Best places: Cocktail bars in New Zealand

Dimly lit underground lounge serving spirits & craft cocktails in retro-style surrounds.

👍👍 Wow, I'm really impressed with the street-style decor in the restaurant, inspired by Asian countries. The relaxed and natural way the staff communicates and takes orders is definitely a plus. As for the food, my favourite is the grilled meat noodle salad, while my boyfriend thinks the crispy pork be...

👍👍 What an amazing little bar! Was my first time here tonight and was not disappointed! Is a small bar that had brilliant music from Stretch. There is a little dance floor, several different rooms and alcoves. The furniture is an eclectic mix of lounge chairs, occasional tables, regular tables and chai...

👍 As a family, this was our first visit to Holey Moley & we were not disappointed. Beer On Tap. (ICE COLD) A place for the whole family, kids love it! Delicious Food & Menu. (PIZZA IS A WINNER) Well priced. Very big inside, relaxing atmosphere. Place to sit and eat. Pictures below of menu. Wheelchair...

👍👍 Hawker House is absolutely brilliant. Cozy warm and yummy place in the heart of Nelson. Thank you Hawker House team, awesome job!

👍👍 The best cocktail I have ever tried in wellington so far! Very experienced and friendly staffs ! Love the setting of the bar!

👍👍 Such a pleasant surprise! We didn't know about this place and saw it driving by. The meat platter was incredibly delicious Chicken wings, steak and ribs, all prepared in a different way with 2 different sauces on the side, keeping your taste buds excited all the way through. Excellent service, beat...

👍👍 We had lunch at OGB, The menu is platter dominant, come prepared to share. Worth a special mention is the broccoli (even better than the fried chicken, I know right!). All the food was great and accompanied by an extensive drinks menu and vintage decor this is a great spot to settle into some aftern...

Modern eatery serving creative Korean, Chinese & Southeast Asian eats in a dark, red-accented space.

🫤 We ordered the calamari, antipasto platter, BLT pizza and fries. The calamari was not even calamari, it tasted like pork belly, it was soaked in brown sugar and maple syrup and other spices completely taking away the authentic calamari taste. The antipasto platter was over priced considering the am...

Trendy venue serving Peruvian-Japanese fare such as tostadas, sushi & dumplings, plus sake & wine.

👍 From interior design perspective, Kismet Bar is the place offering the inspiring. The space was created into welcoming & mysterious atmosphere, it triggers my curiosity for discovering the space. The most impressive point is more than decorating style here, the owner put the history of Nelson cit...

Italian restaurant serving wood-fired pizzas, calzones & pasta in a casual, cozy atmosphere.

👍👍 We remember our very first visit to Hanging Ditch to witness the magic of their iconic hanging bottles, & the novelty still hasn't worn off. A gorgeous setting, for proper drinks, properly made.

👍👍 Stopped in on a cold night and found a small intimate bar with an excellent range of whiskey and great cocktails. Attentive service and an intimate environment, I’ll definitely be coming back.

🫤 We visited this restaurant for lunch on Saturday, we were walk in customers looking for a simple lunch so we did not have high expectations. Just after a simple lunch. The lady who seated us was really great, offered us menus and water etc, got us drinks and everything was going great. We ordered o...

👍👍 They had the best mulled wine and delicious cocktails. Loved the atmosphere. Edited to include I returned for their breakfast and it was amazing! Can't fault this place, excellent food and drinks.

👍👍 Such a cool and unique place. At first you think “Am I right here??” since the entry of the bar is in a dodgy-looking alley. Once you find the entry and say the password, you dive straight into the 50s. We felt like we just time travelled. The staff was really friendly, immediately approaching us an...

👍👍 I’ve been a long time fan of Boo’s, and I just went in for the first time since they upgraded the place. Everything was stunning, definitely my favourite vibe of any Chch bar. The bar staff were attentive yet not over the top, and the food and cocktails were perfect. Such a good spot. They really st...

Dark, intimate haunt with fireside seating featuring inventive NZ dishes, craft cocktails & wine.