Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Two patron saints of cool – Elvis Presley and Marlon Brando – look down in this compact space. Shoot the breeze with the friendly bar staff over a craft…
Must-see nightlife in North Island
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Wellington
Hidden down a busy little back alley near Cuba St, gloriously garish Golding's is a bijou craft-beer bar with far too many merits to mention. We’ll single…
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Wellington
If Charles Bukowski was gasping for a drink in Wellington, this is where he'd come – an authentic, atmospheric US-style bar serving great cocktails, fried…
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Napier
Big-city laneway style comes to Napier at this bar tucked away off Tennyson St. Look for the big neon sign proclaiming 'Who shot the barman?' and you're…
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Auckland
Formerly a butcher's – look for the Westlynn Organic Meats sign – this corner location is now a great little neighbourhood bar with a backstreets Bogotá…
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Coromandel Peninsula
Home base for the Coromandel Brewing Company, this pub and bistro regularly features about five of its own beers in a modern ambience. Hearty meat and…
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Wellington
Into books, much? You'll find yourself in the right kind of bind at moody Library, with its velveteen booths, board games and swish cocktails. An…
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Taupo
Wineglass chandeliers hang from the sky-high industrial ceiling at this restaurant-cum-wine bar, where you can sit in comfy booths, on raised stools or in…
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Hauraki Gulf Islands
This excellent pub offers island-brewed craft beer, seafood, steak and burgers, and is GB's main social centre. Wood-fired pizzas are another highlight,…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Lovebucket is a more sophisticated alternative to K Rd's often youthful after-dark vibe. Courtesy of shared ownership with the Hallertau Brewery in West…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Inspired by the 'neo bistro' movement of Paris, Bar Celeste blurs the line between intimate bar and innovative restaurant. Natural wines are regularly…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Featuring some of Auckland's most experienced bartenders, Deadshot – cowboy parlance for 'strong booze' – is where you can sample the city's cocktail A…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
This beer bar combines quirky decor with 18 taps crammed with Brothers' own brews and guest beers from NZ and further afield. Hundreds more bottled beers…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
Originally a pop-up, now a vibrant cafe with wood bars and serious 'third wave' coffee with tasting notes and cold-brew options for summer. Super-healthy…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Candlelight and a semi-industrial fit-out set the scene for a New York–style bar devoted to the American drinking culture. The cocktails are pricey but…
Dida’s Wine Lounge & Tapas Bar
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Great food and an even better wine list attract a grown-up crowd. There's an associated wine store, providore and cafe next door.
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Taupo
The beer has only had to journey up the stairs at this brewery-bar with 14 beers – Hefe weizen, pale ales, a porter – and ciders on tap amid faux-Alpine…
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Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Hamilton's Good George Brewing empire has now spread to this Cambridge venue in a colourful and characterful former church. Secure a spot in the…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
A self-described 'neighbourhood bar', Annabel's would also be right at home in the backstreets of Bordeaux or Barcelona. Cheese and charcuterie platters…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Gin and craft beers from around NZ combine with excellent street-food-inspired bar snacks at the summery and relaxed Hoppers Garden Bar. Ponsonby locals…
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Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
Formerly a harbourside warehouse, Wynyard Pavilion's high-ceilinged heritage space is now one of the area's most versatile spots to eat, drink and take in…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Craft beers – many from Wellington's iconic Garage Project brewery – partner with fiery Indian street food in this rustic and laid-back space. Cocktails…
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Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
Other than the Chateau, Whakapapa’s only drinking hole (albeit owned by the Chateau) is this split-personality bar, styled like an Alpine lodge but with a…
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Parnell & Newmarket
This spacious, friendly and longstanding Irish pub is a grand place to watch live sport. Keep an eye on the match schedules of the All Blacks and the…
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Rotorua
What’s a lounge bar without chandeliers, a grand piano and red velvet curtains? This place, created by former TV weatherman turned Labour MP Tamati Coffey…
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Wellington
The brave? You won't need much courage to enjoy the rusty-panelled rooftop bar atop this old furniture factory, sipping beers brewed in the shiny vats…
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Hauraki Gulf Islands
Visit Aotea Brewing to purchase craft beers brewed entirely off the grid in the compact on-site microbrewery. Beers including Solar American Pale Ale are…
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Auckland Region
Hallertau offers tasting paddles ($12 to $16) of its craft beers served in its spacious and sociable biergarten, and inside on cosy tables near the bar…
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Rotorua
Run by the folks from Croucher Brewing, Rotorua’s best microbrewery, Brew sits in a sunny spot on Eat Streat. Thirteen taps showcase the best of Croucher…
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Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
This craft brewery based at Tomo pub brews pilsner, IPA, pale ale, wheat beer and cider. Due to contractual issues with bigger breweries, not all the…
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North Island
Visit the oldest and most famous of Wellington's craft breweries at its industrial-estate premises, where you can slurp a pint or two and chew some bar…
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Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Hearty meals, including pizza, steak, burgers, pasta and curries (mains $21 to $30). Later on a pub-meets-wine-bar ambience kicks off as the local musos…
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Napier
The 4th Door offers an alternative to Ahuriri's waterfront bars – a classy, moody little place, perfect for a predinner drink or a nightcap. Occasional…
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Parnell & Newmarket
Push open the door decorated with a chunky brass pineapple to discover this elegant bar with leather furniture and a gentlemen's club ambience. Savvy…
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Auckland
With its spacious and sunny beer garden, Pocket might have to start considering a new name. Colourful street art and a special area for chalk drawing…
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Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Recently relocated to the after-dark scene of Karangahape Rd, a louche old-world Shanghai vibe pervades this small bar, where the owner dispenses charm in…
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Parnell & Newmarket
A shrine to craft beers from around NZ, the Lumsden's outdoor terrace is a good spot to relax after exploring Newmarket's shops. Fifteen different beers…
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Bay of Islands & Northland
One of the country's oldest pubs – established in 1865, but twice burnt down since then – the tavern's harbourside location is a top spot for an afternoon…
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Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Located across the road from the Matamata i-SITE, this spacious and modern shrine to craft beer and cider is also a good place to eat. Sit outside under…
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Rotorua
Inside a 1940s former police station (look for the Māori motifs on the facade), this busy pub serves up frosty beer, big-screen TVs, a beer garden, live…
