Entertainment in Wellington
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Matterhorn
Perennially popular bar, with a clientele as interesting as its drinks list. Worthy winner of numerous accolades including New Zealand’s best bar and restaurant. Slick and ultracool, with great attention to detail. Occasional live music provided by some of Aotearoa’s freshest bands and musicians.
reviewed
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B
Sandwiches
Get yourself a slice of NZ’s electronic artists and DJs, regular multiflavoured international acts and the capital’s best sound system. Throw shapes in the edgy main room or enjoy cocktails and pizza in the sultry bar. Great club run by a dedicated team that isn’t just in it for the bread.
reviewed
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Good Luck
Cuba St’s Chinese opium den, without the opium. This is a slickly run, sultry basement bar playing fresh hip-hop and electronica. It also brings you the thing no one else could: a middle-of-the-mall alfresco lounge – great for watching the Cubacade.
reviewed
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Backbencher
You might spot the odd parliamentarian on the turps at the Backbencher, a pub opposite the Beehive where rubbery puppets of NZ pollies are mounted trophy-style on the walls (David Lange is a beauty). Good weekend brunches.
reviewed
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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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Embassy Theatre
Wellywood’s cinema mothership, built in the 1920s. Screens mainstream films; bar and cafe on-site.
reviewed
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Garden Club
Three floors of dance-music-fuelled mayhem aimed primarily at a younger crowd. Level one houses the club proper with regular live acts and DJs, while the top floor is home to Welly’s other gay bar. In between is a noxious den that pushes NZ’s smoking laws to the limit. Well run and definitely fun.
reviewed
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I
Mighty Mighty
Possibly the hippest of the capital’s drinking establishments and music venues. Inside-a-pinball-machine decor, pink velvet curtains, kitsch gewgaws and Wellington’s best barmaid make this an essential port of call for those wanting to experience the best of New Zealand’s bar scene. Get dancing.
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Vivo
A tomelike list of approximately 700 wines from around the world, with more than 50 available by the glass. Exposed bricks and timber beams give Vivo an earthy cellarlike feel while the fairy lights look like stars set against the dark ceiling. A vinophile’s delight with some decent food too.
reviewed
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Hummingbird
Popular with the sophisticated set, Hummingbird is usually packed – both inside in the intimate, stylish dining room and bar, and outside on street-side tables. Croony music (with regular live jazz), exciting brunch-to-supper menus, and impressive drinks including fine wines and cocktails.
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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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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.
reviewed
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Bodega
A trailblazer of the city’s modern live-music scene, and still considered an institution despite its move from a derelict heritage building to a concrete cavern. ‘The Bodge’ offers a full and varied program of gigs in a pleasant space with a respectable dance floor and filler-up food.
reviewed
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O
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.
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Chow Cabaret
If 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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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.
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Circa
Circa’s main auditorium seats 240 people, its studio 100. Cheap tickets are available for preview shows (the night before opening night), and there are stand-by tickets available an hour before the show (anything from pantomimes to international comedy).
reviewed
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San Francisco Bath House
Wellington’s best midsized live-music venue, playing host to the cream of NZ artists, as well as quality acts from abroad (Fleet Foxes, Gomez…). Somewhat debauched balcony action, five deep at the bar, but otherwise well run and usually lots of fun.
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Happy
A basement bar that picks up all the cool, stray acts (small and large) that don’t seem to fit in anywhere else: spoken word, jazz fusion, acoustic singer-songwriters, electronica, short films and experimental theatre. Open performance nights only.
reviewed
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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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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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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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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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Downstage
NZ’s most enduring professional theatre company with a strong presence in Wellington (established 1964). Original NZ plays, dance, comedy and musicals in a 250-seat auditorium.
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