Nightclubs and bars in Wellington

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The best range of places for a good night out are all on Courtney Place or of adjoing streets such as Cuba Mall. There is a large variety of clubs/ bars and restrunts and games rooms. There are numeorus Irish pubs, Bars with live music, electronic dance clubs, and some rather swish clubs. There are Movie ciemas, Theaters, gamming rooms, and plenitful restrunts. With numoerous bus routes running down this street and taxi's for africa- its easy to get to and from. The main nights out are Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays, with Wendsdays and Sundays being a lot quieter Most people dont go out untill late so it usually gets busy about 11:30 to midnigt. most places stay open to at least 3am, to 5am depening if its a busy night. After a big rugby game, the p[lcae can be packed with ques common, depending on time of year and wether.overall, a great place to have fun night out.

Dress Code: Dependes on the establishment, but 'casual smart' would be a safe bet for most places. Guys; jeans are okay as long 'dress shoes' ie-usually black are worn, a good idea as most places insit, a causal shirt would suffice although t-shirts can be fine.
ladies; anything a lil bit flashy really- you can get away with a lot more.
its a good ideas to take some kind of warm top, it can often be rather cold early in the morn, especailly if your achool jacket wears thin.

I just had a great Saturday night up at the Lotus Room. It seemed to be one of the only busy bars in town on this particular night. We started out having a sing along at The Minibar, which was also very cool but a slightly older crowd. Lots of old tunes that had us singing at the top of our lungs, the bartenders helped as well.
We then went up these narrow stairs to Lotus Room and while it wasn't busy when we arrived it very soon packed out. Lots of dancing and best of all for us it seemed to be the place where the attractive people where hanging out. After many hours on the dance floor we left and went to a number of other bars, but after a while it was clear that Lotus Room was the place to be. We went back to find a big line to get in, but the doorman pulled my mate aside as he had recognised us from earlier, we jumped the line and danced till 7am.

Great night and thank you to the staff there

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In Wellington, the only place to be for socialising is the city centre. Its great for everyone (bit like most of NZ).
On Courtenay Place there are plenty of bars and lots of eating places. All very nice. There are a few Irish bars, which are good craic. In particular Kitty O'Sheas is great, especially on a Friday or Saturday night when there is live band on.
Elsewhere, down the street there is nightclubs which are good and have to goto at least once!

The Malthouse has recently moved from Willis St to its new location on Courtenay place between Tory & Allen sts. The bar is on the smaller side but has plenty of seating and is a great place to have a beer or two. Behind the bar is a vast, vast array of international beers from all over the globe. Added to this is a few local beers on tap including a couple of exceptional brew - the Tuatara Pilsner & the Monk's Habit from the Cock & Bull brewery. The latter is a 7% alcohol beer so you need to be careful!!

Service here was great and nothing was a problem. Open 'til quite late most nights the Malthouse is a good spot to sample a few ales. If you are a homesick visitor or a local who hasn't experienced the wonders of international brews the Malthouse is the right place to go.

Dress Code: Casual is the thing here with the punters in the bar wearing everthing from jeans & tee shirts to expensice suits. You should fit in no matter what you are in!!

Jet is a bar and situated on the corner of Courtenay Place & Allen St. It is a smallish spot but with really comfy semi-circle cubicles inside and some tall tables with bar stools outside. The outside seating is great in Summer for relaxing and having a beer while watching Wellington and its people do their thing. Jet is directly over the road from the local Art House movie theatre so a great place for pre movie drinks (not too much though!!) or an after movie spot to discuss the finer points of life.

Jet has the likes of Tiger and Mac beers on tap plus Heineken & Monteiths. You can also buy food here but as I have never indulged (eatin's cheatin' as my Irish friend tells me) I can't comment.

Dress Code: Smart casual at least though, being the cutural capital of NZ, what passes for smart casual here is less dressy than some other cities.

Not sure if he is still there but, back in '99 I happened upon a local busker playing guitar to the late night bar hoppers. He looked very much like Kenny Rogers (hence his nickname) and played his songs. Anyway, he is definately worth a listen and has some interesting stories how he wound up in Wellington by way of Texas, USA.

This is a place where many a famous Kiwi and overseas band have played many a memorable gig.

Apparently the only folks never to come through here were The Finn Brothers (yes, folks there is a NZ pop music life outside of the Finn Bros!) and Shihad/Pacifier. This is where the Chills, the Bats, Michael Franti, Lambchop, The Datsuns, Phoenix Foundation, Dimmer, Chris Knox, The Mutton Birds, etc. have played. Okay, the Indigo Bar on Cuba Mall is getting bigger and better gigs, but thumbs up for the different kinds of rooms at the Bodega.

My favorite Mutton Bird bootleg of all time is a 1998 Bodega show.

Fraser McInnes, the owner, is one hell of a hardworking bar owner/concert organizer/real ale aficionado.

Don't miss The Bodega's nice selection of South and North Island micros. Check out the Bodega's joint venture ale with the Malthouse...the Tautara line and Emerson's Bookbinder.

Dress Code: ??

My Brother MC Rugged does Drum'N'Bass and Hip Hop nights at Sandwiches, and the Pheonix. They're worth a look in. Especially when the big boys are in town. Loads of big names come through welly so keep your eyes open and scan the thousands of posters all over the city.