Events and Programming
Lulu Bar is a Pacific-inspired bar and restaurant on Courtenay Place where live music, DJs, social parties and food-led events share the same space. The venue’s regular programme includes live performances on Friday and Saturday nights, alternating Thursday open turntable jams and open-deck sessions, plus occasional themed parties, drag entertainment, student events, corporate functions and community gatherings. The emphasis is social and informal rather than a conventional seated concert experience.
The venue’s current music identity is closely connected with vinyl and local DJ culture. Its open turntable jam sessions provide the decks while guests bring records, with DJ Shan and guest selectors hosting sessions open to different levels of experience. The venue describes the sound as deliberately loud and encourages participants to learn, play and share records rather than simply watch a headline act.
Documented programming since 2021 shows how broad Lulu’s event mix can be. Visitor reviews from 2021 mention live music during dinner and pre-concert visits, while the venue has also appeared in Wellington’s food and cocktail festival programming. In 2023, the Wellington stop of the Sweet Mix Kids “Stargazing” tour featured Tahini Bikini, Quinn Devero, Sam Cullen, Induna and Gypsea.
Other publicly documented examples include a 2025 drag bingo show led by Kita Mean and Rita Menu, a Halloween bar-crawl stop, a Pride-season dinner and burlesque event, and a university Bollywood party. In 2026, Lulu has hosted or been listed for drum-and-bass programming, professional networking dinners, food-and-drink festival activity and social events. These examples point to a venue comfortable with DJs, live bands, drag, cabaret, themed parties and private celebrations rather than one fixed genre.
Listings published for later in 2026 include further open turntable sessions, an Oceanic-themed party and recurring happy-hour or small-plates activity. No confirmed long-term 2027 performance programme or major touring residency was found in the public material reviewed. The most reliable expectation is therefore a rolling calendar of weekly music, seasonal events, guest DJs and privately promoted functions.
Ticket prices vary by organiser and event. Documented examples include an $8–$25 range for a 2026 student-oriented DJ event, $39 plus fees for 2025 drag bingo, and $20 for a drinks-and-platter option or $80 for a three-course dinner option at a 2026 awards event. Earlier family programming included an $89 adult and $25 child ticket for a Pacific luau. These are examples, not a permanent Lulu price scale.
Tickets and Booking
There is no single permanent ticketing model. Some nights are ordinary bar evenings with music, while promoted shows may require advance tickets, have an age restriction or sell separate admission and premium packages. For popular events, check the specific listing before travelling, because ticket release dates, door times, refund conditions and age limits belong to the organiser rather than being consistent venue-wide.
Advance booking is particularly sensible for ticketed touring shows, drag events, student parties and Friday or Saturday functions. The Sweet Mix Kids tour, for example, offered a VIP option with guaranteed entry, a welcome drink and an album, while the drag bingo listing specified an R18 restriction. The 2026 drum-and-bass event also used an 18-plus rule and stated that tickets were non-refundable. ticketfairy.com
For ordinary dining or a night centred on the bar, table reservations are available through the venue’s booking system. Function hire is handled separately, with spaces offered for groups from 20 to 200 people and options ranging from canapés and shared platters to seated dining and private cocktail lessons.
Arrive early when a listing says seating is limited, when you are attending a standing event with friends, or when dinner is part of the plan. Lulu’s courtyard can be privately booked only until 10pm in the advertised function arrangement; after that time it becomes available to the public and the wider evening programme may begin.
About Lulu Bar
Lulu opened in 2018 at 31 Courtenay Place, in the former home of Ancestral. From the beginning, it presented itself as more than a restaurant: a Pacific-influenced place combining food, cocktails, music and design. The ownership and design story is associated with owner-operator Mat Lear and co-owner Tracey Lear, whose approach was to create a tropical atmosphere without turning the room into a clichéd tiki bar.
The venue’s food programme draws on the South Pacific and Aotearoa, with modern shared plates, seafood, cocktails and dishes influenced by Pacific cooking techniques. Ika mata, cassava, lamb, seafood, tropical flavours and the house spiced piña colada are recurring reference points in descriptions of the venue. The food is important to the identity of the room, but the late-night bar and music operation gives Lulu a second life after dinner.
Lulu is not a purpose-built theatre or concert hall. It is a flexible hospitality venue whose function spaces can be rearranged for dining, standing parties, DJs, live music or private events. The venue states that it can cater for groups of 20 to 200, while its largest named event area, the courtyard, accommodates up to 100 people standing when privately hired.
Seating and Layout
There is no fixed auditorium seating plan. The interior combines dining tables, bar seating and event areas, with layouts changing according to whether Lulu is operating as a restaurant, a dance-oriented bar, a live-music room or a private function venue. The courtyard is the clearest separately defined space: a half-courtyard booking guarantees room for up to 30 people, while a full courtyard booking is advertised for up to 100 standing.
For live music or DJ events, the best position depends on the experience you want. Stand nearer the performance area for a stronger party atmosphere and fuller sound; choose the back or side of the room if you want easier conversation or a less intense listening position. Because Lulu is a hospitality venue rather than a concert room, sightlines can change with tables, guests and the event’s production setup.
Private dining and function layouts can be tailored for groups. Wellington’s business-events information identifies Lulu as offering a private dining room or the whole restaurant for hire, with a suggested private-event range of 26 to 48 people for certain arrangements. The venue’s own function information gives the broader capacity range of 20 to 200. These figures refer to different booking formats and should not be treated as one fixed concert capacity.
Architecture, Design and Technical Facilities
The room’s character comes from natural timber, greenery, warm lighting and Pacific-inspired textures. Hanging plants, iridescent purple and green bar lighting, woven elements and bamboo wall panels create a layered tropical interior. The bamboo panels used in the original fit-out were routed to produce a wavy three-dimensional surface, with matching bamboo tabletops and greenery reinforcing the Oceanic theme.
The sheltered courtyard is one of Lulu’s most distinctive features. Public descriptions refer to a glassed outdoor area with woven screening, heated benches and protection from Wellington’s weather while retaining a connection with Courtenay Place. It is useful for groups who want an outdoor feel without committing to an exposed street-side setting, although Wellington wind and temperature can still affect comfort.
Public information confirms that the venue supplies turntables for its open jam sessions and operates a loud sound system. No verified public technical rider was found giving the PA brand, console, amplifier specifications, stage dimensions, lighting inventory, power capacity, acoustic treatment or sound-pressure limits. Promoters requiring concert-grade production should therefore confirm the available equipment and event configuration directly before booking.
No major architectural renovation programme after the 2018 opening was identified in the sources reviewed. The documented change is best understood as a refresh and conversion of the existing restaurant space into Lulu’s Pacific-themed bar and restaurant, rather than the construction of a new purpose-built performance venue.
Getting There and Parking
Lulu is at 31 Courtenay Place in Te Aro, in the middle of Wellington’s nightlife and theatre precinct. Courtenay Place is walkable from the waterfront, Te Papa, the Embassy Theatre, St James Theatre, Cambridge Terrace and the central city. From Wellington Railway Station, the simplest route is to follow the central-city bus corridor towards Courtenay Place or walk through the CBD and waterfront end of Te Aro.
Metlink buses serve Courtenay Place from Wellington Station, the northern suburbs, Newtown, Kilbirnie, Miramar, Island Bay, Karori, Johnsonville and the Hutt and Porirua areas. The Airport Express also travels through the CBD and stops at Courtenay Place, making it a practical option for visitors arriving by air. Check the live timetable on the day because city routes and stop positions can change.
Late-night public transport is especially relevant for Lulu’s weekend trade. Metlink’s after-midnight network includes N routes serving Courtenay Place or nearby Manners Street, with services operating on Saturday and Sunday mornings rather than every night of the week. Confirm the final departure before entering an event, particularly if you are travelling beyond the central city.
There is no confirmed dedicated Lulu customer car park. Visitors generally use metered street parking or commercial car parks in central Te Aro, subject to time limits, event demand and current council charges. Parking availability is usually tight on Friday and Saturday nights, so public transport, a taxi or rideshare is often less stressful. A rideshare drop-off on or near Courtenay Place may be affected by traffic controls and pedestrian activity.
Inside the Venue
Expect a transition from restaurant to late-night bar rather than a formal theatre entry. Depending on the event, you may be seated for dinner, checked against a guest list, issued a wristband or directed towards a standing area. Event-specific listings may set an R18 age limit, a dress code or a no-refund policy, so the conditions for one night should not be assumed to apply to every visit.
Food and drink are central to the experience. Lulu serves Pacific-influenced shared plates, seafood, snacks, cocktails and other drinks, with happy-hour offers and small-plates specials appearing regularly. The official weekly programme advertises $12 small plates and $10 drinks on selected Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday sessions, alongside daily 5pm–7pm deals on selected oysters and Lulu drinks. Offers can change by season or event.
The interior is colourful, warm and visually busy, with hanging plants, timber, woven textures and coloured bar lighting. During quieter dining hours it can feel relaxed; on music nights, the same layout becomes more energetic and crowded. Reviewers frequently praise the food, cocktails, design and friendly service, while some reports describe slow service, confusing happy-hour pricing or an uncomfortable temperature. Experiences are therefore positive overall but not uniformly consistent.
Public information does not confirm a permanent coat check, lockers, merchandise counter or dedicated artist merchandise arrangement. Wi-Fi and outdoor seating are listed by restaurant directories, but event-night availability may differ from normal dining service. Bring only what you need and keep personal belongings close in crowded periods.
Accessibility and Inclusive Facilities
Accessibility information for Lulu is limited compared with the information available for a purpose-built theatre. Some public listings identify the restaurant as wheelchair accessible, but the venue does not publish a detailed access statement covering the entrance, internal floor levels, toilet layout, viewing positions, hearing support or emergency evacuation arrangements. Visitors who require step-free access or a specific toilet configuration should confirm those details before buying an event ticket.
New Zealand venues are not assessed under United States ADA rules; relevant access obligations and building requirements are local. A general “wheelchair accessible” label should therefore not be read as confirmation that every part of the venue is step-free or suitable for every mobility device. For a ticketed event, request a table or viewing position that suits your needs and ask whether the event layout changes the normal route through the room.
Lulu’s programming has included queer nightlife, drag, student cultural events, local DJs and community functions, suggesting a broad and socially varied audience. Event-specific organisers may provide more detailed information about companions, seating, accessibility or sensory conditions than the general venue listing does.
Nearby Amenities
Courtenay Place is well suited to a complete night out. Nearby attractions include St James Theatre, the Embassy Theatre, Te Papa and the waterfront, while the surrounding streets contain restaurants, cocktail bars, pubs and late-night venues. Lulu works particularly well as a pre-theatre dining stop or as a place to continue the evening after a show nearby.
For accommodation, central-city hotels around Courtenay Place and Cuba Street are the most convenient choices. The Oaks Wellington Hotel is on Courtenay Place, and the Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman is described as a short walk from the precinct. Staying centrally makes it easier to return on foot when buses are busy or after a late event.
For a normal Friday or Saturday event, arriving 30 to 45 minutes before the advertised start is sensible if you want food, a drink and a good standing position. Add more time if you need accessible seating, are collecting tickets, have a large group or are travelling during a busy Courtenay Place period.
What Makes This Venue Special
Lulu’s strongest distinction is the way it joins Pacific identity, hospitality and nightlife. The food is not decorative theming added to a generic bar: the venue’s public descriptions consistently connect its menu, cocktails, music and interior to the Pacific and Aotearoa. That gives the room a recognisable Wellington character while avoiding a strictly traditional restaurant format.
The venue also occupies a useful middle ground in Wellington’s live scene. It is more intimate and informal than a theatre, but more programmed than a standard restaurant. A visitor may attend for a shared meal, discover a DJ session, join an open vinyl jam, see drag or cabaret, or hire the courtyard for a private celebration. That flexibility helps explain why its calendar ranges from local performers to student events and corporate dinners.
Its cultural contribution is visible rather than quantitatively measured. No independent economic-impact study or venue-specific employment report was found, but Lulu contributes to the Courtenay Place evening economy through food, drinks, private functions and recurring music. Its partnership with Aotearoa DJ Academy and support for live music create opportunities for local selectors and performers, while its Pacific-focused identity adds cultural variety to one of Wellington’s busiest entertainment streets.
Visitor Tips and Information
Check the individual event conditions before travelling. Age restrictions, dress requirements, ticket refunds, seating arrangements and door times can differ significantly. A Bollywood party has required all-black clothing, while other events have been R18 or standing-room occasions. Ordinary dining visits should not be confused with ticketed event entry.
For the best chance of a comfortable experience, book dinner in advance, arrive before the music becomes busiest and tell staff about any seating or access needs on arrival. Choose the courtyard for a more open atmosphere, the main room for proximity to the bar and DJs, and a side or rear position when conversation matters more than maximum volume.
Do not rely on a permanent ticket desk, fixed seating plan or standard production setup. Lulu changes with the night. A live band, DJ, private function and restaurant service may all use the room differently, and the public technical information is limited. Ear protection is sensible for anyone sensitive to loud music, especially during DJ or dance-oriented events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lulu Bar a concert venue or a restaurant?
Lulu is both a bar and restaurant and a flexible event space, rather than a dedicated concert hall. It serves Pacific-inspired shared plates and cocktails while hosting live music, DJs, vinyl sessions, themed parties and private functions. The atmosphere can shift from seated dining early in the evening to a busier standing-room bar during a promoted event.
Where is Lulu Bar in Wellington?
Lulu Bar is at 31 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington. It sits in the central Courtenay Place entertainment precinct, close to St James Theatre, the Embassy Theatre, Te Papa and the waterfront. The location is walkable from central hotels and Wellington’s main bus interchange, although weekend crowds and road controls can affect the final approach.
What music is usually played at Lulu Bar?
The programme includes live music, DJ-led nights, open decks and open turntable jams. The venue has a particular connection with vinyl through sessions hosted with DJ Shan and Aotearoa DJ Academy. Past listings also show funk, local bands, Bollywood music, drum and bass, drag entertainment and themed party programming rather than one fixed musical style.
Does Lulu Bar have live music every week?
The venue describes live music on Friday and Saturday nights, although the artist and format can change weekly. Thursday nights alternate between open turntable jams and open-deck sessions. Because private functions, seasonal promotions and organiser-led events can alter the schedule, check the current weekly listing rather than assuming that every Friday or Saturday will feature the same type of performance.
How much do Lulu Bar events cost?
Prices depend on the organiser and event. Public examples range from low-cost student party tickets to approximately $39 plus fees for drag bingo, while a formal 2026 awards dinner offered $20 drinks-and-platters admission or an $80 dinner option. Some music or bar sessions may have different arrangements. Treat published event pricing as specific to that event.
Can I book Lulu Bar for a private party?
Yes. Lulu advertises private functions for groups from 20 to 200 people, with options including shared platters, canapés, sit-down dining and cocktail lessons. The courtyard can be booked partly for up to 30 people or privately in full for up to 100 standing. Function terms, minimum spends and deposits vary by day and space.
What is the largest confirmed event capacity?
The venue advertises function capacity of up to 200 people overall. Its largest specifically described area is the full courtyard, listed for up to 100 people standing. These are function figures rather than a guaranteed concert capacity. Lulu does not publish a fixed auditorium capacity, and the usable number will depend on seating, dining, stage equipment and the event format.
Does Lulu Bar have fixed seating?
No permanent theatre-style seating plan is published. The room normally operates with restaurant tables, bar seating and flexible event areas. Tables may be rearranged or removed for DJs, live music or standing parties. If you need a guaranteed chair, accessible position or table for a group, arrange that when booking rather than relying on the layout used for a previous event.
Is Lulu Bar suitable for dinner before a show?
Yes. Its location on Courtenay Place makes it convenient before performances at nearby theatres, and the menu is built around shared plates that work well for groups. Allow enough time for ordering and eating, particularly on busy nights. If you have a separate ticketed performance afterward, mention the timing when making your table booking.
Does Lulu Bar have a courtyard?
Yes. The courtyard is a sheltered outdoor-style space with glazing, woven screening and a more open feel than the main room. It can be booked for functions, with a half-courtyard option for up to 30 people and a full standing arrangement for up to 100. Wellington weather can still affect temperature, so bring an extra layer.
Can I choose my own music for a private function?
The venue’s courtyard information states that guests cannot simply play their own music there unless they hire a DJ. This means a private booking does not automatically include unrestricted use of the venue’s sound system. Discuss playlists, DJs, microphones and any performance equipment before confirming a function, particularly if music is central to the event.
Is Lulu Bar wheelchair accessible?
Some public listings describe Lulu as wheelchair accessible, but detailed information about step-free routes, internal levels, toilet facilities and event-night layouts is not comprehensively published. If you need accessible entry or seating, confirm the exact arrangement before purchasing a ticket. A normal restaurant layout may not be the same as a crowded standing event configuration.
Does Lulu Bar have an age restriction?
There is no single age rule for every visit. Individual events set their own conditions: documented examples include R18 drag bingo and an 18-plus drum-and-bass event. Restaurant and bar entry may also depend on licensing conditions and the time of night. Always check the specific event listing and bring accepted identification if the event is age-restricted.
Is there parking at Lulu Bar?
No dedicated Lulu customer car park is publicly confirmed. Visitors use street parking or commercial car parks in central Te Aro, where availability and charges vary. Friday and Saturday evenings can be busy, and parking close to Courtenay Place is not guaranteed. Public transport, a taxi or rideshare is usually the more predictable option for late events.
How do I get to Lulu Bar by public transport?
Courtenay Place is served by Wellington city buses and is also a stop on the Airport Express route through the CBD. Wellington Railway Station connects with the central bus network, after which Courtenay Place is a short ride or walk. Late-night N buses serve Courtenay Place or nearby Manners Street on selected weekend nights.
Does Lulu Bar run late-night buses nearby?
Metlink operates after-midnight N services on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with routes departing from Courtenay Place or Manners Street for several Wellington suburbs and the Hutt and Porirua areas. Services are not equivalent to an all-night network and may not run on public holidays. Check the last departure before settling into a late event.
What should I wear to Lulu Bar?
There is no general dress code publicly stated for ordinary visits. Most guests should choose comfortable evening clothes suitable for a restaurant and bar. Individual events can impose their own requirements; one documented university party required all-black clothing. For dancing or standing, comfortable shoes are more practical than formal footwear, especially in a crowded room.
Does Lulu Bar sell food during music events?
Lulu’s identity is built around food and drinks, and its regular operation includes shared plates, snacks, seafood and cocktails. Whether the full menu is available during a particular ticketed event can vary. Some functions use platters or set menus instead. If eating is important, arrive early or confirm the event’s food arrangements rather than assuming normal restaurant service.
What is Lulu Bar best known for?
Lulu is best known for combining Pacific-inspired food and cocktails with a colourful tropical interior and a lively Courtenay Place nightlife setting. Its distinctive features include hanging greenery, bamboo textures, warm coloured lighting, a sheltered courtyard and a recurring live-music and vinyl programme. It is a flexible social venue rather than a conventional theatre or nightclub.
