Havana Bar

Havana Bar is located in two historic Te Aro cottages on Wigan St. The cottages date back to the late 19th and early 20th century. During that time Wigan St was on the outskirts of Wellington's old China Town. The area stretched out from Haining and Frederick street containing the dubious reputation of opium dens, gambling and gentlemen's pleasures. Even after years of much public outcry this part of Wellington was not cleaned up until the 1950s resulting in many of the old working men's cottages being torn down and removed.

In 1991 the lads from Havana Coffee Works bought a remaining cottage at 34 Wigan St and subsequently in 1995 bought the next door cottage at 32a.

32a Wigan St had previously been owned by a man named Charlie Fittes. He claimed he had been born there and as far as it's known he lived there all his life. He was an unstoppable collector of nearly all things and after he died it was discovered that the cottage was piled to the ceiling with his eccentric taste. Charlie wrote in his will that he wanted the Havana lads to buy his cottage and that they did.

Before long ideas of a Cuban bar were brewing and well known Fidel's Café owner/operators Roger and Potti joined in bringing the idea to life. In 2003 Havana Bar was opened and created a new hum in the city by embracing Cuba's history, music, rum and famous cigars.

In 2009 Havana Coffee moved all of it's operation to Tory St. This allowed Roger and Potti to extend Havana Bar into the old Coffee Works cottage and has provided the capital with a bigger; yet still intimate oasis of colourful Cuban, Latin and Caribbean style.