The best ways to spend a girls' weekend in the city centre

Whether it's a long overdue catch up or you just want to get out and have some fun with your best group of girlfriends, the heart of the city is your playground. From live music, to pamper sessions, new experiences, incredible cocktails and fabulous shopping destinations, the city centre will make for an unforgettable girls weekend.

Catch up over brunch

There’s nothing better than a brunch with your girlfriends to catch up. Rude Boy Deli & Eatery offers the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed brunch with friends, choose from a selection of delicious breakfast classics with a  modern twist or opt for a cheeky treat from the cabinet. 

Look out over the water as you sip on mimosas and tuck in to a classic eggs benedict or brûlée banana bread at the The Lula Inn. We recommend booking a table for brunch at Lula’s as it’s a very popular choice. 

Wynyard Pavillion and Feriza’s on North Wharf are also popular options for a weekend brunch by the water. Wynyard Pavillion offers a delicious and classic brunch menu while Feriza’s offers traditional Turkish dishes such as Menemen (baked eggs in a tomato and capsicum sauce) and Gozleme (traditional Turkish hand rolled yufka dough filled with spinach, feta & mozzarella or beef mince, onion & cheese).

Shop 'til you drop | Commercial Bay, Britomart, High Street and Queen Street 

Who better to shop with than your closest group of girls? The city centre is filled with stunning fashion retailers from right here in New Zealand to all across the world. Start your shopping spree at the fabulous Commercial Bay that stands glamorously on Lower Queen Street. In this new shopping precinct, you’ll find New Zealand fashion designers Yu Mei, Elle + Riley Cashmere, Nicole Rebstock, and twenty-seven names (just to name a few) amongst a raft of exciting international retailers such as Aje, Sandro, Cos, Kate Spade New York and Maje. 

Head the next block over and experience the incredible retail offering at Britomart. Here you'll find more New Zealand designers like Trelise Cooper, Karen Walker, WORLD, Allbirds, and Deadly Ponies, as well as the Adidas Orginals concept store and Tiffany & Co. 

The next stop on your shopping tour needs to be the High Street and Queen Street scenes which provide cool open air experiences with quirky laneway retailers and great homeware stores like Shut The Front Door, limited edition garment stores like Prior, not to mention everyone's favourite department store Smith & Caughey's. These areas are also a great place to stop for a mid-shop coffee or cocktail break. For coffee, we suggest Chuffed or Pink Neon Sign on High Street, while Cornerbar on the corner of High & Shortland Streets is our go-to for an excellent glass of wine or funky cocktail. 

Say cheers with a happy hour deal | Huami Bar

Huami Bar is your must-try gin cocktail specialist. Huami doesn't skimp on their selection of gins, where excellence and quality are the top priority. The menu features over 40 gins ranging from the most premium to the latest release. For an awesome happy hour deal, join the Huami Gin Club to get $10 gins all day, every day.

Enjoy live jazz music | Caretaker

For a Jazz night, head down to the 'secret' Caretaker bar on Sunday's Monday's and Tuesdays from 9pm. Sip on personalised cocktails and get up for a boogie as the live bands take you away with their smooth jazz tunes.

For more events, check out our events page to see what's on during your weekend in the heart of the city.

Roaring 20's High Tea | Hotel DeBrett | Saturday's & Sunday's from 1:00pm

Feel like royalty and sit down to a three-tiered High Tea with all the most delicious treats both savoury and sweet. Get dressed up for an afternoon of glamour and glitz and join Hotel DeBrett for a fun ‘Roaring 20’s’ themed high tea. Be delighted by the tasty bites ranging from deviled eggs with crispy prosciutto to smoked salmon pinwheels, gin & tonic cup cakes, pink pavlova and lemonade scones with cream & jam. 

Have a pamper session | The Art of Nails

What better way to spend the day with the girls than treating yourselves to an afternoon of luxury? Indulge in a manicure or pedicure (or both!) while sitting side by side with your girls. From express, to classic and luxe packages, there's a nail service to fit in with however busy your girls day schedule is! 

Other great places in the city for a pamper day include Caci, East Day Spa, and The Facialist, 

Learn the art of cocktail making | Bellini Bar 

Become a master mixologist with a cocktail class at Bellini Bar. Learn a range of cocktail making techniques and get behind the bar to make your very own. With either a cocktail class or a mixology masterclass to choose from, you’ll be introduced to the art of cocktail making with shaking, straining and garnishing techniques.