Ombra

Restaurants key icon.
Restaurants key icon.

Monday4:00 – 9:00 pm.

Tuesday4:00 – 9:00 pm.

Wednesday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Thursday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Friday12:00 – 9:30 pm.

Saturday12:00 – 9:30 pm.

Sunday12:00 – 9:00 pm.

199 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington

04 385 3229

Step off Cuba Street into a bit of Italy in the form of Ombra, Wellington’s very own Venetian-inspired restaurant. Whitewashed walls and polished floors ensure you feel like you’re dining in the middle of an Italian summer, even when the Wellington weather outside says otherwise. Come evening time, Ombra is the place to be, and the hosts here have that real Italian passion about making sure you have a good time and enjoy all the food that’s delivered to your table. Paper menus and calico curtains soften the edges of this restaurant, where the rustic interior makes you feel like curling up with a midday drink and eating your way slowly through a three-course lunch.

Don’t be startled if at first the menu seems a little tricky to read, as there’s both a glossary of terms at the bottom and attentive staff who are more than able to talk you through it. In true Italian fashion it would be wrong not to start the dinner date with some bread, so why not make it a bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes, ricotta and oregano. There’s local crafts on tap for the beer drinkers, or those keen on an Italian aperitif may find the Aperol Spritz more to their liking. The main meals become a little trickier to choose with pizza, pasta, fresh meatballs, fish and salad all gracing the menu, so it’s worth taking along an eating companion just so you can share a variety of plates. Breads, doughs and gnocchi are all made in-house.

There's no doubt Ombra is well deserving of its very loyal following. Honest, earthy and not straying from the real reason restaurants succeed, Ombra goes to show that great food and great service are a winning combination every time.

Words by Rosie Morrison & Photography by Anna Briggs

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

199 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington

Nearby Places

Aro Video

A television.
Place Wellington

Stocking an eclectic selection of quality films for hire, Aro Video offers just an inkling of hope that the Internet hasn’t killed the DVD, yet.

Zelati

Woman holding ice cream on cone.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

From the texture to the rich, bright flavours, their range of sorbet and gelato offerings are impressive on the palate and pleasing to the eye.

Chouchou

Booth seating and tables are in the foreground, behind is the ordering counter and a patisserie sign, with a man walking past at Chouchou.
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

Chouchou brings a playful dose of Parisian flair to Wellington’s waterfront, with a menu and mood that make it equally tempting for a morning pastry run or a long,...

Pickle and Pie

The cafe space at Pickle and Pie.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

After many a lunchtime spent hankering for just a ‘good old sandwich’, Tim Tracey and Mia Freeman decided to take matters into their own hands.

Similar Places

Aro Taproom

A man pouring beer.
Place Wellington
Bars key icon.

Welcome to hop-head heaven.

Olde Beach Bakery Paekākāriki

A view of the inside of Olde Beach Bakery on sunny day.
Place Kāpiti Coast Paekākāriki
Cafes key icon.

Olde Beach Bakery Paekākāriki pumps out delicious baked goods in the heart of Paekākāriki for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike.

Bellbird Eatery

A glass counter inside a cafe.
Place Hutt Valley Lower Hutt
Cafes key icon.

Bringing its own flair to a famed building with its relaxed glam feel, Bellbird Eatery is a fine example of a museum cafe in the Hutt.

Pickle and Pie

The cafe space at Pickle and Pie.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

After many a lunchtime spent hankering for just a ‘good old sandwich’, Tim Tracey and Mia Freeman decided to take matters into their own hands.