Kazu Yakitori & Sake Bar

Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Monday11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Tuesday11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Wednesday11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Thursday11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Friday11:30 am – 9:30 pm.

Saturday11:30 am – 9:30 pm.

Sunday11:30 am – 9:30 pm.

43 Courtenay Pl, Te Aro, Wellington

04 802 4868

Hidden within the second floor of the historic Stewarts Building on Courtenay Place is Kazu Yakitori & Sake Bar. A sanctuary from the street-level bedlam below, this faithful slice of Japanese pub culture embodies the spirit and aesthetics of izakaya, quietly proving what many locals already know: some of Wellington's best dining takes place upstairs.

Here, success comes in pairings: precision-grilled yakitori meets a sake selection that runs deep; traditional culinary techniques meet a raw, industrial-style space adorned with Japanese motifs. Exposed ceiling beams string paper lanterns above polished concrete floors, while cement walls display retro Japanese beer posters alongside ornamental fans. The room's focal point is a long counter straddling an open kitchen; at the far end, a blue noren curtain announces the restaurant's specialty in bold white hiragana: yakitori.

A delight for both solo diners and celebratory groups, Kazu exudes that particular energy synonymous with Japanese hospitality: the chorus of greetings upon arrival and warm farewells when you leave. The wooden stools lined along the counter are well-worn, as the best seats in the house should be. Here is where you witness expert chefs craft an array of specialty dishes, from grilled yakitori to hearty donburi bowls, while tables on the opposite wall and spilling onto the balcony accommodate larger parties.

Whatever your perch, you'll soon learn what yakitori is all about. These charcoal-grilled, bite-sized skewers anchor the menu, though tsukune balls, donburi bowls, katsu curry, and seasonal hotpots all pay homage to izakaya tradition. Each dish justifies climbing the flight of stairs, while the sake list, served warm or chilled in measures from taste to bottle, might complicate your descent.

Delivering Japanese pub culture with sincerity and style, Kazu Yakitori & Sake Bar is for anyone yearning for the nation’s famous alleyway yakitori, without so much as a wander outside Wellington's CBD.

Words by Lachlan Woods-Davidson & Photography by Anna Briggs

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

43 Courtenay Pl, Te Aro, Wellington

Nearby Places

Puffin

Bar sign in a dark hallway.
Place Wellington Editor's Pick
Bars key icon.

Welcome to Puffin, a “wine bar with a focus on organic and minimal intervention wines”.

Nicolini's

Green building exterior of Nicolini's and blue awning.
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

Serving a slice of Naples since '97, Nicolini's on Blair Street is Wellington's answer to the classic Italian trattoria.

Hawthorn Lounge

Green lamps on bar counter.
Place Wellington
Bars key icon.

The service at Hawthorn Lounge is impeccable, in the sense that they're attentive without being overbearing. It's novel enough to make you realise that most places have forgotten the hospitable out of hospitality.

play_station

A spotlight shining on a wall of two small art works.
Place Wellington
Galleries and museum key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.

It’s no secret Wellington is the creative capital of New Zealand.

Similar Places

Jean's

Pastries on a board on top of a wooden counter.
Place Hutt Valley Upper Hutt
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.

An artisan bakery and coffee shop that adds plenty of life and character to Fergusson Drive.

Hei

Person serving some dumplings onto plate at Hei Restaurant in Wellington
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

From the creator of that Wellington institution KC Cafe comes Hei, a refreshingly contemporary take on Chinese cuisine.

Dragonfly

Diners sitting at tables in the dining room at Dragonfly.
Place Wellington
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Dragonfly is a hidden oasis within Wellington’s Courtenay Place, lively yet intimate, this modern Asian venue has cultivated an unrivalled atmosphere and service in...

Hummingbird

Exterior view of Hummingbird's corner location in Wellington.
Place Wellington
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Occupying a prominent corner spot on Courtenay Place, there’s something magnetic about Hummingbird, a perennial energy that hums beneath the surface, pulling you into...