Showing 1-21 of 21 results
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Backbencher
Opposite the Beehive is the Backbencher, where 3-D puppet heads of NZ pollies are mounted, trophy-room style, and there are clever satirical cartoons on the walls. Atmosphere is casual, fun and friendly.
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Basement
Basement is at Base Backpackers, with a happy hour from to 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.
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BATS Theatre
This alternative theatre (and home of the Fringe) has a commitment to presenting the best of NZ's cutting-edge and experimental theatre, and remaining accessible to both audiences and artists.
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Blue Note
Punters from all walks of life - gay, straight, transgender - come to the slightly seedy Blue Note to sing; Monday, Wednesday and Sunday are dedicated karaoke nights, Tuesday is jam night, and Friday and Saturday feature live bands and DJs.
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Bodega
One of Welly's longest-running live-music venues, cool Bodega plays music every night from around . Expect to hear dirty rock, Latin, soul, DJs and reggae-mon. There are 17 beers on tap and the vibe here is rockin'.
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Brewery Bar & Restaurant
Occupying prime water frontage in a renovated warehouse near Te Papa, the Wellington Brewing Company takes beer seriously; those brewed on-site include Sassy Red, Sultry Dark or Wicked Blonde. Enjoy the outdoor seating or leather booths, diverse clientele and moreish bar food.
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Cabaret
If, after getting your hands dirty at the venues mentioned earlier, you're looking for a more grown-up night out, head along to Cabaret, brought to you by the groovin' folks behind Chow restaurant. Enjoy jazz tunes, Latin grooves or songsmiths strutting their stuff, and dine from the Chow menu. Enter via the Chow restaurant.
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Dockside
An upmarket, nautically themed restaurant-bar, popular for after-work tie-loosening later in the week (it's nicknamed the 'dry cleaners' on a Friday night, as it's where you come to pick up a suit). Great indoor-outdoor venue with water frontage and quality seafood.
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Downstage Theatre
A professional theatre company with a strong presence in the Wellington theatre scene, Downstage is NZ's longest-running theatre (established in 1964). Its 250-seat auditorium also shows contemporary dance.
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Embassy Theatre
This grand dame was built in the 1920s and underwent major restoration in 2003 (after which it hosted the world premiere of LOTR: The Return of the King ). It now screens mainstream films; patrons can pay a few dollars extra for deluxe leather seats. The 1st floor of the theatre is home to Blondini's, a nicely chilled jazz bar.
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Good Luck Bar
It seems every good Welly bar needs a theme, and this one is retro Chinese opium den. Until recently, it was too cool to have a sign - now there's a small one to help guide you downstairs to the lantern bar and live music (Tuesday and Friday) or DJs.
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Indigo
A live-music haunt with local DJs spinning experimental techno, plus 'themed' nights (but in the best possible way): rock on Tuesday, drum'n'bass Wednesday, comedy nights Thursday. A prime place to kick back with a beer and take in the passing parade from the balcony overlooking Cuba St.
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JJ Murphy & Co
A popular bar in Cuba Mall with outdoor tables. Inside it's all dark-wood booths, big barrels and plenty of pool tables. The classic pub menu is Irish-themed and there's live music Wednesday to Sunday.
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Leuven
The menu at this 'beer café' is an ode to hearty Belgian cuisine: mussels come 10 different ways, the frites (fries) are cooked to perfection, and all the brewing big guns are present (including Hoegaarden, Leffe, Stella and Chimay), but there's a handy list of NZ wines by the glass too.
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Matterhorn
In an architecturally designed space with low lighting and polished concrete floors, Matterhorn is way cool. Three bars dispense drinks to 20-somethings (try the Backyard Bellini, which does wicked things with feijoa-flavoured vodka) and the leather-bound menu reveals an array of taste sensations (lunch and seriously good dinner options, plus bar snacks). DJs at weekends spin ambient funk, and there's occasional live music.
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Molly Malone's
This rousing, popular pub has Guinness and Kilkenny on tap (of course) and live music nightly. Well-priced Irish fare is served upstairs in the slightly more refined Dubliner whiskey bar and restaurant.
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Ponderosa
Ponderosa is a fun, intimate, Wild West-themed cocktail bar (trust us, it's better than it sounds) with tree-stump tables, cowhide cushions and mounted animal heads. Ride 'em cowboy.
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Red Square
Opulent cocktail bar with seductive leather booths, red velvet drapes and lashings of chandeliers. Sample NZ vodkas in cocktails such as the delectable 'Kiwi pash' (kiwifruit vodka plus passionfruit pulp, lime and apple juice).
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Sandwiches
Funk it up at cool-man-cool Sandwiches, a lounge bar and nightclub with live performances (jazz, electronica, funky soul) and top DJs from Wednesday to Saturday.
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Studio Nine
A cool dance club hosting international DJs and with a fab lounge area. This is the place to head for all-night doof - make sure you bring plenty of stamina.
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Tasting Room
In the thick of the action, this Monteith's-sponsored gastropub features clubby décor and leather banquettes (think city-slicker hunting lodge), but it's the antler 'chandelier' that most impressed us. If you're brave, wild game is a feature on the menu.
Showing 1-21 of 21 results
