Portlander sits at the Featherston and Whitmore Street corner inside Rydges Wellington, but it presents itself as much more than a hotel dining room. The restaurant has cultivated a following among city workers and local diners with a seven-day schedule, a warm bar-and-grill atmosphere and a direct focus on steak, whiskey and wine. Breakfast, lunch and dinner each have their own service window, giving the venue a different rhythm across the day while its central-city position remains convenient for business meals and evenings out.
Beef is the defining subject. Signature steaks are cooked on a lava grill, with cuts such as eye fillet, ribeye, sirloin and chateaubriand drawn from pasture-fed New Zealand cattle. Larger dry-aged sirloin on the bone and tomahawk ribeye extend the choice for diners who want a more dramatic cut or something to share. Sauces such as red wine jus, mushroom, horopito and brandy butter or horseradish cream let each steak take a distinct direction, while vegetables, mash and several styles of fries are ordered alongside.
The kitchen also gives the table ways to move beyond beef. Recent menus have paired Creole-spiced chicken with gravy, pork belly with mustard and pear, and lamb rump with a slow-roasted rib. A changing ocean dish reflects sustainably selected fish and seafood, while clam linguine brings smoked bacon and a wine-butter sauce to the pasta section. Vegetable caponata with semolina gnocchi provides a composed meat-free main, so a group can share the grill-house setting even when not everyone wants steak.
Portlander's drinks programme is part of its identity, particularly the pairing of bold red wines and warming whiskies with grilled meat. Weekend brunch and the seasonal Sunday roast offer more relaxed reasons to visit, while desserts and New Zealand cheeses can lengthen an evening meal. For private occasions, the Hunter and Gatherer spaces can be used separately or together for seated dinners and cocktail gatherings. That range allows Portlander to shift from a weekday lunch to a date-night set menu or a carefully organised group event without feeling like three unrelated venues.
Address: 75 Featherston Street, Pipitea, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Portlander Menu
Oyster Bar
Torched Nduja Butter
Bacon lardons
Kawakawa Crumb
With aged balsamic vinegar
Au Natural
Served with lemon
Beer Battered
Served with hot sauce
Entrées
Stone Baked Honey Ciabatta
Smoked garlic butter
New Zealand Sticky Lamb Ribs
Classic mint sauce, pickled onions
Prawn Risotto
Sauvignon blanc butter emulsion, lemon, chilli oil, pecorino
Wedge Salad
Condensed milk mayo, Scotty’s bacon lardons, parmesan, pink onions, garlic croutes
Signature Lava Grill Cuts
All served with fire roasted pepper silk & choice of sauce. Choice of sauce: Mandys Horseradish cream / Smoked garlic butter / Port wine jus / Torched horopito & brandy butter / Club mushroom sauce; extra sauce 5.
28 Day Dry Aged In-House Sirloin Bone-In 400g–1000g
Angus/Hereford cross, pasture-fed in central North Island. Dry-aged in our custom cabinet, cooked to medium rare and carved
Aged Tomahawk / ‘Op Ribeye 500g
Ribeye’ cooked to medium rare. Prime Angus, Glenburn Station, Wairarapa
New Zealand Beef Chateaubriand 400g
Pasture fed Quality Beef sourced throughout New Zealand from local suppliers
New Zealand Reserved Eye Fillet 200g
Sourced New Zealand Grass fed Angus
Handpicked Aged Ribeye 280g
Pasture-fed aged ribeye, handpicked by our butcher for exceptional marbling and rich flavour
Smoked Venison Denver Leg 250g
‘Fair game’ venison – wild caught in Invercargill
Lumina Lamb Rump 300g
Grass-fed and chicory & clover finished – description.
NY Cut Striploin 350g
Pasture-fed in South Canterbury
Large Plates
Pork Scotch Fillet
Orchard thieves cider, preserved thyme, horopito & granny smith apple, watercress
Confit Chicken Leg
Braised balsamic onion buerre monte, frizzled leek
Market Fish
Trust the fisherman, a dish based around sustainably caught fish
Portlander Burger
28 day aged beef patty, ‘Scottys’ bacon, smoked provolone, onion lace, lettuce, secret sauce, steak fries
Wild Mushroom & Guanciale Fettucine
Mascarpone, truffle, pangrattato, pecorino, parsley pistou
Cauliflower Cutlet
Kumara caramel, smoked chimichurri
Sides
Garden Greens
Crisp cabbage, green goddess dressing, odd bunch cucumber, spiced seeds
Steak Cut Fries
Tomato ketchup
Minute Potatoes
Poppy seed & tarragon butter
Broccoli & Kale
Black garlic & lemon emulsion, candied walnuts
Brown Butter Eggs
Portlander’s salt
Macaroni & Cauliflower Au Gratin
Kawakawa pangratatto
Otaki Carrots
New Zealand honey, baked feta, cumin seeds
Dessert
Tiramisu
Lady fingers with Baileys & amaretto
Smashed Meringue
Mascapone cream, mixed berry & pistachios
Chocolate Mousse
Whittakers chocolate, citrus, walnut caramel, praline
Crème Brulee
Cinnamon cream, caramelised pumpkin seeds
Cheese Selection
Honey comb, candied nuts, preserve, oat crackers
The Surf & Turf Experience
Selection of todays butcher cuts & crustaceans. Add a side to complete the endeavour!
The Surf & Turf Experience
Selection of todays butcher cuts & crustaceans
Sunday Roast
5PM onwards. Main Course Roast + Desert | $60 per person
Main Course Roast + Desert
Lunch – To Start
Au Natural Oysters
Served with lemon
NZ Sticky Lamb Ribs
Classic mint sauce, pickled onion
Arobake’s Stone Baked Honey Ciabatta
Manuka smoked garlic butter
Wedge Salad
Condensed milk mayo, Scotty’s bacon lardons, parmesan, pink onions, garlic croutes
Lunch – Large
Wild Mushroom Fettuccine
Mascarpone, truffle, pangrattato, pecorino, parsley pistou
Line Caught Fish
Served with fire roast pepper sauce, petite leaf salad and lemon
Portlander Burger
28 Day aged beef patty, Scotty’s bacon, smoked provolone, lettuce, onion crisp, secret sauce and steak cut fries
Lunch – Signature Lava Grill Cuts
See wait staff for available cuts
28 Day Dry Aged In-House Sirloin Bone-In
Angus/Hereford Cross, pasture-fed in central North Island. Dry-aged in our custom cabinet, cooked to medium rare and carved
Aged Tomahawk / ‘Op Ribeye 500g
Ribeye’ cooked to medium rare. Prime Angus, Glenburn Station, Wairarapa
NZ Reserved Eye Fillet 200g
Sourced New Zealand grass fed Angus
Handpicked Aged Ribeye 280g
Pasture-fed aged ribeye, handpicked by our butcher for exceptional marbling and rich flavour
Lunch – Sides
Brown Butter Eggs
Steak Cut Fries
Tomato ketchup
Garden Greens
Crisp cabbage, green goddess dressing
Minute Potatoes
Poppy seed & tarragon butter
Broccoli & Kale
Black garlic and lemon emulsion, candied walnuts
Lunch – Desserts
Crème Brûlée
Cinnamon cream, caramelised pumpkin seeds
Smashed Meringue
Mascarpone cream, mixed berry and pistachios
Tiramisu
Lady fingers with Baileys and amaretto
Cheese Selection
Honey comb, candied nuts, preserve, oat crackers
Bar Menu
The Cheeseburger
200g beef patty, Swiss cheese, American cheese, McClure’s pickles, burger sauce, Arobake brioche bun, fries
Burger ‘A La Mode’
Smoked provolone, beer battered onion rings, Scotty’s bacon, burger sauce, pickles and a frickle on top, Arobake brioche bun, Balle Farms agria fries
Hand-Picked Ribeye 300g
55-day aged, pasture fed, served with jus, onion silk and Portlander salt
Charcuterie Duo
House made ‘maison terrine’, locally sourced cured meat, fried bread crisps, gentleman’s relish, pickles
Frickles
Beer battered McClure’s pickles, Huffman’s hot sauce
Arobake’s Stone Baked Honey Ciabatta
Manuka smoked garlic butter
Balle Farms Agria Fries
Kasundi ketchup
Crinkle Cut Fries
Tomato sauce
Ripped Lettuce Salad
Seeds, cucumber, vinaigrette
Blanched Broccoli
Bok choy, parsley pistou
Weekend Brunch
10:30AM–2:30PM. Every Saturday & Sunday | À la carte menu. Bubbles & cocktail specials.
Smashed Avo
Baked feta, pickled onions, red pepper silk, spiced seeds on sourdough
Wedge Salad
Bacon, parmesan, croutes, topped with a poached egg
Prosciutto Toast
Whipped ricotta, rocket, red wine reduction
Pancake Stack
Caramelized banana, bacon, maple syrup
Eggs Your Way
Scrambled, poached, or fried on sourdough
Creamy Garlic Mushrooms
Finished with coconut cream and fried shallots
Eggs Portlander
Poached eggs, potato cakes, smoked bacon, hollandaise sauce
Portlander Burger
28-Day aged beef patty, Scotty’s bacon, smoked provolone, onion lace, lettuce, secret sauce, steak-cut fries
New Zealand Reserved Eye Fillet (200g)
Petite leaf salad, port wine jus
Market Fish
Fire-roasted red pepper silk, petite leaf salad, lemon
Wild Mushroom Fettuccine
Mascarpone, truffle, pangrattato, pecorino, parsley pistou
Weekend Brunch – Add-Ons
Poached or Fried Egg
Mushrooms
Hash Bites, Bacon or Grilled Sausages
Kids Combos
Portlander kids meals for only $25! All served with apple juice, an ice-cream bowl, lollies and sprinkles for dessert.
Crumbed Chicken Tenders
Broccoli and fries
Cheeseburger
Patty, ketchup, cheese, soft bun, lettuce, fries and salad
Orecchiette Pasta
Tomato pasta sauce, parmesan, zucchini slices
Battered Fish and Chips
With a little salad, ketchup
Weekend Brunch – Beverages
Vittoria Espresso
Black, white, hot chocolate
Le Maison Du The
English breakfast, earl grey, lemon & ginger, green, chamomile
Mimosa
Maker’s ‘Anonymous’ prosecco, orange juice
Bellini
Maker’s ‘Anonymous’ prosecco, peach purée
From Happy Menu members
Reviews from locals: every member has confirmed a New Zealand mobile.
Been to Portlander? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Wellington
- Smashed avocado Typical in Wellington: $24.00 $23.00
- Tiramisu Typical in Wellington: $16.90 $18.00
- Cheeseburger Typical in Wellington: $26.00 $29.00
From our guide
Best New Zealand and Contemporary Restaurants Near Me In Wellington
Our closest guide to Portlander
-
Charley Noble Eatery & Bar
Wellington · 500 m ·$
New Zealand · Grill
-
Boulcott Street Bistro
Wellington · 730 m ·$
European · Bistro
-
Logan Brown
Wellington · 1.6 km ·$$
New Zealand · Fine Dining
-
Noble Rot Wine Bar
Wellington · 1.5 km ·$
European · Wine Bar
- Modern Australian R Rosella Wellington · 1.6 km ·$ Modern Australian · Wine Bar
- Vegetarian H Hillside Wellington · 740 m Vegetarian
Around the corner
Within 1 km of Portlander
- New Zealand K Kanteen Cafe Wellington · 80 m ·$ New Zealand · Café
-
Duke of Wellington
Wellington · 110 m ·$
British · New Zealand
-
Black Doris
Wellington · 110 m ·$
New Zealand · Breakfast & Brunch
-
Flamingo Joe's
Wellington · 110 m ·$
New Zealand · Pub
-
The Old Bailey
Wellington · 220 m ·$$
New Zealand · Bar
-
Dillinger's Brasserie & Bar
Wellington · 240 m ·$$
American · Bar
More New Zealand nearby
Within 10 km
- New Zealand T The Featherston Wellington · 250 m ·$ New Zealand · Pub
- New Zealand C Colonial Cafe Wellington · 280 m ·$ New Zealand · Breakfast & Brunch
-
D4 on Featherston
Wellington · 310 m
Irish · New Zealand
- Italian O One Red Dog Wellington · 320 m ·$ Italian · New Zealand
- New Zealand G Gemini Cafe Wellington · 330 m ·$ New Zealand · Café
-
Foxglove Bar & Kitchen
Wellington · 330 m ·$
European · New Zealand