Entertainment in New Zealand
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Dux de Lux
Closed until further notice.
Quality micro-brewed beers underpin this Christchurch icon. There’s good food too, especially seafood and vegetarian, and live music features at least four nights a week. On weekend afternoons the garden bar is the place to be after exploring the Arts Centre market.
reviewed
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B
Pheasant Plucker
A place for a proper pint, the pleasant Pheasant proffers locally brewed and Brit beers, along with pub food and open-mic, blues, rock, roots and singer-songwriter acts.
reviewed
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C
Belgian Beer Café
Closed until further notice.
Are Belgian beer cafés the new Irish pub? They seem to be springing up everywhere, with the cosy wood-heavy interiors, pots of mussels and fabulous array of beers. This is a fine example of the genre, with a suitably old-world exterior and a good-looking beer menu you'd be happy to work through.
reviewed
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D
Matterhorn
We're still gettin' the Horn, despite a change of ownership and some stiff competition. A perennially popular joint with three distinct but equally pleasing areas (long bar, dining room and garden bar), the Matterhorn still honours its patrons with reputable food (tapas from mid-arvo, dinner daily, brunch weekends), solid service and regular live music.
reviewed
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E
Tillermans Music Lounge
Tillerman’s is an alternative live-music/DJ venue, with live music ranging from local thrash bands to visiting rock or reggae talents. DJs spin mostly dub and house. Decrepit black couches and a battered old dance floor prove its credentials.
reviewed
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F
Sandwiches
Get yourself a slice of NZ’s electronic artists and DJs, regular multiflavoured international acts and a great sound system. Gritty club run by a dedicated team that isn’t just in it for the bread.
reviewed
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G
Malthouse
Beervana. An immense array of beers (both local and international) that would make even the most fervent of hopheads quiver at the knees. New Zealand does brew great beer, and this is the place to quaff them. Check out the Forty Licks–style toilets in the gents.
reviewed
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H
Good Luck
Cuba St’s Chinese opium den, without the opium. This is a slickly run, sultry basement bar playing multiflavoured upbeat tunes. It also mixes the best mint juleps in town, and sports a middle-of-the-mall al fresco lounge – great for watching the Cubacade.
reviewed
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I
Cabana Bar
This legendary music venue of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s died in 1997, but thanks to some forward-thinking, toe-tapping folk, it’s risen from the grave to save the day for Napier's gig lovers.
reviewed
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J
Wine Cellar & Whammy Bar
Secreted down some stairs in an arcade, this is the kind of bar that Buffy the Vampire Slayer would have hung out in on Auckland-based assignments. It’s dark, grungy and very cool, with regular live music in the neighbouring Whammy Bar.
reviewed
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Town Hall
Closed until further notice.
The riverside town hall and its two main spaces (the 2500-seat Auditorium and the 1000-seat James Hay Theatre) are the main venues for local performing arts such as orchestras, choirs and bands. The venue’s acoustics are excellent.
reviewed
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Backbencher
You might spot the odd parliamentarian on the turps at this pub opposite the Beehive, where rubbery puppets of NZ pollies are mounted trophy-style on the walls (Aunty Helen is much more beautiful in real life). Quiz nights and other events keep things lively.
reviewed
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Free House
Come rejoice at this church of ales. Tastefully converted from its original, more reverent purpose, it’s now home to an excellent, oft-changing selection of NZ craft beers. You can imbibe inside or out. Hallelujah.
reviewed
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N
Gecko Theatre
When the weather closes in, pull up an easy chair at this wee, independent theatre for interesting art-house flicks.
reviewed
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O
Mac’s Brewery Bar
Occupying a renovated warehouse on a prime waterfront site, this microbrewery does a great job of looking seriously committed to the craft. Excellent fish and chips.
reviewed
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Filter Room
Surrounded by orchards, these folk offer a large range of craft beers and ciders, all brewed on-site, plus a great-value $15 tasting tray and tummy-filling food.
reviewed
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Q
Embassy Theatre
Wellywood’s cinema mothership, built in the 1920s. Screens mainstream films; bars and cafe on-site.
reviewed
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Mayfair Theatre
Resembling a pink liquorice allsort, this seafront picture house screens almost-recent releases.
reviewed
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Masonic Hotel
The local pub, with occasional live country-and-western music.
reviewed
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S
Library
Velveteen booths, books, booze and board games. A real page-turner, with cocktails you won't want to put down.
reviewed
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Cinema Paradiso
Wanaka’s original Cinema Paradiso in Ardmore St was a true NZ icon, and it re-opened at these more modern and spacious premises in March 2012. Look forward to an entertaining slice of the old Paradiso magic with comfy couches and extra cushions on the floor to stretch out on. At intermission the smell of freshly baked cookies wafts through the theatre, and you can also order light meals to be ready for you at the break. Try the homemade ice cream and don’t forget to arrive early to get a good couch. The best of Hollywood and arthouse flicks run across three screens.
reviewed
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U
Backstage
Hidden down an appropriately seedy backstreet, magnificently grungy Backstage is the live-music venue in Dunedin. This is where NZ's bigger acts usually play when they're in town, whether they're pop, metal, rock, jazz or dub. Check local media or the website to see who's playing when you're in town. Acts here can be pretty loud, but it's a big bar, so you can generally escape far enough to be able to think, if not talk. It even does bar food, but you'd have to be pretty hungry…
reviewed
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Penguin Club
Tucked down a sleepy alley off a 19th-century street, the Penguin’s bizarre location matches its acts: everything from touring Kiwi bands to punky/grungy/rocky/country locals. Fridays are open-stage jam night. It’s nominally Members Only, so ask at the Oamaru i-SITE about scoring a guest pass. See the website for listings.
reviewed
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Arc Cafe
Wonderful Arc Cafe would be an asset in any city: out front there's a laid-back, grungy bar-café with mismatched tables and a gentle, welcoming vibe from the be-dreaded staff and drinkers; in back there's a dark live-music venue where fine bands play to packed crowds, or lousy bands play for their own entertainment. Good for a midday coffee or a late night beer. The vegetarian fare here is some of the best (and certainly the healthiest) options for late-night snacking.
reviewed
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X
Stadium Southland
Stadium Southland is home to Invercargill’s extremely successful and popular Southern Steel women’s netball team (www.southern steel.co.nz; season April to July). You can try out rock climbing here from $5 (7pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) and there’s also New Zealand’s only indoor velodrome. Come along Tuesday at 5.30pm for the opportunity (per hour $10) to get high on the wall on two wheels. Coaching is provided.
reviewed