TOASTY SPOTS FOR A TOAST
As New Zealand’s brilliant summer segues to cooler and more changeable weather, Brett Atkinson has the definitive guide on cosy spots for cocktails and craft beer on autumn and winter nights.
AUCKLAND GALBRAITH’S ALEHOUSE
Recently, Galbraith’s new beer garden has been a go-to spot for its extensive gin menu, but during winter the pub’s open fire and heritage vibe is hard to beat. Galbraith’s own brews are New Zealand’s best examples of traditional British and European-style beers, while the best of Kiwi craft brewers feature on the guest taps. Combine a leisurely Sunday afternoon roast with a few games of darts. alehouse.co.nz
MO’S BAR
In a compact corner location on Federal Street, the long-running Mo’s Bar is a damn fine version of the bars we’re all used to seeing in US movies. The bartenders are usually up for a bit of banter, and are equally well versed in dispensing classic cocktails like manhattans and old fashioneds. Pull up a barstool and pretend you’re in Chicago. mosbar.co.nz
HAMILTON WONDER HORSE
Turn down the laneway just past Victoria St’s Mekong Delta restaurant to find this unmarked bar. Inside, brick walls and leather Chesterfield sofas maximise the cosiness quotient, while the bar staff mix great cocktails, pour beers from local players like Brewaucracy, and spin retro vinyl on the turntable. A tiny mezzanine loft is ideal for late-night conversations. wonderhorse.co.nz
TAURANGA BAR CENTRALE
End of day aperitivo sessions are a favourite memory for many New Zealand travellers to Italy, and Bar Centrale provides an authentic alternative in the Bay of Plenty’s biggest city. Settle into the heritage vibe of Tauranga’s Old Post Office – part of an architectural makeover that also includes the Clarence boutique hotel – and combine Italian wines with shared plates of tuna crudo and grilled octopus. barcentrale.co.nz
NAPIER MONICA LOVES
Look for the neon sign proclaiming “Who shot the barman?” and you’re in the right place, with cocktails and tapas served in an industrial interior enlivened by pendant lighting and stylish design. During cooler Hawke’s Bay evenings, Monica Loves’ compact laneway is warmed by outdoor heaters. Try a beer from local craft brewers including Zeelandt, Giant and Brave. monicaloves.co.nz
WELLINGTON HAWTHORN LOUNGE
It’s definitely worth dressing up a little to make the most of the Hawthorn Lounge’s speakeasy 1920s elegance. Cocooned in red velvet and softly illuminated by heritage table lamps, there’s a focus on serving both classic cocktails and bespoke 21st century creations.
Welcome to the perfect after-dark antidote following a cool and windy day in Wellington. hawthornlounge.co.nz
THE LIBRARY
Cosy booths and comfortable sofas make the unassuming Library one of the capital’s most welcoming bars. Lose yourself in the eclectic selection of tomes lining the walls, or be equally dazzled by an encyclopedic cocktail list. In a knowing nod to Kiwi pop culture, the Doctor Ropata features Guatemalan rum. A big selection of negroni and old fashioned cocktails reinforces The Library’s impeccable mixology credentials. thelibrary.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH THE LAST WORD
Equally fine as the first or last stop when exploring Christchurch after dark, The Last Word fills a compact two-storey space along Spanish Mission-style New Regent St. A brilliant selection of whiskies – there’s literally a wall of the world’s finest – is best enjoyed upstairs amid the pleasantly mismatched retro furniture. Ask about tasting flights combining whisky and chocolate. lastword.co.nz
GIN GIN
Gin is the focus a few doors down from The Last Word, with gin gin also helping to make New Regent Street Christchurch’s most interesting eating and drinking precinct. A stylish pastel design palette blends with a veritable forest of pot plants, alongside gins and cocktails that combine with a savvy bar menu including fish tostadas and salted wagyu flatbreads. facebook.com/ginginchristchurch
DUNEDIN INCH BAR
Despite its diminutive dimensions, Inch Bar still squeezes in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and enough room for regular live gigs. Lots of honey-coloured timber and an open fire cranks up the cosiness factor on cool southern nights, and as one of New Zealand’s pioneers in serving craft beer, there’s always a superior selection on tap. Local breweries include Noisy, Arc and New New New.