Aro Valley has never really tried to be flashy. It is the kind of Wellington suburb where the shop owners know your name, the hills keep you fit whether you like it or not, and local hangouts tend to earn their reputation slowly, through word of mouth rather than marketing spend. That is exactly the world Octo has dropped into, and somehow it fits like it has been there for years.
Octo sits at 102 Aro Street, right in the middle of the Aro Valley village strip, and it refuses to fit neatly into one category. By day it operates as a record store. By night it shifts into a charcoal grill restaurant and a listening bar. Locals have already started calling it the record shop with the good skewers, which is about as accurate a description as you are going to get.
If you have been searching for an honest, current look at what Octo is actually like, what it costs to eat and drink there, when it opens, and whether it lives up to its five star Google rating, this guide covers all of it.
Quick Facts About Octo, Wellington
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Octo |
| Concept | Record store, charcoal grill and listening bar under one roof |
| Address | 102 Aro Street, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021, New Zealand |
| Google Rating | 5.0 out of 5 stars |
| Google Reviews | 38 verified reviews and rising |
| Suburb | Aro Valley, Wellington |
| Closed Days | Monday and Tuesday |
| Best For | Vinyl digging by day, charcoal skewers and cocktails by night |
What Exactly Is Octo?
Octo describes itself as a trinity of a record store, a charcoal grill and a bar, and that is a fair summary rather than marketing spin. The venue is split across a single small space in Aro Valley, with crates of curated vinyl, a charcoal grill sending smoke through the open kitchen, and a proper sound system built for listening rather than background noise.
The people behind Octo are not new to Wellington’s independent hospitality and record scenes. One of the founders previously ran well known record shops in both Christchurch and Wellington, and also operated a mobile record store that toured the country selling vinyl out of a truck. That background shows in how seriously the music side of Octo is treated. Records are not decoration here, they are the point.
From Record Truck to Aro Street: The Octo Backstory
Octo did not arrive overnight. Getting the venue open reportedly took close to two years from the initial idea to opening day, a timeline shaped by building consent requirements, liquor licensing steps, and some pushback from nearby residents concerned about noise in a residential valley.
The original concept included an outdoor area and later closing hours, but the plans were adjusted along the way to fit council requirements and community feedback. Despite the slow road to opening, the response since Octo welcomed its first customers has been strongly positive, with locals warming to having a new hangout on their doorstep and regulars already forming habits around an evening cocktail and a skewer or two.
Daytime at Octo: Vinyl, Toasties and Slow Mornings
During the day, Octo runs as a record store, taking over a space long associated with Wellington’s independent vinyl scene. Crates are organised for digging rather than browsing on autopilot, and the daytime menu keeps things simple with toasties, filter coffee and a handful of light bites, ideal for a slow browse through new arrivals or a quiet work session away from the CBD hustle.
It is a genuinely different atmosphere to the evening version of Octo, quieter and more contemplative, which is part of the appeal for people who want a low key midweek stop in Aro Valley.
Nighttime at Octo: Charcoal Grill, Yakitori and Cocktails
Once the sun goes down, Octo becomes a different animal entirely. The record shelves stay put, but the charcoal grill takes over, sending out Japanese style skewers alongside a short, well thought out cocktail list. The food leans into charcoal cooked skewers, think chicken thigh, beef sirloin, mushroom and seasonal vegetables, alongside shared plates like rice balls, seasoned fries and charred vegetables finished with a citrus or vinegar edge.
Portions are designed for sharing across a table rather than a single plate each, which suits the relaxed, conversation first vibe of the room. A sweet finish, usually involving toasted marshmallow and chocolate, tends to be the dish regulars mention first when asked what to order.
On the drinks side, expect a tight cocktail list built around classic techniques with a few playful twists, plus at least one strong non alcoholic option for anyone not drinking. Wine and beer are also on hand for people who want something simpler.
The Listening Bar Concept: Why Octo Plays It Analogue
Octo bills itself as Wellington’s first proper listening bar, a concept with roots in 1950s Japan. Back then, record collections were far too expensive for most people to own, so venues opened where music lovers could gather, order a drink, and listen to carefully chosen vinyl on high quality sound systems rather than dance or socialise loudly.
That original Japanese format, often referred to as jazz kissa culture, has been quietly influencing bars around the world for more than a decade, and Octo is Wellington’s take on the idea. The focus stays on the music and the quality of the pour rather than volume or spectacle, with vinyl only DJ sets running on weekend nights and records spinning in between times during quieter hours.
Weekly Opening Hours at a Glance
Octo keeps a fairly tight schedule compared with a standard Wellington bar, closing entirely on Monday and Tuesday. The chart below gives a rough visual sense of how the week is structured, with each block representing roughly one hour of trading.
| Day | Open Hours Visual (1 block ≈ 1 hour) | Trading Hours |
| Monday | — | Closed |
| Tuesday | — | Closed |
| Wednesday | ████████████ | 10 am – 10 pm |
| Thursday | ████████████ | 10 am – 10 pm |
| Friday | █████████████ | 10 am – 11 pm |
| Saturday | █████████████ | 10 am – 11 pm |
| Sunday | ████████████ | 10 am – 10 pm |
Getting to Octo From Wellington CBD
Octo sits inside Aro Valley, a small inner city suburb tucked between Brooklyn and Kelburn, only a short walk from Wellington’s central city and close enough to the university campus that it draws a solid mix of students, staff and long time locals. Most people walk in from town, with the trip taking somewhere between ten and fifteen minutes depending on your starting point and how steep a hill you are willing to climb. Street parking along Aro Street is limited in the evening, so walking, cycling or a short taxi ride tends to be the easiest option.
What to Order at Octo
For first timers trying to build a table order that covers the venue’s strengths, this combination tends to work well:
- A charcoal grilled chicken thigh skewer, seasoned with a slow aged tare sauce
- Charred seasonal vegetables finished with a sharp, vinegar forward dressing
- A rice ball with crisped edges, a good test of the grill’s char control
- Seasoned fries as a table share, rather than a solo side
- One classic cocktail and one non alcoholic option, so the table can compare notes
- The toasted marshmallow dessert, if there is room left
Is Octo Worth the Hype? Our Verdict
For a venue barely out of its first year, Octo has built an unusually strong reputation, backed by a perfect Google rating across dozens of reviews rather than a handful of enthusiastic friends and family. The concept could easily have felt gimmicky, a record shop bolted onto a bar for novelty value, but the execution suggests genuine care from people who understand both hospitality and music culture.
It suits a relaxed dinner with friends, a low key first date, or a solo afternoon flicking through records with a coffee in hand. It is not trying to be the loudest or biggest venue in Wellington, and that restraint is exactly why it works in a neighbourhood like Aro Valley.
Planning More of Your Wellington and New Zealand Trip
If a night at Octo has you thinking about turning it into a bigger New Zealand trip, a few more guides from around the site are worth a look before you lock in an itinerary.
If school holiday timing affects when you can travel, our breakdown of New Zealand school holiday dates is worth checking before you book flights down to Wellington.
Heading further south after your Wellington stop, our guide to the best cafes in Queenstown covers a similarly independent, foodie first scene worth building a day around.
For travellers building a South Island loop, the Mt John Summit Circuit Track guide in Tekapo pairs well with a stargazing night after a long day of driving.
And if you are mapping out the North Island beyond Wellington, our piece on why you should visit the Coromandel Peninsula is a solid starting point for beach time later in the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Octo in Wellington?
Octo is a venue in Aro Valley, Wellington, that combines a record store, a charcoal grill restaurant and a listening bar in one space. It trades as a record shop with light food and coffee during the day and switches to yakitori style charcoal cooking, cocktails and vinyl DJ sets in the evening.
Where exactly is Octo located?
Octo is located at 102 Aro Street, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021, New Zealand. You can find the exact pin and get directions on Google Maps.
What are Octo’s opening hours?
Octo is closed on Monday and Tuesday. It opens 10 am to 10 pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 10 am to 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. Hours can shift around public holidays, so a quick check before visiting is always sensible.
Do I need to book a table at Octo?
Given the venue is small and its reputation has grown quickly, booking ahead for weekend evenings is a smart move, particularly if you want to eat rather than just browse records or grab a drink at the bar.
Does Octo have vegetarian options?
Yes. Alongside the meat and seafood skewers, Octo’s menu includes vegetable based skewers, charred vegetable dishes and shareable sides that work well for vegetarian diners, though checking the current menu on the day is recommended since small venues often rotate dishes with the seasons.
Is Octo suitable for a first date or a group outing?
Both, honestly. The low lit, record lined room suits a quieter one on one evening, while the shared skewer format and relaxed pace also work well for a small group looking for something more interesting than a standard bar crawl stop.
Does Octo have live DJs or music events?
Yes, Octo runs vinyl only DJ sets on weekend nights, with records also playing during quieter hours throughout the week. You can follow upcoming line ups and behind the scenes updates on Octo’s Instagram.
What is Octo’s current Google rating?
At the time of writing, Octo holds a perfect 5.0 out of 5 rating from 38 Google reviews, an unusually strong result for a venue still in its first year of trading.
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Disclaimer
This article is an independent, editorial guide written for informational purposes only. Details such as opening hours, menu items, pricing and Google ratings for Octo were accurate at the time of writing but can change without notice, so it is always worth confirming current information directly with the venue or its official social media channels before visiting. This post is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Octo, and all opinions expressed are those of the author based on publicly available information at the time of publication.
