#1 The Office - my all time favourite
The Office is, in my opinion, one of the best bars in Wellington. The patrons are an eclectic bunch, which is a reflection of Newtown, its suburb.
It has everything. Two great outdoor areas with loads of seats. The upstairs balcony must be one of the only places in Wellington which gets the late afternoon sun while simultaneously being sheltered from the notorious Wellington winds. The best part is that you can often get the upstairs balcony all to yourself. Its a great place to chill with a beer and read a book, or watch the Newtown locals go about their business.
The food is exceptional pub food - $10 for burgers and fries. I love those burgers - simple yet effective. They have decent craft beer on tap - usually Kereru, Mikes, and Panhead to name a few. What's better, is that the prices of a pint of these is substantially less than a lot of other pubs. $8.50 compared to $11 in a lot of other places. The house wine and spirits are also about $8.
Downstairs they have the sports area, with multiple TVs, comfy seats, and pool tables. There is also a pokies section if you're into that.
The best part is the atmosphere. It's relaxed without being boring, and just feels like home. And besides, you never have to wait in line for a pint!
#2 - Bebemos - best for food
Just around the corner from The Office, vibrant Bebemos is a great place to go for food or drink at anytime of day.
There is a cosy fire inside, and a heated beer garden out back. It's a great spot for early afternoon sun. Their latin-influenced small plates menu has to be one of my favourites. The empanadas - man alive! They are mince, cheese and jalapeño served with some kind of spicy mayo. It's worth going just for these. And chilli and cola chicken wings! and fish goujons! Mmmmm goujons. They also have a substantial food menu, and an extensive list of great craft beer.
Also, Bebemos does a good brunch with respectable coffee!
#3 - The Aborist - best rooftop
The Aborist is the new kid on the block. There are two parts to it - the downstairs area which feels a bit like you're in a forest clearing, and the rooftop which you can access by using the hotel elevator.
The rooftop is definitely the funkiest in Wellington. It is lined with fake grass, and feels like a mix between a beach party and a garden party. It is a great spot for a few drinks in the sun. There is even complimentary sunscreen and hats you can wear to protect yourself from the harsh NZ sun. It is really relaxing and a fun place to hang out with a few friends.
The main bar downstairs, with its tree stump bar, is perfect for lunch or dinner. They do tapas, and man-oh-man are these amazing. The parmesan fries are outstanding, as is the pork belly, and the broccoli and edamame salad. The menu is focussed on greens and proteins, and is very reasonably priced. $20 will get you a decent amount of food. There is also a 'naughty section' which includes some delectable burgers. They wine and spirits are great...they do a perfect vodka, lime and soda. The cocktails look interesting, and they have a grand looking bloody mary. The only downside is the beer menu. The best beer they have is from the Black Dog range...which really doesn't cut it in Wellington, the NZ capital of craft beer!
The best part about The Aborist may be the staff. They are so helpful and efficient! I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu.
#4 Thistle Inn - best for feeling like you're in the 1840s
The Thistle Inn is the local for many of the Government sector workers, and it is also Wellington's oldest pub. It was the second pub in NZ to ever receive a liquor licence! Legend has it, that Maori chiefs used to canoe to the front door and stop in for a quick beverage. The water levels were a lot higher back then!
The Thistle is packed on Thursdays and Friday from 4pm, as the Government workers make quick exits from their offices. This creates a lively atmosphere full of life and laughter, which is amplified by the wooden architecture. It is also not uncommon to see NZ's politicians stopping by for a beer and a bite to eat.
Currently, the Thistle is ranked #3 on TripAdvisor for Wellington's restaurants. This is impressive given we have over 600 of them! It is also proves that the food here is top-notch. You even get gravy served with your fries, and free peanuts at your tables!
The wine is great. The beer is great. There is a selection of craft beer on tap, though it is a bit more on the pricey side, so a really good deal is to get a flagon for about $45 which you can get at least 6 pints out of. Not bad when a standard pint is about $11. A word of warning though, these pints can lead you to not wanting to show your face at work the next day due to the sheer fear of what stupid things you said after drinking one of these!
If you want to feel like a true Wellingtonian, make sure you head down on a Friday night!
#5 Dragonfly
Dragonfly calls itself an 'Asian dining lounge', and that is a rather apt description. The beer garden out the back is beautifully decorated with bamboo and other trees, which creates a tranquil evening setting. The garden has a retractable roof too, so even if its pouring you can still sit outside, and be completely free of the wind and rain. A novelty for Wellington!
Dragonfly is known for its asian-influenced cocktails with names such as 'The Lotus', 'Mr Miyagi's Bonsai' and 'Kung Fu Panda'. They include some pretty interesting ingredients. Don't miss Tuesdays - it's two-for-one cocktail day. Wednesday is mystery wine night. Let your waiter know whether you want a white or red, and he'll return with a mystery one for $6! The beer is quite expensive, so try to visit on the days that have special deals.
The food is contemporary Asian, with lots of small plates to choose from. My favourite is the chicken and coriander dumplings! The pork and chive dumplings are good too.
Dragonfly is a pretty cool place to chill out with friends in the evening and have a few glasses of wine. Also worth checking out is the restaurant which is on the right as you walk through to the bar.
Runners up
Dragonfly calls itself an 'Asian dining lounge', and that is a rather apt description. The beer garden out the back is beautifully decorated with bamboo and other trees, which creates a tranquil evening setting. The garden has a retractable roof too, so even if its pouring you can still sit outside, and be completely free of the wind and rain. A novelty for Wellington!
Dragonfly is known for its asian-influenced cocktails with names such as 'The Lotus', 'Mr Miyagi's Bonsai' and 'Kung Fu Panda'. They include some pretty interesting ingredients. Don't miss Tuesdays - it's two-for-one cocktail day. Wednesday is mystery wine night. Let your waiter know whether you want a white or red, and he'll return with a mystery one for $6! The beer is quite expensive, so try to visit on the days that have special deals.
The food is contemporary Asian, with lots of small plates to choose from. My favourite is the chicken and coriander dumplings! The pork and chive dumplings are good too.
Dragonfly is a pretty cool place to chill out with friends in the evening and have a few glasses of wine. Also worth checking out is the restaurant which is on the right as you walk through to the bar.
Runners up
- Juniper - best for comfy seats and cheap, elegant cocktails - and gin of course!
- Ancestral - another secret asian-influenced beer garden out back, with heated concrete seats
- Basque - rooftop bar, great pizzas, and awesome craft beer
- Fork and Brewer - the most craft beers on tap in town, and serves Southland cheese rolls!
- Rogue and Vagabond - great outdoor area with bean bags, delicious food, and cool dogs hanging around
- Goldings - at the forefront of the craft beer scene, delicious pizza from Pomodoro and down a secret alley
- Hashigo Zake - underground craft beer bar, usually has a funky band playing
- Sprig and Fern - a cute little pub in a small cottage in Thorndon - brews its own beer and has loads of boardgames to play.
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