We’re officially counting down the days till Christmas. Shelves are stacked with Chrissy merch, festive tunes are hitting the airwaves, and trees are even going up. One thing we’re not stoked about though is the thought of hours spent slaving over a hot stove—no thanks.
With that in mind, here are the best restaurants open on Christmas Day in Wellington for 2024, so you can sit back, relax, and scrap the tradition of stressful cooking.
GPO
InterContinental Wellington, 2 Grey Street, Wellington Central
Those who choose to spend Christmas Day at GPO, the spectacular in-house restaurant at InterContinental Wellington, are in for a real treat. Specialists in fine dining, they're putting on an elegant four-course feed for lunch and dinner including (but not limited to): paua and prawn ravioli, beef eye fillet with kumara and thyme gratin and mulled merlot jus, and a beautifully festive strawberry mille-feuille to finish. A glass of complimentary champagne is also on the cards.
Furthermore, kids will receive their own menu comprising a snack plate, main and dessert, which we think is a rather lovely touch.
St John's Bar & Eatery
5 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Located right on the waterfront, choose Christmas at St Johns Bar & Eatery and you will feel very merry indeed as you tuck into their buffet-style lunch with all the trimmings. Enjoy a glass of champagne or an ice-cold Stella Artois on arrival, then dive into all the traditional hot n’ cold eats, salads and seafood, and carved meats and vegetables.
If, by some miracle, you have room for dessert, load up on classic Kiwi treats like pavlova and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, then go for a dip in the water at Oriental Bay or find a spot in the shade to bliss out in a well-deserved Chrismas kai coma.
Hippopotamus
QT Wellington, 90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington
One of the best spots for a festive feast this Christmas is Hippopotamus, who are slingin’ one helluva lunch buffet running across three glorious hours.
From salads and fresh seafood to piping hot honey-glazed ham with roasted duck-fat taters and green beans, there's plenty of great grub to get amongst. And they’re holding nothing back when it comes to dessert, with berry cheesecake, macarons, and even a chocolate Christmas tree with pistachio sponge playing a starring role. This is Christmas done right.
Jardin Grill
Sofitel Wellington, 1 Bolton Street, Wellington Central
Stuffing your face on Christmas Day is kinda compulsory—and Jardin Grill's lunchtime buffet is the place to do it. Boasting a belly-stretching eight food stations (bread, seafood, cold, charcuterie, cheese, salad, hot, and the cherry on top—a dedicated sweet station) and a free glass of fizz from its position inside the swanky Sofitel Wellington, you defs won't be leaving here with an empty stomach.
You'll find us popping oysters and sipping Bloody Mary shots before chowing down on roast chicken with all the trimmings; then indulging in a vegan "Snickers" or 10, plus some eggnog, for dessert.
Wildfire Churrascaria
60 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington
If meat from the barbie is your usual Christmas table centrepiece, then Wildfire Churrascaria will add the sizzle to your Christmas season. Their festive lunch menu is loaded with goodies, including a delectable tapas platter served alongside green-shell mussels, steak, ham, sausages... the works.
Balance out all that meat with fresh asparagus gratin, truffled polenta fries and caprese salad; and even a whole pineapple stepped in caramel-rum syrup and spiced sugar.
And the best part? The food will be continuously delivered to you, so you can fill your belly without leaving the table. Yesiree, it’s time to wear your loosest clothes.
Frankie's Bar + Eatery
Atura Wellington, 24 Hawkestone Street, Atura, Wellington
Frankie's Bar + Eatery will stand you in good stead on Christmas Day with its lavish buffet running for both lunch and dinner. Consider this an elevated take on your classic NZ Chrissy feed, featuring everything from marinated mussels and honey-glazed ham, through to Christmas pudding and our most famous festive dish of all—pavlova.
Assume you'll need to be rolled out the door afterwards.