The Law Courts Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
The Law Courts Hotel is a budget-friendly heritage stay closest to The Octagon, with a one-of-a-kind magic-themed restaurant downstairs.
The Law Courts Hotel is a budget-friendly heritage stay closest to The Octagon, with a one-of-a-kind magic-themed restaurant downstairs.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The Law Courts Hotel is one of the more interesting heritage buildings in Dunedin — it once handled the city's legal business, and in 1954 it hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their New Zealand visit. Rooms come in several shapes: Single, Double, Triple, Twin, and a newly renovated 3-bedroom apartment. The basic rooms are on the small side and the building shows its age, but they're clean and warm, and each one has a flat-screen TV, a fridge, a tea and coffee maker, and a heater.
Food and amenities
Magic Moments is the part you'll remember — billed as New Zealand's first magic-themed restaurant. It runs pub fare at lunch and fusion food in the evening, and there are often live magic shows during the meal, which makes it a clear step away from a standard hotel dining room. There's also a bar and lounge, and free Wi-Fi throughout the building.
Location and getting there
Location is the real strength here. The hotel sits on Lower Stuart Street, only about 200 m — a 2-3 minute walk — from The Octagon, the city's central square. The handsome Dunedin Railway Station is just 2 minutes away on foot. Parking is free, which is genuinely hard to find at a hotel this close to the centre.
Things to know before booking
The basic rooms are small and the building is old; some reviews note it hasn't been refreshed in a while, so set your expectations for character over polish. There are also 18 slot machines on site, which makes it a poor fit for families traveling with young kids. You're paying for the address and the history, not the newest fittings.
Our take
The Law Courts Hotel suits solo travelers and backpackers who want the best walking location for the price, enjoy a building with a real past, and like the idea of an evening at Magic Moments. If you'd rather have a quiet, modern room, look elsewhere — but for value and a heritage base steps from The Octagon, it's hard to beat.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Best location in the list — only 200 m to The Octagon, so you can walk everywhere in the centre.
- The in-hotel Magic Moments restaurant serves fusion food and puts on live magic shows, a genuinely one-of-a-kind experience you won't get at a normal hotel.
- Free parking and free Wi-Fi keep your costs down, and free parking this close to the centre is hard to find.
- It's a heritage building with real history — it hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1954.
- A 2-minute walk to the photogenic Dunedin Railway Station puts one of the city's signature sights right at the door.
- Rooms run on the smaller side and the building shows its age; some reviews say it hasn't been refreshed in a while.
- There are 18 slot machines on site, which makes it a poor fit for families traveling with young kids.
- The basic rooms are simple — you're paying for the location and the character, not for the newest fittings.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Dunedin
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Insider Tips
- Book the newly renovated 3-bedroom apartment if you're a family or group — it's the freshest option in the building.
- Time dinner at Magic Moments for an evening with a live magic show rather than the quieter pub-fare lunch service.
- Walk 2 minutes to Dunedin Railway Station early for photos before the day-trip crowds and tour buses arrive.