chai Latte — Speciality hot drink.
• Hot Chocolate — Speciality hot drink.
• Mochaccino — Speciality hot drink.

Champagne & Sparkling

• Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut — France, by the glass or bottle.
• Veuve Clicquot NV Rosé — France, by the bottle.
• Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut — Marlborough, by the glass or bottle.
• Cloudy Bay Pelorus Rosé — Marlborough, by the bottle.
• De Bortoli KV Prosecco — Victoria, Australia, by the glass or bottle.

Detroit Deep Dish Pizza

• Smoking Hot — Cheese blend, Detroit pizza sauce, salami, nduja, hot honey. Available by the slice or whole.
• Medley Veg — Cheese blend, Detroit pizza sauce, mushrooms, bell peppers and onion. Available by the slice or whole.
• Super Cheesy — Cheese blend, Detroit pizza sauce, taleggio, parmesan, balsamic glaze. Available by the slice or whole.

Frequently asked questions

What are Huxley's opening hours?

Huxley's is open weekdays from 7:30am until late, and is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

What kind of food does Huxley's serve?

Modern diner food, including shareables, classics like steak and fish and chips, Detroit deep dish pizza, burgers, bowls and a full breakfast menu.

Does Huxley's offer bottomless coffee?

Yes, a Bottomless Filter Coffee from Coffee Supreme is available with unlimited mugs.

Is there a pub quiz at Huxley's?

Yes, a weekly pub quiz runs every Thursday at 6pm.

Can I host a function or private event at Huxley's?

Yes, Huxley's offers function spaces with tailored food and beverage packages and free event planning services.

Does Huxley's have vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options?

Yes, dietary options are marked across the shareables, burgers, bowls and breakfast sections of the menu.

Is there a loyalty programme?

Yes, Star Social rewards members $1 back for every $10 spent, and can be used across Star Group's venues.

Tips

• {"body":"The Bottomless Filter Coffee comes with unlimited mugs, good value if you're staying a while.","title":"Take advantage of bottomless coffee"}
• {"body":"Huxley's runs a weekly pub quiz every Thursday at 6pm.","title":"Come for the Thursday quiz"}
• {"body":"Huxley's offers tailored food and beverage packages and free event planning for private functions.","title":"Ask about function spaces"}
• {"body":"Sign up for Star Social rewards to get $1 back for every $10 you spend.","title":"Join Star Social before you visit"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options marked across the menu"}