New and approved is The Spinoff’s series highlighting fresh hospo offerings. Today, Jean Teng recommends Octo, a yakitori-focused bar new to Te Aro.
What is it?
A lot of things. Open from 10am till late, Wednesday to Sunday, Octo begins its day as a record store and cafe, where you can browse through records, relax and linger over a toastie, coffee or midday beer.
At nighttime, it switches into being a yakitori-slash-listening-bar. You can settle in with a variety of skewers and snacks; alongside the yakitori, there’s also picky things like bread, olives and edamame. When it comes to drinks, Octo’s specialty is craft cocktails, but there’s a handful of wine, beer and non-alc options (including one non-alc cocktail).
You can definitely order enough food for a full dinner if you wish, but its utility is multi-purpose: pull up at 5pm for a wine and to split a very generous bowl of fries (topped with wakame and chilli or curry and cheese!), or round out the night after a show with a cocktail or two. They also have live DJs playing on Friday and Saturdays; you can check out their Instagram to see who’s playing.
Where is it?
In Wellington’s Aro Valley shops, opposite AroVision and close to the Garage Project Taproom and Rita. Previously Herb’s Records (the record store inside now goes by Octo Herb’s).
What’s new about it?
Everything! Octo was opened on May 1 by co-owners Benjamin James, Jeremy Hollis and Zuyi Woon (from Pour and Twist). They had quite a journey to get their doors open, with the whole process taking two years due to noise concerns from local residents.
What are the vibes?
Chill, pleasingly low-lit. Despite being new, it’s somehow achieved a lived-in feeling that makes the place immediately likeable. There are plenty of spots to become a regular at, whether that’s the table that looks out onto the street, cosied up by the records in the Octo Herb’s section out back, or perched up at the bar.
Obviously it’s billed as a listening bar, so music is front and centre as a function of vibe, both aesthetically and acoustically. There are shelves of records behind the bar, small inset TVs and a serious-looking sound system, though they endeavour to keep the noise at a conversation-friendly level.
One month in, I already spotted what looked like regulars dropping by for one cocktail and a s’more skewer near the end of the night, chatting to the owners. It has a neighbourhood feel, but is also destined to evolve into a go-to first-date spot for a certain type of Wellingtonian. And let me reassure those on the fence, it would be a good suggestion! You can’t always go to Puffin.
What should I order?
If you get here after 4pm, you should order a cocktail, some skewers, and fries for the table. As for the specifics: you can tell that Octo is the kind of place that will probably change its food and drink offering up, dictated by the season and an inclination for play. So take these recommendations with that grain of salt. When I was there, I ordered the seri muka – rum, pandan and coconut, inspired by the Malaysian kuih of the same name. The coconut foam melts away into the pandan-tinged liquid, and it was delicious. Also delicious was my friend’s high tea cocktail, an earl grey milk punch.
Because I’m a glutton, I got nearly all the skewers on offer. You don’t have to do that, although I was pretty happy. Octo cooks most things on charcoal, which is non-negotiable for that beautiful smoky flavour profile. My favourite of the night was the chicken satay, again Malaysian style – if you notice a pattern emerging, it’s because one of the owners is Malaysian – with a distinctive spicy peanut sauce and diced cucumber and red onion sprinkled on top. So if you only had room for one thing off the menu, that’s my pick.
The mushroom variety was also very tasty, as were the beef sirloin and chicken thigh. I also loved the rice ball with corn and cheese, the exterior hot and crisp from receiving the same grill treatment over charcoal.
You should probably finish everything up with a s’more, charred to a dark brown on the outside, smothered in crushed peanuts and chocolate sauce. It’s pillowy, sticky, just enough to satisfy a post-yakitori sweet tooth.
What’ll it set me back?
This is very much a choose-your-adventure type of situation and may also depend heavily on your love for cocktails. Cocktails average $20. Skewers, which come in pairs, range from $8 to $13 and sides are all in the $6 to $15 ballpark. So, based on this, it could set you back anywhere between $20 to $100pp – we’d say $50pp average, if you want to have the best time.
Toasties during the day are $14-$16.
Octo
102 Aro St, Aro Valley, Wellington
Wed, Thurs, Sun 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm
