The Arborist offers two distinct experiences at one Willis Street address. At ground level, it feels like a warm neighbourhood restaurant and bar in the centre of Wellington; seven storeys above, a partially covered rooftop garden opens the visit to city air. The rooftop's operation can respond to the weather, an important detail in Wellington, but its sheltered areas make it more than a fair-weather afterthought. Diners can choose the dependable comfort of downstairs or head upward for a brighter, more social setting shaped around drinks and sharing.
Downstairs, the menu is broad enough to move from a light first plate to a full dinner. Focaccia and whipped feta can open the table, while falafel, cauliflower, calamari and fried chicken offer contrasting snacks. Beef and chicken burgers cover familiar territory, and a kumara and black bean version gives the same format a meat-free centre. Larger appetites can turn to steak, market fish, chicken parmigiana or braised lamb. The selection favours recognisable food with enough variety for a mixed group, fitting the room's easy neighbourhood-bar character.
Upstairs has a more concise menu suited to rooftop drinking. Snacks and stone-fired pizzas are joined by vegan and fried sharing platters, making it simple to feed a table without interrupting the flow of an afternoon or evening gathering. The drinks list leans into the setting with frozen cocktails, spritzes and sangria alongside classic cocktails. That combination gives the rooftop its own identity instead of merely repeating the restaurant below: the emphasis is on shareable food, colourful drinks and the pleasure of lingering above the street when the weather cooperates.
The ground-floor restaurant also covers brunch and lunch, so The Arborist is not limited to nighttime drinks. Groups have several more structured options: a private room can hold 50 seated guests or 70 standing, larger dinner bookings move to set menus, and rooftop party packages offer a separate style of event. These formats make the venue useful across the day and across different occasions. A casual brunch, a complete downstairs dinner and a rooftop celebration can all happen under the same name, yet each part of the building retains its own pace and atmosphere.
Address: 166 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
The Arborist Rooftop Bar & Eatery Menu
Brunch
Mon – Fri 8am – 11am; Sat & Sun 8.30am – 3pm. $39 brunch package includes 2 drinks.
Toast & Spreads
Shelly bay sprouted multigrain* or sourdough with Fix & Fogg peanut butter and house jam. GFO/VO
House Granola
Fresh fruit, berry compote, coconut yogurt. VO
Eggs on Toast
Poached or fried eggs on Shelly bay sprouted multigrain* or sourdough served with capsicum and almond romesco. GFO
Chilli Scrambled Eggs
Roses Chilli Crisp*, scrambled eggs on Shelly bay sprouted multigrain* or sourdough. GFO
Eggs Benedict
A choice of spinach + mushrooms or bacon. GFO
Turkish Eggs
Poached eggs, harissa, yogurt, burnt butter, cashew dukkha, rocket, on Shelly bay sprouted multigrain* toast. GFO
Haloumi on Toast
Cherry tomato, basil, balsamic glaze on shelly bay sourdough toast. GFO
French Toast
Banana, maple, bacon. GFO
Breakfast Burger
Sausage patty, hash brown, scrambled egg, smoked cheese, gochujang, aioli. GFO
Smashed Avo
Beetroot walnut romesco, feta, cherry tomato, pickled red onion on Shelly bay sourdough. GFO/VO
Lumberjack Breakfast
Eggs, bacon, pork chipolata, mushrooms, beans, hash brown, Shelly bay sourdough. DFO/GFO
Vege Lover
Eggs, mushrooms, halloumi, beans, smashed avocado, hash browns, Shelly bay sprouted multigrain* toast. GFO/VO
Brunch Snacks
Fries
Fennel salt, aioli. GFO/DFO. Add gravy +4
Shelly Bay Focaccia
Sundried tomato butter, sea salt
Whipped Feta
Cherry tomato, basil, hot honey, crostini
House Made Falafel
Lemon yoghurt, Rose’s chilli crisp. GFO/V
Caluliflower popcorn
Lemon yoghurt, Rose’s chilli crisp. GFO/V
Calamari
Preserved lemon aioli. GFO/DFO
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Ranch, Franks hot sauce
Brunch Burgers
Double Beef Smash Burger
Double cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, burger sauce, fries GFO
Buttermilk Chicken Burger
Cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, Franks hot sauce, ranch, fries, aioli
Kumara Black Bean and Corn Burger
Cheese, shreeded lettuce, burger sauce, fries aioli. VO/GFO
Rooftop Snacks
Fries
Aioli. GFO/VO
Onion Rings
Smokey BBQ Sauce
House Made Falafel
Vegan chipolte aioli. V/GF
Jalapeño Bites
Chipotle aioli
Rooftop Pizza
Lumberjack Pizza
Salami, chorizo, onion, smoky barbeque, napoli sauce, mozzarella
Hot Honey Pepperoni
Pepperoni, hot honey, basil pesto, napoli sauce, mozzarella. GFO
Mediterranean
Olives, onion, capsicum, feta, rocket, napoli sauce, mozzarella. GFO
Margherita
Buffalo mozzarella, basil, napoli sauce. GFO
Rooftop Platters (Feed 6 – 8 People)
Vegan
Pita breads,falafel, cauliflower popcorn, hummus, salsa,mediterranean salad
Fried
Korean fried chicken, garlic bread,jalapeno bites, onion rings,gouda sticks
Lunch – Mains
Mon – Fri / 12 – 3pm
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Shredded lettuce, parmesan, croutons, caesar dressing
250g Grilled Striploin GFO
Fries, house salad, peppercorn sauce
Pan Fried Market Fish GFO/DFO
Miso béarnaise, charred cabbage, parmesan
Chicken Parmigiana
Napoli sauce, mozzerella, parmesan, house salad, fries aioli
Braised Lamb Shoulder GFO
Potato mash, chimichurri, jus, kūmara crisps
Beer Battered Market Fish
Fries, house salad, preserved lemon aioli
Double Beef Smash Burger
Double cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, burger sauce, fries GFO
Buttermilk Chicken Burger
Cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, Franks hot sauce, ranch, fries, aioli
Kumara Black Bean & Corn Burger VO/GFO
Cheese, shredded lettuce, burger sauce, fries, aioli
Lunch – Sides
Honey Roasted Carrots GFO
Balsamic, seed dukkah
Seasonal Greens
Half Portion Fries VO/GF
Aioli
Lunch – Snacks
Fries GFO/DFO
Fennel salt, aioli
Shelly Bay Focaccia
Sundried tomato butter, sea salt
Whipped Feta
Cherry tomato, basil, hot honey, crostini
House Made Falafel GFO/V
Lemon yoghurt, Rose’s chilli crisp
Cauliflower Popcorn GFO/V
Lemon yoghurt, Rose’s chilli crisp
Calamari GFO/DFO
Preserved lemon aioli
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Ranch, Franks hot sauce
Dinner – Mains
Mon – Sat / 5pm – late
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Shredded lettuce, parmesan, croutons, caesar dressing
250g Grilled Striploin GFO
Fries, house salad, peppercorn sauce
Pan Fried Market Fish GFO/DFO
Miso béarnaise, charred cabbage, parmesan
Chicken Parmigiana
Napoli sauce, mozzerella, parmesan, house salad, fries aioli
Braised Lamb Shoulder GFO
Potato mash, chimichurri, jus, kūmara crisps
Beer Battered Market Fish
Fries, house salad, preserved lemon aioli
Dinner – Sides
Honey Roasted Carrots GFO
Balsamic, seed dukkah
Seasonal Greens
Half Portion Fries VO/GF
Aioli
Dinner – Snacks
Fries GFO/DFO
Fennel salt, aioli
Shelly Bay Focaccia
Sundried tomato butter, sea salt
Whipped Feta
Cherry tomato, basil, hot honey, crostini
House Made Falafel GFO/V
Lemon yoghurt, Rose’s chilli crisp
Cauliflower Popcorn GFO/V
Lemon yoghurt, Rose’s chilli crisp
Calamari GFO/DFO
Preserved lemon aioli
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
ranch, Franks hot sauce
Dinner – Burgers
Double Beef Smash Burger
Double cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, burger sauce, fries GFO
Buttermilk Chicken Burger
Cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, Franks hot sauce, ranch, fries, aioli
Kumara Black Bean & Corn Burger VO/GFO
Cheese, shredded lettuce, burger sauce, fries, aioli
Dinner – Desserts
Limoncello Tiramisu
Chocolate Brownie GF
Berry compote, vanilla ice cream
Arborist Affogato
Dark horse espresso, vanilla ice cream
Brunch Drinks
Espresso, Long Black, Americano
Dark Horse Coffee
Flat White, Latte, Piccolo, Cappuccino
Mocha, Hot Chocolate
Noble & Savage Teas
Colonial Breakfast, Lemon Grey, Imperial Sencha, Peppermint Breeze, Maple & Walnut, Strawberry & Plum
Make It Boozy
Mimosa
Jacobs Creek prosecco, orange juice
Mimosa Carafe
Serves 6
Basic Bloody Mary
Arb’s bloody mary mix, olives, celery
Lillet Spritz
Lillet Blanc, Schweppes cucumber tonic, seasonal fruit
Rooftop Spritzers
Pink gin fizz
Beefeater pink gin, simple syrup, lemon, soda
Hugo spritz
Elderflower liqueur, prosecco, lime, mint, soda
Aperol Spritz
Aperol, prosecco, soda, orange
Limoncello Spritz
Limoncello, prosecco, soda
Rooftop Cocktails
$22 (dont see something you like? ask our staff for more options)
Tommys Margarita
Olmeca tequila, agave, lime
Pornstar Martini
Absolut Vanilia, passionfruit liqueur, lime, side of prosecco
Umeboshi & Yuzu French 75
Imagination umeboshi & yuzu, lemon, simple syrup, topped with prosecco
Flat White Martini
Absolut Vanilia, Frangelico, flat white liqueur, cold brew
Cocktails
Botanist East Side
Botanist gin, lime, simple syrup, mint, cucumber
Liquid Gold
Caramelized maple washed Sailor Jerry rum, apple juice, lime, pimento vinegar
Passionfruit Mojito
Havana 3yr rum, Passionfruit syrup, lime, mint, soda
La Diabla
Olmeca tequila, Chambord, lime, ginger beer
On Tap
Heineken
Heineken Silver
Monteith's Golden Lager
Tuatara Adapt APA
From The Fridge
Garage Project Cans
(rotating selection)
Parrot Dog Birdseye Hazy
Sawmill Pilsner
Sparkling
Veuve D'Argent
Burgundy, FR
Alpha Domus Sparkling Rose
Hawkes Bay, NZ
Pol Roger
Champagne, FR
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Wellington
- Eggs benedict Typical in Wellington: $24.75 $26.00
- Chicken burger Typical in Wellington: $26.50 $29.00
- Long black Typical in Wellington: $5.20 $5.00
- Flat white Typical in Wellington: $6.00 $5.50
- Margherita pizza Typical in Wellington: $24.00 $22.00
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