Puffin Wine Bar

Puffin Wine Bar has found its home at The Intrepid Hotel, former warehouse of Cadbury Chocolate, just off Cuba Street. This hidden gem is located at the gateway to the culinary district of Wellington, surrounded by restaurants, brew bars, music venues, vibrant street art and some of the capital’s best coffee shops. You are drawn off the street by dim lighting shining through a long corridor: the secret entrance to Puffin. The interior decor boasts a long brass bar top, intimate sofa booths along the wall and casual seating in the middle of the room. Towards the rear there is a small, cosy courtyard available too.

The menu is small but simple, classy and tasty, offering a carefully curated selection of cheeses and charcuteries with occasional treats and staff favourites. Every time you come back there is something different to choose from. Puffin is the perfect place for a casual drink, date night, pre- or after-dinner drink, offering a rotating tap beer and selection of artisan rums, whiskeys and gins in addition to the wine list.

If you wish to explore organic and minimal intervention wines of New Zealand and the world, Puffin is the place to visit. The list has approximately 200 wines by the bottle, covering mostly regions with a strong dedication to organic viticulture. They have a good selection of skin contact wines too. If you haven’t heard about the producer, don’t panic, let the staff take care of you.

The selection by the glass is limited to a few options, displayed on the wall, but the selection is in constant rotation. You will often have a chance to taste very unique, limited wines: typically a labour of love project, with a dosage of experimentation. The team can also help you select a wine if you’re after a take-away bottle or two, chosen from the shelves in the corner of the bar. Experience guaranteed!