Pub entertainment in New Zealand
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A
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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B
Vic
A commendable example of a Mac’s Brewbar, with trademark, quirky Kiwiana fit-out including a striped, knitted stag’s head. Quaff a few handles of ale, maybe grab a bite to eat (mains $13 to $30) and tap a toe to regular live music (Tuesday to Saturday). Good afternoon sun and people-watching from streetside seating.
reviewed
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Cornerstone
A cheerful watering hole attended by on-the-ball staff and a mature crowd (let’s say over 25). A solid no-surprises menu offers whopping meals, while sports fans can watch the game on the big telly and groovers can swing a hip (live music Thursday to Sunday).
reviewed
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D
Basement
Basement is at Base Backpackers, with a happy hour from 17:00 to 20:00 that includes around NZ$4 pints and around NZ$3 house spirits (happy indeed). There's free pool Monday night, plus regular live bands, DJs, quiz nights, and competitions to keep everyone in high spirits.
reviewed
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E
Speight’s Ale House
In a 1909 waterfront building, Dunedin’s finest beer has crossed the Southern Alps to take on Monteith’s. With Greymouth’s best wine list and tasty farm-style meals on offer, it’s easy to see why locals have adopted Speight’s as their other favourite beer.
reviewed
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F
Brewer’s Apprentice
What was once a grungy student pub is now a slick Monteiths-sponsored bar. Business crowds flock for lunch (lunch $10 to $17, dinner $27 to $29), and 20-somethings fill the beer terrace after dark. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.
reviewed
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G
Shark Club
Hankering to shoot some stick with the fiercest white pointers around? Head to this pubby pool hall with free pool from 17:00 to 19:00, drinks deals for backpackers, pool comps, jukebox and bar snacks (nachos, wedges etc).
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Speight’s Ale House
Busy even through the off months, the Ale House is a favourite of strapping young lads in their cleanest dirty shirts. A good spot to watch the rugby on TV, and to try the full range of Speight’s beers.
reviewed
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Jolly Good Fellows
Corr, Guvnor! You ain’t seen a pub like this since old Blighty, with lashings of cultural clichés and cheeky humour added to its pub grub, along with Old Speckled Hen, Tetleys and Bulmers cider on tap.
reviewed
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J
Celtic Inn
The Celtic expertly offsets the Fish nearby with good old-fashioned pub stuff, labourers, travellers and students bending elbows with a few tasty pints of the black stuff. Friendly staff, live music, red velvet chairs, kids darting around parents’ legs – it’s all here
reviewed
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Loaded Hog
Many people get loaded at the home-style Hog pub on weekends, but it's a tad tamer during the day and early evening, with harbourside seating. Home-brews outdo the pretty average pub grub on offer.
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Shed
A lively place to sup a beer and catch the big game, sit outside and watch the world go by, or strut your stuff to DJs at the weekends. Food is punter-pleasing pub fare in man-sized portions.
reviewed
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Bailies Irish Bar
Closed until further notice.
Convivial pub at Warners hotel with lovely large beer garden, pool tables, big-screen TVs, cheap food (particularly at lunchtime), a trivia night on Tuesday and live music later in the week.
reviewed
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N
Kingslander
This big complex in a historic warehouse can be raucous when there's a big game on, but usually there's a pleasant pub vibe. It's home to the most competitive trivia nights in the city.
reviewed
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O
Revingtons Hotel
Alternate between a Monteith’s in Revy’s Sports Bar, or a Guinness or Kilkenny next door in Danny Doolan’s. Steaks and venison pie tick the box marked ‘Pub Grub’ (mains $12 to $25).
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Masonic Tavern
A hefty array of beers on tap and an authentic ‘sit outside and watch the world go by' vibe make this the pick of the bunch for those after an old-fashioned pub atmosphere.
reviewed
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Captain Cook
This grand-daddy of Dunedin student pubs, with a fun garden bar that’s packed with the nation’s youth over winter, shrinks to a sad pokies venue over the summer months.
reviewed
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R
New Orleans Hotel
With looks transplanted more from the Wild West than the Deep South, this heritage pub is a good escape from Arrowtown’s growing array of expensive designer shops.
reviewed
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Royal Hotel
The Royal is an old-fashioned pub with affable Brit owners who welcome all comers with gusto. Grab a beer, get chatting, or watch the football (soccer) on Sky TV.
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Fat Sallys
Popular with locals, especially early on when they’re often tucking into a substantial pub meal. Come along on a Wednesday night for the rollicking pub quiz.
reviewed
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U
Rosie O’Grady’s
Part of the Masonic megaplex, Rosie’s predictable Irishness fills in the gaps between dimly lit corners, pints of Guinness and intermittent live music.
reviewed
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V
Finn MacCuhal’s
With Irish ephemera nailed to the walls and a backpackers’ next door, you can be sure that there will be plenty of craic here; DJs on the weekends.
reviewed
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Northern Steamship Co.
Standard lamps hang upside-down from the ceiling while the bar mural dreams of NZ summer holidays in this cool big pub by the train station.
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X
Irish Rover
This Irish pub in a grand old bank building fills up on weekends, with occasional live music and inexpensive pub lunches and dinners.
reviewed
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Y
Mulligans
A locals’ hang-out, this Irish boozer offers hearty meal-and-drink deals and is a good spot for a quiet Guinness.
reviewed
