Taupo
If panoramic pool-table views of Lake Taupo sound good to you, make a beeline for The Deck. Beer starts at $5 and there's even house-infused vodka. To eat…
Must-see nightlife in New Zealand
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…
Christchurch & Canterbury
Have a drink at the bar, crafted from a huge slab of native timber, or tuck into robust meals in the quieter cafe (mains $28 to $36). Afterwards,…
Taupo
With Irish ephemera nailed to the walls and a backpackers next door, you can be sure that there will be plenty of craic here. A host of locals get in on…
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,…
Waiheke Island
Part bar and part beach cafe, all served up with cool decor and Onetangi Beach views from the sunny deck. There's a good selection of tap beers and a menu…
Taupo
Corr-blimey, Guvnor! You ain’t seen a rubber-dub-dub like this since old Blighty, with lashings of colonial clichés and London Pride on tap, plus a couple…
Dunedin
Nelson's Mac's brewery is making a strike deep into Speight's territory in the form of this popular, convivial pub right on The Octagon. It's the sunniest…
Christchurch
This convivial spot on Sumner's main shopping strip has a sunny courtyard, good meals (mains $20 to $30) including pork souvlaki and rib eye steak, and…
Christchurch & Canterbury
While full immersion on the menu front is not necessarily advisable, this tidy gastro-pub-style establishment is a safe bet for a few cold ones and some…
Napier
Wow, what a classic! Before the advent of craft beer and ritzy bar-cafes, this is what all the watering holes in NZ were like: underlit, Tui on tap,…
Dunedin
Craft beers, single-malt whiskies and good cocktails appeal to a different crowd than those found in Dunedin’s numerous student pubs. Antipasto plates,…
Christchurch & Canterbury
Wunderbar is a top spot to get down, with regular live music covering all spectra, and clientele to match. The kooky decor and decapitated dolls' heads…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
A cosy place for a quiet drink early in the evening, getting more raucous as the night progresses. Get in quick to put your picks on the video jukebox if…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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