Wellington has a bustling nightlife, concentrated along Courtenay Place, one of the major streets running from the CBD. It runs through Te Aro and ends in Mt Victoria. The nightlife causes this street to have the highest population density in all of New Zealand on Friday and Saturday nights. In most establishments, drinks are remarkably affordable (~$6), and entrance charges are either nonexistent or minimal. In some of the better clubs reasonable dress standards apply, however in the day the mood is usually extremely causal, with flip-flop (Called Jandals in New Zealand) and even bare feet occasionally accepted (a common Kiwi choice on hotter days). Cuba Mall also features some cool and more alternative bars.
Away from Courtenay Place in the CBD district (Lambton Quay) there are many after work bars frequented by office workers, however this area becomes deserted in the later hours, and thus these establishments usually do not provide all night partying.
Mighty Mighty, Level 1, 104 Cuba St. W-Sa from 4PM. This is probably one of the most hip and popular places in town at the moment. It often has local and international artists performing. It generally has a $5 door charge on the weekends. �
Establishment, Cnr Blair St and Courtenay Pl, ☎ 04 382 8654 (, fax: 04385 0206), . �
Kitty O'Shea's, Courtenay Pl. Popular, with regular live Irish music. �
Good Luck, Cuba Mall. Hidden away down underneath Cuba Mall in the basement of a building. Good Luck can be difficult to spot. With a low roof and dim lighting, it is a cozy place for a winter drink. Also good in summer, it can be a little dark and hot in the warmer summer months. �
The Matterhorn, Cuba Mall. The Matterhorn has been a popular Wellington Bar for many years. �
Blend Bar, 118 Wakefield St, . �
Havana Bar, 32a Wigan St, ☎ 04 384 7041, . Havana Bar is attached to the popular Havana Coffee Works. Near the top of Cuba St in an old Wellington character house, it is a nice place to listen to some jazz or just relax out in the outside courtyard bar. �
Chow & Motel Bar, 45 Tory St, ☎ 04 382 8585 (), . A combination restaurant/bar and cocktail lounge in one connected unit. Chow is a restaurant & bar serving Asian fusion food, cocktails and Sake. Motel Bar is behind Chow with its main entrance in Forresters Lane. According to worldsbestbars.com it is 5th best bar in the world. �
Imerst, 13 Dixon St, Courtenay Pl, ☎ +64 4 384 8229, . NZ's largest gay/lesbian venue, split over three floors - Closed until August 2008 �
S&M's Cocktail lounge, Cuba St. Wellington's only gay bar currently operating is small but packed on weekends especially. Two floors with the lower floor being a sweaty dance floor. �
Fringe Bar, 191 Cuba St, ☎ +64 21 251 0589, . Until 6AM weekdays, until 8:30AM weekends. Gay friendly, live entertainment, karaoke, comedy, all night bar �
Medusa, 154 Vivian St. The home of New Zealand's underground and emerging metal and hardcore artists.Formerly known as Valve and Hole In The Wall. �
Hashigo Zake, 25-29 Taranaki St (between Molly Malone's and Te Papa), ☎ (04) 384-7300, . Noon-late. Totally uncompromising beer bar. Local and imported craft beer, wine, whisky and sake. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Wellington
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Wellington - updated May 2024
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Wellington Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
