Hotel Catalina is a café, bar and restaurant on the Lyall Bay waterfront at 30 Cochrane Street, Wellington — minutes from Wellington Airport and a short drive from the CBD. It opened on Monday 2 March 2026 on the site formerly occupied by the Spruce Goose.
The venue trades all day, describing its offer as "morning coffees, long lunches, sunset spritzes, late night pizzas". Published hours are 8am to 3pm on Monday and 8am until late Tuesday to Sunday. The in-house menu covers oysters, antipasti, small plates, pizza, mains, sides and desserts, alongside breakfast and brunch dishes, with dietary options noted on the menu. At opening the food was described as simple and well executed, supported by coffee and an easy-drinking selection of local beer and wine.
The building has a documented aviation history. It was originally built in the 1930s as the first terminal at Wellington Airport, repurposed in 1959 as the Wellington Aero Club, and moved across the runway to its current Lyall Bay site in 2011. It is owned and leased by Wellington Airport.
The top-floor balcony looks out over Lyall Bay and the airport, giving views of both the surf break and aircraft movements; the venue also runs a public live surf cam from the site. Wellington Airport has separately signalled a wider redevelopment of the Lyall Bay waterfront precinct.
The venue is operated by Wellington hospitality figures Jamie Williams and Len Baldwin, who between them have been involved in Rosie's Red Hot Cantina, Master Kong, Coene's and Wolf.
At the time of writing, Hotel Catalina does not publish function packages, named event spaces, capacities or set menus on its website. Table bookings are taken through an online booking page, and there is a contact page for direct enquiries. Groups wanting exclusive use of the balcony or a private area should approach the venue directly to confirm what is possible.
The combination of all-day trading, a coastal outlook and proximity to the airport makes Hotel Catalina a practical option for informal group meals, welcome or farewell gatherings around flights, and social add-ons to a conference programme — though event specifics need to be confirmed with the venue rather than assumed. Browse other Wellington venues.
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