Cuba Mall — Local services in North Island

Your verdict of CM will depend on the colour of your lenses, is this the quirky arty, "character" zone of Wellington city or a dirty, run-down, overrated mall? CM's history will show this as a place where individual differences in self-expression were tolerated, even encouraged as artistic or other endeavours, be it music, drama, etc. Find buskers, performers, protestors and other colourful people in this interesting part of Wellington who imbue our city with Soul (btw celloists are as rare as hen's teeth in CM so a big applause for these brave buskers). There are also neat little parks and green spaces around CM if you seek a quiet spot to relax or lunch in and no shortage of eateries and bars along the "Mall...

Certainly a very interesting place, I was entertained. My hotel was in Te Aro so Cuba Street was just a brief walk away. As Cuba Street is one of the main pedestrian thoroughfares in Wellington, I had to check it out. It was so surreal to see such an eclectic mix of folks in one place: a man with an electric guitar blasting rock music right next to Falun Gong practitioners; a drunk man getting arrested while me and another bloke debate some vegans holding a sign saying "ask me why I'm vegan"; JW's right next to a Latin American dance class... One of the most memorable parts of my holiday was Cuba Mall.

5/5 stars...

Beloved Cuba. Still an interesting and vibrant place, that will never change. Great variety of interesting retail and dining options, community facilities, events festivals, and parking isn't too difficult to sort either an overall great experience. The only thing bringing it down is the calibur of some of the people that terrorise it. Whacked out druggies yelling profanities or fighting with each other, using racist slurs and being a general nuisance to everyone around them. Would like to see the area policed a bit more so the public doesn't have to put up with it.

Aside from that,...