Organising a group dinner isn’t the easiest task, right? Someone’s vegan, another prefers an endless buffet, and somehow, you’re in charge of meeting everyone’s preference – again! 

Fret not – Wellington might be compact, but when it comes to food, you have many options at your disposal. Whether you’re hosting a birthday bash or simply wrangling the crew for a much-needed reunion, we have it all here.

These group dining spots in Wellington won’t let you down – like, ever! 

1. Charley Noble

We find Charley Noble to be a solid choice when it comes to smart-casual events, usually for corporate functions or celebratory dinners. The ambience, mixed with the open-plan kitchen, maintains that modern vibe for such events

Additionally, they offer corporate catering, which is nice to take note of if you enjoy their service. 

Speaking of which, the staff were all attentive and welcoming, offering services at a prompt pace at all times.

As for the food, you’ll find a nice range of fire-grilled meats and seafood here. But if we have to recommend, their house steak and ale pot pie are winners – the steak was bold and beefy, while the pie was filling and buttery.

Groups of 8 to 15 can comfortably sit here, and thanks to the layout of the place, crowds can move in and out of their seats with ease. Noise levels are tolerable, though it may get a bit louder as the night kicks in.

Just take note that dining here can be expensive, where it’s usual to spend over $100 per person. But for the relaxed setting and the good service, we think it’s worth the price tag.

Brilliant service and exquisite food

“Exquisite food. Service was brilliant and delivered with good humor.

We felt so welcomed here.Our group of 8 were very well looked after  even though we didn’t quite make a main table. Staff made it work for us anyway. Could not have been better looked after Thanks guys.

You do a fantastic job.”

Malcolm ONeill | Google Reviews

Sensational flavours

“15 ladies with a set menu. Absolutely fabulous! The taste sensations kept our group quiet for a while!”

Catherine Robertson | Google Reviews

2. Shed 5

When it comes to flexibility, Shed 5 takes the crown in our books. We love that their venue is designed to suit specific group sizes and occasions. For instance, they have a private dining room (up to 80 standing capacity) that comes with no hire fee.

Beyond the private rooms, their eastern-facing windows are enough to elevate the experience. The stunning water views are the perfect backdrop to any event, perfect for larger gatherings of up to 220 guests.

For casual meetups, the restaurant offers a set menu service for groups larger than 15. The fixed menus offer 2 to 3 courses, each with 3 dish options, as well as bread and tea or coffee.

The quality of the food had been consistently good. Our team loved the salmon tartare and oysters as they were fresh and just properly portioned for casual dining or as extras for a main meal.

The restaurant is popular, so our best recommendation is to book months in advance. It may not be the first option for those spontaneous cravings, though checking once in a while for spots may help you score a spot.

Good food and great management

“Great communication with management and waiters, food was very good and our group of 23 were able to utilise a private area at no cost which enabled us to celebrate without any disturbance to other diners.”

Pat Hitchcock | Google Reviews

Excellent service 

“Excellent service from kaia who was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience for our large commercial group”

Cody Maxted | Google Reviews

3. Wildfire Restaurant Wellington

Wildfire impressed us with their flexibility in terms of event sizes, able to host up to 350 guests. We absolutely adore their sunset private dining room (up to 60 guests), as it’s surprisingly easy to reserve, even on short notice.

As for the service, we liked that the services included Churrasco-style dining, meaning a continuous flow of frilled meals. With this option, you get prime meats such as lamb legs, chicken thighs, beef rump, and their beloved pork sausages. 

If you feel a little too overwhelmed with this style, there are sides too, like the chef’s salad and roasted potatoes. We loved how well the dishes matched, and the approach was easily filling even for big groups.

Service is just as notable – they’re able to adjust depending on allergies or any dietary request. Though, as you can already tell by the dining style, it’s definitely not the most vegetarian-friendly restos out there.

Everything was prompt as well, and we left impressed with how well-coordinated everything was. With a tastefully decorated venue, it’s simply a nice spot to hang with friends, workmates, or family. 

Perfect for a group of family or friends

“Our new favourite. Definitely one to go to with a group of family or friends. Great services, plenty to please all, except maybe vegetarian!

Love this experience ❤️”

Fiona Filton | Google Reviews

High-quality food

“I thoroughly enjoyed this unique dining experience, the food was high quality and really good flavour. We went with a big groups and it was a very good night out. You will definitely not leave hungry that’s for sure. Thanks for a great night @wildfire staff.”

Dries Venter | Google Reviews

4. Rock Yard Restaurant

Rock Yard checks all the boxes when it comes to food quality, atmosphere and service. It’s ideal for various types of events too, including birthdays, corporate dinners, or spontaneous get-togethers.

They can host both small and large groups, maintaining solid attentiveness all throughout. For groups, they can easily handle individual orders, dietary restrictions, and even split payments.

Their Vietnamese menu allows them to cater to almost everyone: vegetarians, vegans, and those with gluten sensitivities. The portions are generous too, which makes the prices worth it.

Some of our favourite dishes here include their popular goi chay tofu salad, which has fresh and crunchy veggies, and a tangy, sweet and sour taste. The whole palace is very reminiscent of Hoi An too with its colourful lanterns.

If you’re dining here, just be wary of the noise levels, which usually skyrocket at busy lunch and dinner hours. It’s not the best for those more intimate meals, but it’s great for those looking for energy.

Great service and fresh food

“Great spot for groups of all sizes. Nice hot fresh food, great service and drinks. Went early Saturday evening and was fed, watered and full in under an hour!”

Jake Wallis | Google Reviews

Great place for groups

“Enjoyed my meal, lovely fresh flavors. Great place for groups and sharing plates.”

Natalie Darkins | Google Reviews

5. Ortega Fish Shack

Despite its casual name, Ortega Fish Shack is an ideal spot for chic, upscale group dining. There’s even a private room upstairs (up to 32 guests), with a minimum spend of $2,500 on weekdays and $3,500 for weekends.

In terms of ambience, it’s refined but it’s still cosy. Even for more casual meetups, the venue works as well. The private room upstairs has an exclusive feel, but never felt stuffy at all. 

Food quality and consistency are both strong, made even better by their solid portions and fair prices. We liked their yellowtail kingfish ceviche with avocado and lemongrass – it has a citrusy flavour and umami-rich texture.

Flexibility is a solid point too, offering private lunch bookings for groups of 10 and more. Booking was seamless – whether via phone or email, they had prompt responses and were courteous all throughout.

The service can just be a little dismissive sometimes – one customer told us that a staff member didn’t entertain their question about certain menu items. It doesn’t appear to be a recurring issue though, so we consider this a unique case.

Friendly and welcoming staff

“Friendly, expert service that made us feel so welcome even though we were wildly early.  I ordered a cocktail and asked for something not on the menu (my confusion) but no problems whatsoever. The crew stepped up to make magic happen.  Our group of four were all raving about their meals. A wonderful evening and Otega Fish Shack are deservedly one of Wellingtons finest restaurants.”

Wendy Page | Google Reviews

Excellent dishes and service 

“I attended a group function here last evening restaurant was very busy however the service and dishes were excellent I had the best steak I have ever had I will definitely use Ortega again when I am in Wellington”

Bob Byers | Google Reviews

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