The best luxury and boutique hotels in Wellington, New Zealand
Welcome to the hotel edit; my guide to the very best hotels and places to stay in Wellington
Treat yourself to a stay at some of Wellington’s best hotels. The capital city is nice and compact, which makes it very walkable. Staying at any of these boutique hotels, you can reach Wellington’s best sights with ease.
Overview: Wellington’s best hotels
The Intrepid Hotel (top choice)
Sofitel Wellington
Ohtel
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The Intrepid Hotel
Located on Ghuznee Street, in the heart of Wellington Central, the Intrepid Hotel has just 18 rooms. The hotel building used to be a chocolate factory, and has been renovated in a way that embraces its industrial past — white brick walls, exposed pipes, and metallic furnishings.
Why I recommend this hotel:
What’s nearby: Puffin, one of Wellington’s best wine bars, is conveniently just downstairs. If you want to go further, this hotel is close to all the restaurants of Cuba Street.
QT Wellington
I used to stay here when I went down to Wellington for work — I always loved the lavish rooms with colourful decorations and full bathtubs in the bathrooms.
Why I recommend this hotel: I’m a fan of all the QT properties (I also nominate them in my picks for best Auckland and Queenstown hotels) because they are just more fun and interesting than a standard hotel.
What’s nearby: It’s only a couple of minutes walk from QT to Te Papa Musuem, a must-visit in Wellington. There are also some good breakfast cafes not too far away, which is handy — I don’t recommend the hotel restaurant for breakfast, unfortunately.
Ohtel
Why I recommend this hotel: I like that it is owned by a New Zealand accommodation group.
What’s nearby: Set right on Oriental Parade, this boutique hotel is ideal for exploring the waterfront. Head to Beach Babylon on Oriental Bay for brunch, or go in the opposite direction to explore the writer’s walk around the water.
A quick guide to the best areas to stay in Wellington
If you’re struggling to decide where to stay in Wellington, here is a quick breakdown of the key areas.
Wellington Central: Conveniently located in the thick of it, you will be walking distance to all the bars and restaurants. The downside is that parking can be a pain.
Thanks for reading this far — I hope my recommendations helped you select a special place to stay in Wellington.
If you would like to explore more of Wellington and the North Island, you might also be interested in these articles:
