Restaurant
Margot
163 Riddiford Street, entrance via Wilson Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Find Margot
163 Riddiford Street, entrance via Wilson Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Margot
Tucked off Wilson Street in Newtown, Margot delivers European bistro intimacy alongside a rotating, produce-driven menu that routinely catches diners off guard. Tables fill quickly in the candlelit dining room, where open-kitchen counter seats look directly onto the pass. Diners often find themselves won over by ingredients they usually dodge—think creamy stracciatella layered with pumpkin, or clean raw trevally crudo. The kitchen turns out around nine steady sharing plates, supported by floor staff who replace cutlery and dishes between courses to keep every flavor crisp. Pair the plates with a feijoa highball or a house jalapeño margarita spiced with Marlborough sea salt flakes, then finish on a slice of warm tarte tatin or molten chocolate brownie.
- Produce-Driven Seasonal Menu: A rotating multi-course tasting format highlights inventive seasonal pairings like raw trevally crudo and stracciatella with pumpkin.
- Moody European Ambience: Candlelit tables, hanging plants, and bar counter seating provide a relaxed setting reminiscent of a Parisian jazz bar.
- Signature House Cocktails: The bar program features balanced pours like refreshing feijoa highballs and spicy jalapeño margaritas rimmed with Marlborough sea salt flakes.
- Thoughtful Dietary Care: Kitchen and service teams deftly tailor plates for guests navigating strict dietary needs, from vegan courses to allium allergies.
What's On at Margot
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Choose Margot
Why diners choose Margot in Newtown for memorable evenings, craft-led menus, and considerate hospitality
Challenging Pairings That Win Over Hesitant Diners
Tom and the kitchen team construct inventive seasonal plates with surprising flavour combinations that convert diners on ingredients they normally avoid.
there’s always something that when reading, we aren’t sure about or don’t usually like, but when we try it anyway, it never fails to blow us away.
JuneBug Front-Row Bar Seating Overlooking the Pass
Diners seated along the counter bar get a direct view of the culinary team crafting plates and multi-course dishes in real time.
Would recommend sitting at the bar to watch the culinary masterpieces being created.
Lauren Gent Understated Romance and European Charm
Warm hospitality and attentive pacing create an intimate, understated ambiance reminiscent of a European bistro for dates and celebrations.
keep it understated and intimate - it’s so magical and romantic. Feels like some kind of jazz bar in Paris.
JuneBug Hospitality That Feels Like a Warm Embrace
Guests leave feeling deeply looked after and nurtured by attentive, genuine hosts and comforting food.
So homely, the service and the kai are both the warmest hug you’ve ever had dining out.
Charlotte Walters Attentive Accommodation for Complex Allergies
The kitchen accommodates severe and specific dietary restrictions, substituting ingredients without compromising the caliber of the dining experience.
Also, brilliantly accommodated an allium allergy. 10/5 to the Margot team, you know how to do hospitality so well.
Lena Saad Full Vegan Menu Adaptability Without Sacrifice
Nearly the full seasonal menu can be adapted for plant-based diners with tailored, high-calibre component substitutions.
i’m also a vegan and almost everything on the menu was able to be made vegan with some amazing substitutes xx
Florence McNabb
Most popular items
Seasonal, chef-driven savory creations celebrated by diners
Stracciatella
The standout dishes for us were the Stracciatella and the chopped raw beef. The taste and textures combined made these really stand out.
Steve Montgomery Raw trevally
We loved everything we ordered and would order them again but a standout in particular was the raw trevally - please treat yourself to this!
Carolyn Flounder with tomato butter
Their flounder with tomato butter was amazing and I feel like I have been missing out on tomato butter my whole life.
Lindsay Harn Gnocco fritto
We loved the gnocco fritto and the wine was beautiful.
Sarah D
Other favorites
Craft drinks, desserts, and sides that round out the dining experience
Jalapeño margarita
best chilli marg we’ve had. Great tequila, once again… great salt, and a delightful sip.
Eve Ashby Feijoa highball
The highball was refreshing, tantalising and an easy drink.
Eve Ashby Tarte Tatin with ice cream
The Tarte Tatin with ice cream, and the lamb dish were especially delicious
Julia Berry Triple-cooked chips
The chips were honestly the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly crisp, golden, and I think lightly vinegared. The waiter mentioned they’re triple-cooked, which explains the crunch.
Isabella Clague
Beyond the menu
Thoughtful hospitality touches that elevate the dining experience at Margot
Adaptable Plant-Based Dining
Dishes can be adapted thoughtfully for vegan diets, with staff offering inventive substitutions across almost the entire menu.
Detailed Dietary Walkthroughs
The front-of-house team walks through the menu in depth to comfortably tailor courses for specific dietary needs, including Halal dining.
Table Refresh Between Courses
During multi-course chef's set dinners, staff replace dining plates between courses to preserve pure flavor profiles and cleanliness.
Front-Row Kitchen Counter Seating
Counter seating directly facing the preparation area allows guests to watch the culinary team craft each dish up close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book a table in advance?
Booking ahead is strongly recommended. The dining room is intimate and fills up quickly, so making a reservation in advance ensures you secure a table.
Can Margot accommodate dietary requirements and allergies?
Yes. The kitchen readily accommodates special dietary needs, including vegetarian and vegan preferences, halal requirements, and specific allergies like allium or fennel.
How do the menu and portion sizes work?
Margot offers a multi-course chef's set menu with around nine plates designed to leave two diners comfortably full, alongside seasonal small sharing plates where ordering around five to six savoury dishes and dessert works well for a pair.
Is bar seating available to watch the kitchen?
Yes. Sitting at the bar provides counter seating where you can watch the kitchen prepare dishes directly in front of you.
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