14 Best Bars in Wellington and the Wairarapa, New Zealand

Look for the lion-head door knocker to identify this hidden speakeasy, known for its special punches, crafted cocktails, and impeccable service. 

With its bean-bag lawn, wood-fired pizzas, and craft beers on tap, Rogue is the focal point for the city's summertime hum. When the sun goes down, it's the brilliant live funk, jazz, and pop shows that keep the patrons around. Find their packed schedule on the website or on the chalkboards outside.

Trading in uniquely infused rums and gins, this cozy den serves delicious, and sometimes unexpected, tipple treasures.

This restaurant and bar has a pleasant nautical theme with antique boats hanging from the ceiling. It's a popular watering hole with the locals. In good weather, everyone spills outside for the best close-up harbor views in Wellington.

Beckoning passersby to the celebrated Hannah's Laneway, Fortune "favours" their patrons with a welcoming atmosphere, great food, and a huge range of craft beer, some of which is specially brewed on-site.

With a comfortable but buzzing atmosphere and excellent beer selection, Golding's is a great place to spend an hour or two. There is geeky and Kiwi memorabilia on every wall. It's especially nice for solo travelers, whether you want to mingle or sit quietly and read. There's no food menu, but you can get some of the best pizza in town delivered from the pizza parlor next door. The bar is part of Hannah's Laneway.

This well-lived-in spot, once a brewery and then a distillery, has exposed brick walls, timber floors, and four levels with everything from a 400-person main bar to a garden bar, plus a couple of pool tables.

A 10-minute walk on flat terrain from the top of the Kelburn Cable Car takes you to this lively little wine bar in historical Kelburn Village. The menu and wine list are both focused on supporting local and sustainable producers. An intimate setting, friendly recommendations, and endless snacking opportunities make Graze the type of wine bar you want to spend your entire night in. Reservations are recommended.

Find Havana's two iconic, colorful cottages just off Cuba Street, and walk down between them to two doors. The quieter cottage on the left is a brilliant tapas restaurant. On the right, there's a well-stocked bar extending the length of the wooden dance floor. This spot is regularly packed on nights when jazz, rhythm, and funk musicians come to visit. For quieter drinks, you can cozy into a nook of the sheltered street-styled courtyard.

This has been a hub for New Zealand's craft beer scene since 1993. With 29 taps, the only problem is deciding where to start. Snacks, pizza, and tacos, and a few mains accompany the beer.

Upstairs from a small, poster-plastered doorway is the capital's iconic chameleon cavern of a venue. This Cuba Street spot stages everything, including international metal bands, local comedians, sonic "experiences," and psychedelic blues groups. San Fran has perfected the essentials: a big bar, a vast dance floor, and great sound.

One of the best places to catch live local rock, Valhalla is a classic hole-in-the-wall dive: small, dark, and a little seedy, with concrete floors and a surprisingly good beer selection.