Southern Cross Garden Bar & Restaurant occupies a Te Aro meeting place with more than a century of social history. Rather than treating the building as one large pub room, the venue offers a garden-bar oasis, cosy nooks, booths, café seating, leaners and conventional tables. That variety suits a quick drink, a family meal or a longer gathering, and it helps the Cross retain its community focus while providing a welcome buffer from the surrounding CBD streets.

Sharing starts with a wide pub-snack selection. Korean-fried cauliflower comes with barbecue sauce and pickles, sticky pork belly carries a gochujang glaze, and salt-and-pepper squid is paired with garlic aioli and lemon. Brisket-loaded fries, garlic chilli prawns on roti, pork-and-Wagyu meatballs and buttermilk fried chicken make the offering more substantial. Groups can gather several of those signatures on the Tools Down Platter, which adds grilled focaccia and turns the snacks into a table-wide tasting course.

The mains balance recognisable pub food with useful vegetarian alternatives. Chicken schnitzel and beer-battered fish and chips cover the classics, while twice-cooked pork belly comes with potato gratin, winter greens and pear-and-fig relish. Potato gnocchi combines leek, peas, tomato, lemon ricotta and crisp kale, and a green tahini bowl builds around roast carrots, leaves, buckwheat and pumpkin seeds. The burger section follows the same inclusive pattern, spanning brisket beef, fried chicken, and grilled halloumi with a house-made vegan patty.

Weekend brunch gives Southern Cross a different rhythm before the evening crowd arrives. House rosti supports eggs Benedict with a choice of bacon, hot-smoked salmon or greens; elsewhere are avocado croissant, venison mince ragu, a full English breakfast, corn-and-zucchini fritters and crème brûlée French toast. A dedicated kids' menu, desserts such as sticky date pudding, New Zealand beers on tap and a cocktail list broaden the reasons to visit, while quizzes, music and family programming keep the garden and indoor spaces active beyond meal service.

Address: 39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

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Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant Menu Menu updated on 17 Sep 2026

Pub Snacks

Pull-Apart Garlic Loaf

$14

Garlic butter

Korean-Fried Cauliflower

$20

Korean BBQ sauce, pickles

Salt & Pepper Squid

$22.50

Garlic aioli, fresh lemon

Sticky Pork Belly Bites

$24

Gochujang BBQ glaze, chilli, sesame seeds

Loaded Fries

$25.50

BBQ brisket, cheesy sauce, chipotle mayo, pickles, green onion

Garlic Chilli Prawns

$26

Blistered cherry tomatoes, green onion, chilli aioli on roti

Glazed Pork & Wagyu Brisket Meatballs

$24.50

Smoky herb butter jus, mustard cream, cheddar dust

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

$24.50

Honey sriracha, ranch, garden pickles

Onion Rings

$14.50

Chipotle mayo

Fries

$13

Confit garlic aioli

Tools Down Platter

$69

Sticky pork belly bites, buttermilk fried chicken, Korean fried cauliflower, salt & pepper squid, pork & wagyu brisket meatballs, grilled focaccia

Mac 'n Three-Cheese Sticks

$21

No gluten added bun +$2.5 or lettuce bun available

Cheeseburger

$27

150g brisket patty, American cheese, special sauce, ketchup, sweet & spicy pickles, milk bun, fries

The Cluckerson

$29.50

Crispy-fried chicken, American cheese, chipotle mayo, ranch, sweet & spicy pickles, lettuce, milk bun, fries

The Hallouminati

$29.50

Grilled halloumi, house-made vegan patty, American cheese, special sauce, sweet & spicy pickles, ranch, red onion, milk bun, fries

Sides

Cos Lettuce

$12

Pumpkin seed crunch, house dressing

Charred Winter Greens

$14

Garlic butter

Desserts

American Chocolate Brownie Sundae

$16

Chocolate peanut butter granola, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce

Baked Cheesecake Pop

$14

Chocolate crackle, raspberry gel, sherbert

Sticky Date Pudding

$15

Butterscotch sauce, vanilla bean ice cream

Kids

buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, maple syrup, mascarpone

Sweet Waffles

$23

mixed berries, mascarpone, maple syrup V

Big Breakfast

$31

bacon, house sausage, Anna potatoes, charred greens, mushrooms, Southern baked beans, eggs your way, sourdough NGO

Fried Chicken

Country Fried Chicken Strips

$24

smoky IPA sauce, ranch, sweet & spicy pickles

Pub Favourites

Smoked Beef Nachos

$29.50

chilli con carne, cheese sauce, avocado crema, sour cream, jalapeños

Bowls

Spiced Duck Wonton Nacho Bowl

$35

daikon slaw, pineapple salsa, cashews, chilli coriander & lime dressing 35.0 V0 | SWAP duck for spiced kūmara & halloumi V

Classic Caesar

$24

cos lettuce, bacon, herbed croutons, anchovy dressing, soft-boiled egg, parmesan snow 24.0 NGO | ADD chicken +7.0

Chicken Schnitzel

$29.50

Burgs

ALL SERVED WITH FRIES. No gluten added bun and a gluten free bun available

Cheeseburger

$26

150g brisket patty, American cheese, special sauce, ketchup, sweet & spicy pickles, milk bun

Brisket Boss

$32

150g brisket patty, BBQ brisket ends, American cheese, special sauce, sweet & spicy pickles, chimichurri, red onion, milk bun

The Cluckerson

$29

crispy-fried chicken, American cheese, chipotle mayo, ranch, sweet & spicy pickles, lettuce, milk bun

The Hallouminati

$29

grilled halloumi, house-made vegan patty, American cheese, special sauce, sweet & spicy pickles, ranch, red onion, milk bun

Butcher’s Cut Steak

$42

Rotating cut of premium NZ beef, fries, café de Paris butter, red wine jus, charred winter greens NGO

Beer & Cider – On Tap

Heineken

$14

Heineken Silver Low Carb

$14

Tiger Crystal Ultra Low Carb

$14 / $28 / $56

Export 33

$10 / $20 / $40

Bottles & Cans

Heineken 11.5

$11.50

Heineken 0.0% 11.0

$11

Sol 11.5

$11.50

Perrotdog Bitterbitch IPA 13.0

$13

Cocktails – Cross Creations

Pineapple Lump

$19

El jimador blanco Tequila, pineapple, lime

Sherbert Fizz

$18

Finlandia vodka, triple sec, lemon, raspberry

Berries & Cream

$18

Finlandia vanilla vodka, Baileys, strawberry

Sour Feijoa

$19

Flor de Caña Extra Seco 4 rum, feijoa, kiwifruit, lime, mint, soda

Cocktails – Cross Classics

Aperol Spritz

$16

Aperol, prosecco, soda

Rosebud

$16

Absolut Vanilla vodka, cranberry, pineapple, lemon, passionfruit

Espresso Martini

$16

Finlandia vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew

Bloody Mary

$16

Finlandia vodka, tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire, hot sauce, cracked pepper, celery salt

Refreshments

Soft Drinks

$6.50

Matcha Latte

Champagne & Sparkling

Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut

Btl $110

France

Moët & Chandon Impérial Rosé

Btl $135

France

Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut

Flute $17 / Btl $75

Marlborough

Pinot Gris & Riesling

Northrow Pinot Gris

Reg $10 / Lrg $17.50 / Btl $50

Marlborough

Poritus Stone Paddock Pinot Gris

Reg $13 / Lrg $19 / Btl $55

Hawke’s Bay

Jules Taylor Pinot Gris

Reg $16 / Lrg $23 / Btl $67

Marlborough

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Fish and chips Typical in Wellington: $29.00 $29.50
Hot chocolate Typical in Wellington: $6.00 $6.00
Smashed avocado Typical in Wellington: $24.00 $25.00
Sticky date pudding Typical in Wellington: $15.00 $15.00
Caesar salad Typical in Wellington: $24.00 $24.00

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Southern Cross Garden Bar & Restaurant Menu

Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant Menu Menu updated on 17 Sep 2026

Pub Snacks

Pub Mains

Burgers

Sides

Desserts

Kids

Brunch

Fried Chicken

Pub Favourites

Bowls

Burgs

Butcher’s Cut Steak

Beer & Cider – On Tap

Bottles & Cans

Cocktails – Cross Creations

Cocktails – Cross Classics

Refreshments

Coffee

Champagne & Sparkling

Pinot Gris & Riesling

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