PHOTO: An institution steeped in history, hospitality, and hope refuses to fly the coop — at least for now. Wellington- New Zealand
After nearly 100 years of feeding political powerhouses, Hollywood cast members, and loyal locals, Wellington’s legendary Green Parrot Café is staying put.
Despite being listed for sale in 2023, the iconic Wakefield Street steakhouse is no longer on the market. Co-owners Chris and Kosta Sakoufakis — a father-son team — have made the call to “just ride the wave” as they wait for the right time, and the right buyer.
“It just wasn’t the right climate. We weren’t attracting the right buyers, and confidence in the city was diminishing,” says Chris.
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🥩 A National Treasure — Preserved, Not Packaged
First opened in 1926, The Green Parrot is woven into the very fabric of Wellington’s culinary and cultural history. Famous for its grilled meats, political clientele, and refusal to modernise for the sake of it, the eatery celebrates its centenary next year — and the menu remains as nostalgic as ever.
📜 You can still order groper steak, flounder, chicken livers and schnitzel — much like the 1950s menu still proudly displayed on the wall.
“We didn’t want someone just turning up and changing everything,” says Chris. “We feel like it’s a Wellington icon — or a national icon — and we wanted to preserve that.”
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🌀 From Macy’s Lampshades to Lord of the Rings
The restaurant’s colourful history includes being named after six green lampshades bought from Macy’s in San Francisco, a menu inspired by gun-barrel grills, and a near-mythic tale involving former Prime Minister John Key and a disputed restaurant tab.
Over the decades, it’s hosted political leaders like Muldoon, Peters, Key and Moore, and stars from the Lord of the Rings franchise. It even played a role in a high-profile court case.
🍷 Pandemic, Parking, and Political Shifts
Like many in hospitality, the Green Parrot has weathered Covid-related challenges, changing consumer habits, and economic headwinds.
“It took a trifecta of events — recession, changing dining habits, and city infrastructure issues — to change the landscape of hospitality in Wellington,” Chris says.
The closure of the Amora Hotel, Reading Cinemas, and public sector job cuts have reduced foot traffic in the capital’s once-bustling precinct.
Yet, despite cancelled bookings (even from NZ First due to urgent parliamentary business), Chris remains upbeat.
🚧 The Future Looks Brighter
With infrastructure upgrades in the pipeline and confidence slowly rebuilding, the Sakoufakis family is keeping the doors open — and options too.
“We’re not ruling out relisting,” Chris says. “But we’re not closing either. That’s not an option. We see it as our duty to carry on.”
As Wellington recalibrates, one thing remains constant: The Green Parrot isn’t going anywhere — not yet.
SOURCE: THE POST