Entertainment in Rotorua & The Bay Of Plenty
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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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B
De Bier Haus
With a pavement packed with happy punters, this hot haus features Belgian beers, big-screen TVs and manly hunting-lodge interiors with an antler or two in the midst. Kitchen-work is swift and savvy, turning out cajun chicken sandwiches, roast-duck spring rolls and seafood chowder (mains $15 to $36).
reviewed
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C
Pig & Whistle
Inside a former police station, this busy microbrewery-pub serves up Swine lager, big-screen TVs, a beer garden and live music Thursday to Saturday, plus simple grub (mains $15 to $30). The menu runs the gamut from crispy pork-belly salad to burgers and vegetarian nachos.
reviewed
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D
CornerStone
This cheerful watering hole features on-the-ball staff and a mature crowd (let’s say over-25s...folks who wouldn't mind Gordon Lightfoot on the sound system). A no-surprises menu offers whopping meals (mains $15 to $31), while sports fans can watch the game on the big TV and groovers can swing a hip (live music Thursday to Sunday).
reviewed
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E
Belgian Bar
The best bar in town for lovers of gigs and good beer. Half a dozen Euro-beers on tap and 42 in the bottle accompany regular blues and acoustic acts ('Clapton is God' is spraypainted behind the stage).
reviewed
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F
Underground Bar
‘It’s all about the beer’ at this crafty underground bunker, run by the lads from Croucher Brewing Co, Rotorua’s best microbrewers. Sip down a pint of fruity Pale Ale, aromatic Drunken Hop Bitter or malty Pilsener and wonder how you’ll manage a sleep-in tomorrow morning.
reviewed
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G
Latitude 37
A slick, upmarket bar with stone-faced walls, fold-back windows and flaming torches out the front. A lot of folk come here to eat (lunch $15 to $22, dinner $22 to $34...oh, the pork-belly sandwich!), but it’s also a beaut spot for a cold Heineken after a day in the surf.
reviewed
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De Luxe Cinema
The beguiling old De Luxe Cinema shows the occasional movie and brass-band concert. Check the window for upcoming events, including the annual Silent Film Festival in September.
reviewed
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Crown & Badger
A particularly convincing black-painted Brit boozer that does pukka pints of Tennent’s and Guinness, and food along the lines of bangers and mash and BLTs (mains $15 to $23). Things get happening at the weekends with live bands.
reviewed
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Bar Barella
For late-night action, head to Bar Barella, where bands and DJs play metal, hip-hop, reggae, rock and dub to a nocturnal crowd.
reviewed
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Office
The upmarket Office does what it does well: beer, big meals with chips and salad all over (mains $17 to $27), and live bands and/or DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.
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Colosseum
Your first choice for big-screen sports (30 screens!) and live music (Katchafire, dub DJs, Hendrix tribute bands etc).
reviewed
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Mount Mellick Hotel
A blokey Irish pub with hefty meals, regular jam sessions and poker and quiz nights, plus live bands on weekends.
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Baycourt
This big venue hosts an eclectic mix of theatre, visiting big bands, world-music concerts and music festivals.
reviewed
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Rosie O’Grady’s
Rosie’s is usually not too blokey, with NZ boutique beers, jam nights, pool tables, big screens and good-value pub grub (mains $11 to $28). The beer garden has actual grass – ideal for a pint or two of the black stuff.
reviewed
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O
Rialto Cinemas
Home to the Tauranga Film Society, the Rialto is the best spot in town to catch a flick: classic, offbeat, art-house and international. And you can sip a coffee or a glass of wine in the darkeness.
reviewed
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P
Buddha Lounge
Up a staircase beyond a big set of varnished plywood doors (and some heavy-duty bouncers), this clubby cocktail lounge hosts local and visiting DJs. There's a beaut outdoor terrace up above the street. Don't dress down.
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Reading Cinema
Reading Cinema shows mainstream movies.
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Cinema 5
Right in the middle of the Strand, Cinema 5 screens new-release movies. Cheap tickets before 4.30pm.
reviewed
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Bay City Cinemas
Mainstream cinematic offerings, run in parallel with Bay City Cinemas in Tauranga.
reviewed
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Major Tom's
A funky little bar set back from the main drag in what looks like Major Tom's spaceship. Inside it's all kooky antiques, vintage couches, dangling inverted desk lamps and prints of Elvis, the Mona Lisa and (of course) David Bowie. Fabulous streetside terrace, cool tunes, free wi-fi and occasional live acts. Everybody sing: 'Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do...'
reviewed
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Brew
Run by the lads from Croucher Brewing Co, Rotorua’s best microbrewers, Brew sits in a sunny spot on Rotorua's main eat-street. Sip down a pint of fruity pale ale, aromatic drunken hop bitter or malty pilsener and wonder how you’ll manage a sleep-in tomorrow morning. Good coffee, too.
reviewed
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V
Boiler Room
Next door to the Craic at the Whakatane Hotel, the Boiler Room is a cavernous, hedonistic space dotted with pool tables. In fact, it's Whakatane's only club. DJs and live bands engage your ears for Friday and Saturday nights respectively.
reviewed
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W
Craic
The Craic is a busy locals' boozer of the Irish ilk, good for a pint or two, or a mug of hot chocolate if you're feeling sub-par. Fantastic streetside terrace for sunny afternoons, and solid pub-grub (mains $13 to $22).
reviewed
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X
Boiler Room
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