Bars & Nightlife

Havana
If Wellington won’t go to Havana, then Havana will come to Wellington. This charming bar is themed to the nines with all things Cuban. While they do a fabulous range of rum and coffee, the bar’s vast selection of Cuban beer, wine and spirits (as well as local picks) can’t be beaten. Throw in their offering of live music and ability to pull in a funky crowd and you can see why Havana has earned its reputation as one of Wellington’s most happening hotspots.
32 Wigan St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 384 7039 www.havanabar.co.nz).

S & M Cocktail Bar
Gorgeously decked out, S&M (Scotty & Mal’s) Cocktail Bar welcomes gay punters and their friends. The friendly bar staff are ever ready to crack a joke with newcomers and happy to suggest a drink for the undecided from their extensive menu. Just a flight of stairs away, S&M’s underground dance space awaits folks who are ready to bust a move to the uber-cool DJ line-up that graces the bar every week.
176 Cuba St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 802 5335 www.scottyandmals.co.nz).

Vivo
This Italian-style wine bar is in a league of its own and boasts the most extensive wine list in all of Wellington. If that is not enough to get you to visit Vivo, the option of dining in and experiencing their diverse and creative dinner menu will be. Vivo strikes the perfect balance of being upmarket without the highbrow attitude, so everyone feels welcome.
19 Edward St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 384 6400 www.vivowinebar.com).

San Francisco Bath House
If the name of this joint makes you want to get naked and soak in something warm, it’s because the SFBH was once was in fact a unisex bathhouse. Now that the steam has settled, this eclectic hotspot provides Wellington with a vivacious, hip and happening live music scene. From hard rock and shady blues through to hip hop and pop, the SFBH has seen more stage dives than an Olympic swimming pool and regularly hosts many of the city’s underground festivals.
171 Cuba St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 801 6797 www.sfbh.co.nz).

Sandwiches
Great live music, super-fly DJs, and a gourmet pizza and tapas menu meet in the middle of this oddly named venue. Much like its name suggests, Sandwiches has been feeding the souls of punters who like their music tasty – be it a sultry solo singer, a rocking band or the spinning talents of international DJs. As a regular host to some of the country’s biggest international tours in the realm of dance, Sandwiches is a little bit of New York and underground LA right here in Wellington.

Cnr Kent Tce & Majoribanks St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 385 7698 www.sandwiches.co.nz).

Mighty Mighty  
If you love a good dose of kitsch then Mighty Mighty will be right up your alley alley! This melting pot of all things quirky and cool looks as though a garage sale has been set up smack bang in the middle of it. Kooky trinkets and collectibles grace every available hanging space and seem to complement the diverse and colourful patrons Mighty Mighty attracts. A generous bar menu and beers by the jug keep everyone mighty happy.
Upstairs, 104 Cuba St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 385 2890).

Good Luck Bar
The Good Luck Bar is a tucked-away little Wellington treasure that effortlessly pulls in a hip, attitude-free crowd. Kick back in the chic cocktail lounge, cruise through the floating lantern bar or cut loose on the funky dance floor as the Good Luck Bar serves up a stellar line-up of live music and the best in fly DJ sets. Its subterranean location keeps the underground club feel alive and kicking.
126 Cuba St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 801 6797 www.goodluckbar.com).

Hawthorn Lounge
This charming bar encapsulates the old-school character of a gentlemen’s retreat right in the heart of Wellington. A visit to the Hawthorn Lounge is a virtual time travel back to the roaring 1920s, complete with enough big band music to make you want to get down and do the Jitterbug. With an eclectic drinks menu and authentic décor, the Hawthorn promises to bring out the suave gentleman in even the scruffiest looking bloke.
Upstairs, 82 Tory St, Wellington 6011. (+64 4 890 3724 www.hawthornlounge.co.nz).

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