Bay of Islands
Great views, cold beer and tall tales abound at this brightly lit club bar where creatures from the deep protrude from every available surface. Decent…
Must-see nightlife in New Zealand
Tauranga
This big box of a gastropub pours Monteith's beers and serves pizza, burgers and meaty pub meals. This Phoenix rises best on Sunday afternoons and summer…
City Centre & Britomart
Part of a transformation of a long-defunct cinema, Everybody's sprawls over two levels, with couches and banquettes on the mezzanine, and a plant-filled…
Bay of Islands & Northland
This testosterone-fuelled pub brews its own beers, and has a terrace, wood-fired pizzas and live music, including Thursday jam nights. You can't miss the…
Christchurch & Canterbury
This large bar offers basic pub meals, a pool table, a big-screen TV and the occasional live gig, but the views are its best feature. Come at sunset and…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Trashy, brash and extremely young, Family gets crammed on weekends, with drag hosts and dancing into the wee hours, both at the back of the ground-level…
Whanake Gallery & Espresso Bar
Buller Region
This neat little grab-and-go cafe is decked out with the owners' inspiring nature photography, to admire while you wait for a shot of Westport's best…
Tauranga
Convincingly replicating a British boozer, right down to the Sunday roast with Yorkshire puddings and the dogs-welcome policy, this black-painted corner…
Christchurch & Canterbury
This large, slightly worn pub is the town's busiest watering hole. The kitchen serves decent pub-style meals all day (mains $22 to $35). Live musicians…
City Centre & Britomart
Accessed from a lane off Federal St (just past Gloria Jean's), the main attraction of this bistro bar is the covered terrace – a rare outdoor drinking…
Bay of Plenty
The Talisman is better than your average small-town boozer, with a bistro (mains $23 to $41) and an attractive, deck-covered beer garden. Basic…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Inclusive and welcoming bar with occasional quiz nights and drag shows, and a well-frequented dance floor. Wider age range than other venues. Check…
Dunedin
The godfather of Dunedin’s coffee scene, this compact wood-and-brick coffee house is the source of the magic bean for many of the city’s restaurants and…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
A long-running underground club for serious dance aficionados, sometimes hosting big-name DJs. On Friday nights the soundtrack is classic house, disco and…
Bay of Plenty
The Office is a no-frills sports bar that does what it does well: racing, beer, big meals with chips and salad, and live bands and/or DJs later in the…
Dunedin
Wage slaves queue at the pavement window every morning at this petite coffee bar, while students and others with time on their hands relax in the…
Wellington
Descend the darkened stairs to the clubbiest of Wellington's queer venues. Expect a fun young crowd, including plenty of mic-hoggers on karaoke nights.
Auckland Region
One of the pioneering Croat-Kiwi family vineyards, Soljans has a wonderful cafe offering good-value brunch and lunch set menus and buffets.
Dunedin
A late-night Dunedin staple, Pop serves great martinis and prides itself on seriously good DJs playing funk and house. It's downstairs.
Dunedin
A good spot to try the full range of Speight’s beers (six/eight beer tastings $18/22); there are also decent pub meals on offer.
Bay of Islands & Northland
A classic Kiwi pub with harbour views, good-value bistro meals and a friendly welcome from the occasional wisecracking local.
Auckland
This little neighbourhood cocktail/wine bar has dishevelled charm in bucketloads. Rest assured, no one comes here for tea.
Coromandel Peninsula
The legendary Coroglen Tavern is the archetypal middle-of-nowhere country pub that attracts big-name Kiwi bands in summer.
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
If you can't find a cocktail to your taste in this small but perfectly formed bar, it's nobody's fault but your own.
Dunedin
Indie music venue offering anything from punk to funk with posters from Dunedin's dirty '90s on the walls.
City Centre & Britomart
Hipsters gravitate to this eccentric bar-club for music ranging from live indie to international DJ sets.
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
This pub has a good beer selection and stacks of live music, along with comedy and poetry slams.
Christchurch
Mixing up the old with the new, the Carlton's decor references Christchurch's farmers and stock workers of old, while hi-tech lighting drags it into the…
Takaka
Beyond the gates you'll find good food such as sandwiches, chowder and meaty mains served in a relaxed atmosphere. A garden bar and great baking feature,…
The Great Coast Road
The Rapahoe Hotel, 12km north of of Greymouth, is a simple beachfront pub offering hot food and cold beer at the northern trail head for the Point…
Fiordland & Southland
With indoor and outdoor drinking zones and a colourful cast of locals, the Howl is a pleasant enough venue to sink some pinot noir.
Te Anau
Low on charm but big on views, this rough-edged waterfront pub is best for late-afternoon beers on the outdoor patio.
