North Island
Arbitrageur Wine Room & Restaurant
Cuisine: A La Carte, European, French, Bistro
Hours:
- Mon – Fri 12 noon – Late
- Sat 5pm – Late
-
Facilities/Features:
- Business Dining
- Private Functions
- Private Parties
- Romantic Dining
- Wedding Functions
- Payment Types: EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Diners
- Price Range: Spendy, $25 - $35
- Dress Code: Smart casual
- Alcohol: Beer, Wine, Spirits
- Seating for: 80
- BYO/Corkage: No BYO
- Parking: Pay & Display
- Good For Groups: Yes
- Good For Children: No
- Takeaways: No
- Delivers: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-free, Gluten-free
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Dessert
Arbitrageur Wine Room & Restaurant offers a fine dining experience without the price tag.
Nestled right within the heart of Wellington central city, Arbi provides a taste of Europe right on Wellington’s door step.
Dishes range from classic European to contemporary styles with a New Zealand influence and include vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.
Arbitrageur is a short walk from many of Wellington’s hotels, and is the perfect place to enhance your weekend away. The elegant setting is suitable for business lunches and dinners, after-work tapas with drinks, or a romantic evening out.
Arbitrageur’s wine extensive wine list combines tradition with discovery and exploration, but the true point of difference is their wine selection process; everything listed has been hand picked by wine consultant Stephen Wong.
More than 250 wines and over 50 wines available by the glass.
Cuisine Award 2011 for Best Casual Dining
Cuisine Finalist 2012 for Best Restaurant
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Bookmark21 Reviews for Arbitrageur Wine Room & Restaurant
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One of Arbitrageur Wine Room & Restaurant's Favourite Reviews What's This?
12
14th May 2010
These guys are top notch. Staff, food and surroundings, and of course the wine selection is perhaps the best in Wellington.
On one occasion the staff noticed that we were a little unhappy with our table (due to who we seated next to), and rectified it without embarrassing anyone. An amazing feat.
For a nice relaxing, intimate or business, lunch or dinner, this place is worth every cent.
On one occasion the staff noticed that we were a little unhappy with our table (due to who we seated next to), and rectified it without embarrassing anyone. An amazing feat.
For a nice relaxing, intimate or business, lunch or dinner, this place is worth every cent.
17th February 2013
Truly some of the best food, wine and service in Wellington and probably in New Zealand. The lamb and pork belly are amazing with a wine list second to none. It’s a bit pricey so it’s somewhere to go as a special occasion, but trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
5
7th February 2013
Excellent service and great food. It was expensive but worth it. Pork Belly and Marseille Fish Stew are both exceptional, but there is also some other greats things on the menu.
Environment suits a couple or small group. This is the third time I’ve been and it has been the same quality each time. If you’re looking to treat yourself then you really can’t go wrong here.
The wine list is absolutely amazing, and the bar also has a great selection of beers. Highly recommended.
Environment suits a couple or small group. This is the third time I’ve been and it has been the same quality each time. If you’re looking to treat yourself then you really can’t go wrong here.
The wine list is absolutely amazing, and the bar also has a great selection of beers. Highly recommended.
6
7th February 2013
Excellent food and service.
Some of the best I have experienced in Wellington. We chose this restaurant based on the chef’s repuation and we’re happy we did!
An excellent wine list, apparently world class going by the framed certificates. A good choice on the menu of euro style dishes, I had gazpacho followed by steak which was super delicious and was so captivated by it that I can’t remember what my partner had, but he definitely seemed to enjoy it!
Some of the best I have experienced in Wellington. We chose this restaurant based on the chef’s repuation and we’re happy we did!
An excellent wine list, apparently world class going by the framed certificates. A good choice on the menu of euro style dishes, I had gazpacho followed by steak which was super delicious and was so captivated by it that I can’t remember what my partner had, but he definitely seemed to enjoy it!
1
19th December 2012
Average [evening] meal made intolerable by loud intrusive music which killed any chance of a conversation.
Gazpacho had nice flavours but the fish and fish stew were decidedly overcooked.
Table staff service was, however, very good.
Gazpacho had nice flavours but the fish and fish stew were decidedly overcooked.
Table staff service was, however, very good.
6
21st October 2012
Wow! Beautiful restaurant with amazing atmosphere and super service. If I lived locally, I’d come here as often as I could afford! A bit pricey, but the food was gorgeous to look at and eat, great wine selection and truly great service. Looking back, it was a steal for such a fabulous evening. Was worried at first given their awards etc that it could be pretentious, but Arbitrageur is anything but and I highly recommend anyone to try them.
2nd October 2012
As a couple we visited Arbitageur on a Sunday evening after attending WOW. We were from out of town, and decided to choose this restaurant based on location and recent reviews. It was everything we hoped for and then some. We arrived a little early for our reservation but were shown directly to our table and from there on in the service was faultless, the food was stunning – presentation, aroma of each plate and taste. We had a tuly enjoyable experience and it capped off a fabulous evening all round. Even though the restaurant got steadily busier while we were there, we were not forgotten. Would definitely return!
1
17th September 2012
I took my Tour group to Arbitrageur last year.I took my group of 17 down to Wellington for the WOW show.We had dinner before the show and than went back after the show for sweets and drinks.The staff were extremely helpful and attentive.Meals all superb.
We all had such a great night that I am taking 2 WOW Tours groups there in Sept/Oct this year.After last years great experience ,great food and service ,I am looking forward in showing them this great place.
Kathy-Designer Tours.
We all had such a great night that I am taking 2 WOW Tours groups there in Sept/Oct this year.After last years great experience ,great food and service ,I am looking forward in showing them this great place.
Kathy-Designer Tours.
2
27th July 2012
Brass tables, high ceilings and rows of wines from around the world are what first hit you when you roll into this European influenced restaurant. Although the restaurant gives the impression of being super fancy, the down to earth service and casual dining makes for a very comfortable and relaxed
experience. After being seated at a glossy brass table we chose our dishes and were talked through a selection of wines to best match our choices. The advice was very
sound – the food and was amazing and were amazing together, and the desserts were some of the best I’ve had in New Zealand and beyond. It wasn’t as expensive we’d expected and overall, my party and I would strongly recommend dining there.
experience. After being seated at a glossy brass table we chose our dishes and were talked through a selection of wines to best match our choices. The advice was very
sound – the food and was amazing and were amazing together, and the desserts were some of the best I’ve had in New Zealand and beyond. It wasn’t as expensive we’d expected and overall, my party and I would strongly recommend dining there.
15th July 2012
My wife and I went here for our first wedding anniversary.
The food was lovely, the staff helpful and knowledgeable about every single thing on the menu.
They were passionate about about the food and the wine.
The staff knew every wine and which wine went with what meal.
It was a great start for a wonderful romantic evening. The venue, the ambiance, the wine and the amazing food really set the tone for a romantic evening.
I highly recommend it.
The food was lovely, the staff helpful and knowledgeable about every single thing on the menu.
They were passionate about about the food and the wine.
The staff knew every wine and which wine went with what meal.
It was a great start for a wonderful romantic evening. The venue, the ambiance, the wine and the amazing food really set the tone for a romantic evening.
I highly recommend it.
3
3rd January 2012
We enjoyed a fantastic dinner on New Year’s Eve.
Staff were extremely friendly and attentive. They were also extremely knowledgeable and helpful when it came to wine selections and advice on the menu.
Surroundings were superb and the food was wonderfully cooked and presented. We enjoyed prawns and salmon starters, the belly pork and beef cheek for mains. The blue cheese with fruit bread toast was a wonderful end to the meal. The Greywacke wines never fail to disappoint.
An expensive restaurant but one which can justify the prices charged.
Staff were extremely friendly and attentive. They were also extremely knowledgeable and helpful when it came to wine selections and advice on the menu.
Surroundings were superb and the food was wonderfully cooked and presented. We enjoyed prawns and salmon starters, the belly pork and beef cheek for mains. The blue cheese with fruit bread toast was a wonderful end to the meal. The Greywacke wines never fail to disappoint.
An expensive restaurant but one which can justify the prices charged.
16th December 2011
A beautiful semi-formal restaurant made better by an extensive by the glass wine list. So this is a good place to try those wines that are a bit expensive by the bottle.
The service during lunch was of a high standard and we all enjoyed our selections. While it was good, $30 was a bit steep for the steak sandwich. However the other meals were all good value.
Worth making a reservation.
The service during lunch was of a high standard and we all enjoyed our selections. While it was good, $30 was a bit steep for the steak sandwich. However the other meals were all good value.
Worth making a reservation.
11
3rd December 2011
Most excellent. Great menu and wine list. Missed on a 5 stars from me as we ordered a bottle of top NZ red wine over $200 and it was cold like it was from a fridge. Got it decantered and had to drink another bottle of good wine waiting for it to warm up. This bottle was also cold! Food and service excellent.
3
10th November 2011
Love the ambiance of this restaurant. It makes the night feel really special!
I have been 3 times and the entrées have been beautiful. On one occasion we had a large party so we ordered a 3 large mixed platters (off the menu, which the manager was more than happy to do), it was stunning, probably better than our mains! Lots of cured meats, cheeses and little surprises. The mains were nice too, I have tried the salmon, entrecote and grouper. All were lovely. The salmon was possibly the only one that was a little pedestrian.
I would love them to put more foie gras on the menu…just for that taste of culture!
Being a kiwi, I order the fries each time, and they are divine and a good portion size.
I haven’t tried any desserts, so next time I will have to control myself on the mains hehe…
I have been 3 times and the entrées have been beautiful. On one occasion we had a large party so we ordered a 3 large mixed platters (off the menu, which the manager was more than happy to do), it was stunning, probably better than our mains! Lots of cured meats, cheeses and little surprises. The mains were nice too, I have tried the salmon, entrecote and grouper. All were lovely. The salmon was possibly the only one that was a little pedestrian.
I would love them to put more foie gras on the menu…just for that taste of culture!
Being a kiwi, I order the fries each time, and they are divine and a good portion size.
I haven’t tried any desserts, so next time I will have to control myself on the mains hehe…
13
8th November 2011
This place has a intimate feel and ambience. The wine menu was very extensive and you could choose a variety of serving sizes which was a wonderful way of tasting a few wines before committing to the whole bottle. The main meal was nice but I have to say that the pork belly which we both ordered was extremely disappointing. We have had this dish in so many places but here it was like a soggy piece of thick bacon hock. No crackling or juicy chewy bits, it was awful. This is where it lost a star. The French fries where really nice and the staff where pleasant although they did take quite some time to get to us and they didn’t check on us to see if everything was OK which is why I didn’t end up ordering dessert (in their defence it was busy). I will go here again as I liked the feel of the place but I will order something different next time.
11th August 2011
An absolutely incredible dining experience!! I’ve dined in hundreds of fine dining restaurants in my lifetime and this is definately at the top. Warm, friendly and knowledgable staff, wonderful atmosphere and decor, incredible cuisine, and amazing wine. Everythng we ordered was superb and the wine list is probably the most extensive and interesting in NZ. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a wonderful, memorable dining experience. A+++++
31
7th January 2011
I was sooo disasappointed with my meal here this week, I had really looked forward to it, but I had risotto which was pretty tasteless, sides OK but nothing special, and dessert was good but not enough to make up for such an average main. Service was a bit slow. With so many great restaurants in Wellington I would choose another next time.
23rd December 2010
Whilst the atmosphere was good for a wine room we were disappointed in a few things. Firstly, after serving the food the waiting staff (and the place wasn’t even half full!) didn’t come back and ask how the meal was going. For a fine dining restaurant this is a big mistake to have made. If they had we would have been able to advise them that the potato cake that came with our salmon was burnt (we don’t know why the chef didn’t see it, it was black around the rim on the top when he served it!) and the aged Rib Eye was definately not cooked Medium to Well Done as the steak was “raw” in jelly form on the inside.
True to the waitresses advice though the chips were the best we had had, then again if we had wanted good tasting chips we would never have gone to what is reputed as a fine dining establishment.
I’m afraid this must have been an off night..many other fine dining restaurants in Wellington rate superior I’m afraid for us.
True to the waitresses advice though the chips were the best we had had, then again if we had wanted good tasting chips we would never have gone to what is reputed as a fine dining establishment.
I’m afraid this must have been an off night..many other fine dining restaurants in Wellington rate superior I’m afraid for us.
2
22nd November 2010
Arbitrageur has a wondeful atmosphere, great lighting and elegant comfortable furniture. The staff are adept at anticipating your every need, the food is top notch, but the wine list is fantastic! I felt very comfortable and loved the whole experience, will definitely be recommending this place to friends.
11
18th October 2010
Faultless service. House smoked salmon tasted OK, looked strange (deep red). Aged rib eye was superb as was desert. Stunning wine list. Lovely diningroom, but tables are all a bit close to each other, everyone talks loud to compensate.A memorable meal, I’ll be back as often as I can be.
14
25th September 2010
This place is outstanding!
The service is good, one of the better wine lists I have seen & the food is incredible
Ensure you try the brulee, is by far the BEST i have ever had
The service is good, one of the better wine lists I have seen & the food is incredible
Ensure you try the brulee, is by far the BEST i have ever had
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