Must-see nightlife in Queenstown & Wanaka

  • Blue Door

    Queenstown & Wanaka

    The only indications that you've arrived are the unmarked blue doors – push them open and it's like stepping into a prohibition-era speakeasy. The low-lit…

  • Cardrona Hotel

    Queenstown & Wanaka

    The wood-panelled facade looks like a film set, but it's the real deal – NZ's most photographed pub is a gold-rush relic from 1863. The sense of history…

  • Rhyme x Reason

    Wanaka

    Beer-loving locals head to this inconspicuous tin shed – situated in a light-industrial strip on the edge of town – to escape the tourists down at the…

  • Lalaland

    Wanaka

    Before the Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone flick, there was already this Lalaland in Wānaka. Sink into a comfy chair at the little, low-lit palace/bordello,…

  • Gin & Raspberry

    Wanaka

    If you're in the swing for bling, this lush bar is like stepping into a Baz Luhrmann film set. Gilded mirrors, a grand piano (yes, you can ask to play it)…

  • Atlas Beer Cafe

    Queenstown

    There are usually 23 craft beers on tap at this pint-sized lakefront bar, headlined by brews from Dunedin's Emerson's Brewery and Queenstown's Altitude;…

  • Perky's

    Queenstown

    That hint of wobbliness you feel isn't the alcohol (yet), it's the fact that you're drinking on an old tour boat that's now permanently moored at the…

  • Fork & Tap

    Queenstown & Wanaka

    Built as a bank in 1870, Fork and Tap's currency is now craft beer, with up to 19 suds on tap. Add in good food, including shared meat and cheese platters…

  • The Winery

    Queenstown

    Ignore the uninspiring location and settle in for a journey around NZ wine. Load up cash on a smart card and then help yourself to tasting pours or…

  • 1876

    Queenstown

    How often do you get to drink in a courthouse, as opposed to ending up in a courthouse because of drink? This bar is inside a heritage-listed 1876-built…

  • World Bar

    Queenstown

    Queenstown's legendary party hub before it was destroyed by fire in 2013, the World is once again spinning. Decor swings between degrees of eclectic, from…

  • Bunker

    Queenstown

    Bunkered upstairs rather than down, this chi-chi little bar clearly fancies itself as the kind of place Sean Connery's James Bond might frequent, if the…

  • Bardeaux

    Queenstown

    This small, cavelike wine bar is all class. Under a low ceiling are plush leather armchairs and a fireplace made from Central Otago schist. Whisky is king…

  • Smiths Craft Beer House

    Queenstown

    It's back to basics in everything but the taps, with bare concrete floors and industrial tables and chairs, but 36 creative NZ craft beers to sample. The…

  • Gibbston Tavern

    Queenstown & Wanaka

    Just off the Gibbston Hwy, this supremely rustic pub has a jute-lined interior and outdoor seating gathered around a fire. All wines are from Gibbston,…

  • Pub on Wharf

    Queenstown

    Schmick interior design combines with handsome woodwork at this popular pub, with fake sheep heads to remind you that you’re still in NZ. Mac’s beers on…

  • Zephyr

    Queenstown

    Queenstown's hippest rock bar is located – as all such places should be – in a dark, grungy, concrete-floored space off a back lane. There's a popular…

  • 1789

    Queenstown

    Tucked into a corner of the Sofitel, this velvet-smooth jazz lounge is named for the French Revolution, with a bloody colour scheme to suit. There are…

  • Vinyl Underground

    Queenstown

    Enter the underworld, or at least the space under the World Bar, to find the heartbeat of Queenstown's late-night life. It's a proper, sweaty, industrial…

  • Rhino's Ski Shack

    Queenstown

    This vibey basement bar serves Rhino's house lager on tap ($5), hot rum in the ski months and empanadas. Animal pelts, snowshoes and skis line the…

  • Little Blackwood

    Queenstown

    Slink into the darkened interior of this slick bar for a sneaky afternoon cocktail, or perch yourself on the waterfront terrace for views over the lake.

  • Woody’s

    Wanaka

    The mainstays of Post Office Lane are this sports bar and neighbouring Barluga, sharing a courtyard and operating more or less in tandem, especially when…

  • New Orleans Hotel

    Queenstown & Wanaka

    Dating from 1866, this gold-rush pub still has the right amount of rough edge to provide a juxtaposition to Arrowtown's relentless quaintness. The gnarled…

  • Below Zero° Ice Bar

    Queenstown

    Queenstown has two ice bars and they're pretty similar, but this one is apparently the biggest in Australasia. The frigid room is entirely furnished out…

  • Pig & Whistle

    Queenstown

    Like an English boozer framed with large-screen TVs, and with 17 beers on tap, this pub is a great place to watch the rugger. There's good pub grub (mains…

  • Surreal

    Queenstown

    The big attraction at this otherwise average bar, huddled among shops, is the roof terrace – a wonderfully hidden-away spot for an alfresco drink, though…

  • Ballarat Trading Company

    Queenstown

    Beyond the eclectic decor (stuffed bear, stock-exchange boards on the wall), Ballarat is quite a traditional spot, with gleaming beer taps, nightly bands,…

  • Barmuda

    Queenstown

    With the vibe of a pub, but the wine list of a sopshisticated lounge bar, Barmuda is a drinking hole for all-comers. A huge open fire makes its walled-in…

  • Searle Lane

    Queenstown

    Pool tables and shared rotisserie chickens make this a top spot for easy carousing. Free-flowing beer and well-mixed cocktails will help things along. If…

  • Peak Espresso

    Queenstown

    If you're wanting a shot of caffeine courage as you head up the hill to the Shotover River or Coronet Peak, this tiny black cabin brews a fine coffee…and,…