I regularly meet up with a big group of friends at this tucked-away beer bar, which has heaps of space for groups of different sizes. The ever-revolving beer menu can be a bit overwhelming but the staff are very helpful and patient when it comes to choosing a brew, and it’s a great opportunity to try a new beer you won’t find elsewhere in Wellington.

Don’t let the name put you off - this bar, based on American dive bars, is all about beer (and tasty food, including pizza from nearby Pizza Pomodoro). Golding’s has no brewery ties, just a massive selection of craft beer, and other alcohol options.

Pop into this local brewery’s Aro Street site to check out how they brew, taste the beers and get a takeaway bottle from the cellar door.

I get the bf to swing by ParrotDog’s brewery after work to fill up a bottle of one of their numerous beersies, which include limited releases. Bitterbitch (IPA) and DeadCanary (pale ale) are our current faves.

Nestled away on Pirie Street, The Hop Garden is a great spot for a party or meeting friends. They pour local beers, including Garage Project and ParrotDog, and have an excellent and extensive food menu - the quinoa stuffed aubergine, roasted artichokes, rocket and haloumi is a delight.

The first (?) craft beer pub in Wellington. Proudly doesn't sell Heineken

Conveniently situated on the lower slopes of Mt Victoria

Excellent Scotch ale and music on Saturdays

Beer from the barrel in glasses or jiggers

Matterhorn’s sexy vibe and toasty heated courtyard/smoking area make it a perfect destination for a winter night out. On top of an amazing full menu, they have a delish selection of nibbles to go with wines or cocktails. The staff are also super knowledgable and friendly.

Loretta is (relatively) new to wellington, and has brought with it the trendy, minimalist vibe that other local dining destinations are decidedly lacking. The menu layouts are creative and interesting, the food is superb, and the aesthetic only adds to the dining experience. Love that green juice too! Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Beards and beer, need I say more? Well, I will. Garage project’s friendly crew put together an array of some of the tastiest craft beer Wellington has to offer. They have a solid ‘try before you buy’ policy, which the staff are always more than happy to indulge you in while explaining the intricacies of the brewing process. I highly recommend li’l red rye, but if thats not up your alley, they more than likely have something to suit your specific palette.

Customs make, in my humble opinion, the best coffee in Wellington. There are always a carefully curated array of origins and varietals available, and the baristas are more than happy to brew your choice of bean to your liking, using whichever brewing method you prefer. Especially neat are the information cards that come with each coffee, giving you insight into the process behind the scenes. The staff are also super friendly, and remember orders and faces, which is always nice!

Havana bar is that place you go to one night, then never find again because you went there when it was dark and forgot exactly which turn you took to get there. But thats part of it’s charm. Havana is one of a kind, tucked away in a side street within two (albeit re-decorated) historic cottages. The tapas-style menu is amazing, and the atmosphere is always buzzing with energy. Highly reccomend.

Wellingtons great craft beer bar, constant rotating taps and a fantastic staffing unit with all the knowledge to let you make the right decision. Down in a basement of Taranaki Street, it’s a bastion of the craft beer scene and a place that any craft beer loving geek should put on the regular places to drink list.

Down the ever popular Leeds Street, Goldings Free Dive is a craft beer bar in the model of an American style dive. A partnership with Pizza Pomodoro for your food needs with an excellent selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles from the world over. Smoke-free outside area for those that care and a great vibe to the place making it a great place to go have a few while catching up with all your pals.

Boasting one of the better outside areas, access to the council park outside Rogue and Vagabond make it a great summer spot. With a wide range of craft beers on ever rotating list sure to have something that strikes you. A great spot for your weekday or weekend drinks with live music on frequently as well.

In the entrance to Aro Valley, garage project have a cellar door for you to come and try and buy some of Wellingtons best craft beer. You can even see them brewing it if you look next door. A wide selection of what Garage Project offer greets you with the ability to bring your on flagons and take them home, with some fish & chips from the great chip shop just up the road.

Up the far end of Victoria Street, Crafters & Co provide another great spot to fill your craft beer needs, with local beers on tap, notably those from Panhead (brewed in Upper Hutt). It’s a great place to go drink some tasty beers and have a solid feed as well. Definitely advised!

Start early with a great lunch on the lawn at St Johns Bar

Then head to Mac’s for some creative thinking

as the day progresses some time with the Doctor on the deck at the GP is a must. They have a great selection of beers to help cure any "alements" you may have.

a tridional Strawberry Daiquiri or 3, free peanuts some great music is the perfect lead in to

singing very badly until 4am in one of the best "little" bars on Courtney Place will almost gaurantee a hangover to be proud of.

Laying claim to being the darkest bar in Wellington is a bold claim indeed, but Motel might just take the crown. A hipster joint with bartenders who know their Manhattans from their Mint Juleps, the concoction of potent liquor and the ambience of the place should mean you’ll be here for more than just the one drink.

A mecca for craft beer lovers. The most incredible display of international bottled beer I have ever seen. The ever-changing beer list means there'll be something new literally every time you go. Live DJs on Saturdays if you can shift yourself out of that beer-induced, cosy little place and get those feet working. 

You’ll have to forgive me here for my hazy recollection of my night at Alice, but I’m sure I won’t be alone in having indulged in one too many teapots here. As so many of the funkiest bars here are, Alice is hidden away down a nondescript alley, in this case Forresters Lane. A little taste of old Blighty, Alice has a quaint, English, Alice in Wonderland theme, with matching cocktails to boot. The Long Island Ice Tea looks so inoffensive and cute in that little teapot and served on a doily, but really should come with a disclaimer; massive hangover ahead.

One of my favourite after-hours spots. Easy to miss, Good Luck is innocuously located but well worth the search party. Creative cocktails, a trendy clientele and an opium-den feel make this bar one of Wellington’s most unique.

Wellington's most authentic second-hand bookshop. Making your way around the maze-like shop is an experience in itself, with giant tombs and slender works of poetry, mostly alphabetised, stacked right to the ceiling. The quintessential literary classics are here, accompanied by a substantial NZ section and a fantastic, if somewhat small, poetry section, which features some really unusual works. Tucked away on Left Bank Arcade, finding a dusty old copy of a book you've been meaning to read and then propping yourself in a quiet corner of a Cuba Street cafe for an hour or so is a true delight.

Havana is wonderful for some drinks and some tapas. They do remarkable platters and short plates. Crispy Potatoes with Paprika Salt and Lemon Aioli, Grilled Aged Beef Fillet Skewers, Marcona Almonds Toasted in Olive Oil & Sea Salt. Yum. I recommend the Chef’s Plate for 2. With a few sides it could be a plate for three.

The Matterhorn is another place that gets food to drink with oh-so-right. White bean & lemon dip, crisp pita bread & spring onion relish! Yellowfin tuna, white miso, radish, sesame, house-made ponzu & chargrilled tortillas! Etc, etc. I have very little bad to say about a drink and a bite (or twenty) here.

This Newtown bar/restaurant is wonderful for drinks and some food with friends. I suggest a platter to share, with beer in the courtyard. Summer is coming, as you know! Try the spicy Portuguese chicken pieces, fries with garlic and chilli mayo, the crispy rice bolinhos and the empanadas (three cheese for the win).

You’re drinking craft beer with friends (perhaps friends you met on the internet, maybe even twitter). Next thing you know, you’re hungry (it’s seven pm after work, you’ve also neglected the gym; damn). Luckily, Hashigo Zake has octopus dumplings, pan-fried pork and vegetable dumplings, noodles, pies and more. Some of it seems a bit weird, but you’re tipsy so you don’t care. Turns out it tastes delicious as well!

You’re at Mighty Mighty when you probably shouldn’t be. You drank a couple of those flagons of beer, because it seemed like a good idea. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t. Turns out they serve toasted sandwiches. You order one and eat it. It’s incredible. Maybe you order another. Maybe you hit the dancefloor one last time. Perhaps you’re a (dirty) dancing (king) or queen.

If you’re in the region of upper Cuba - maybe you’ve just had dinner at Fidel’s, or seen a movie at the Lighthouse Cinema on Wigan St - you can’t go past Havana for a drink. Its tapas menu is varied and delicious, there’s often a band or DJ pencilled in to play, and there’s no cocktail its experienced staff haven’t made (or can’t learn how to). In summer, its deck - a relatively new addition to the bar - catches the last of the evening sun, too.

Mighty Mighty is something of a Wellington institution, with its kitsch decor, quirky soundtrack, and outlook over Cuba Mall. Though it’s most popular as a late-night gig venue, or, from 6.30pm every Wednesday, its quiz, it’s also a great spot for an after-work or early afternoon beer. Later on, there’s often no door charge, but it’s rarely more than $5.

CGR stands for Coffee, Gin and Rum - so you’re left in no doubt as to what this hidden gem is in the business of. But don’t think that limits your choices. Its huge range of intriguing special infusions - cinnamon gin, egg coffee, salted caramel rum - mean there’s bound to be a tipple to suit your fancy. A great place to take out-of-towners, too.

If you’re looking for a central, no-frills pub, the Bristol’s your bar. Along the trendy stretch of Cuba mall, it’s remarkable for its absolute lack of pretension; when the keg ran out mid-jug, a barman suggested he fill it up with another brew, and seemed a bit disgruntled at my aghast response. That unpleasant episode aside, the Bristol is my go-to when I want somewhere cheap and cheerful in which to catch up with a friend on a Friday or Saturday night.

After about 10pm on Friday and Saturday night, the queue for Good Luck Bar – of first- and second-year students – can extend to Ghuznee St. But during the week, and before 10pm on weekdays, it’s a pleasant spot for a casual drink, especially the seated area on Cuba Mall and at the back of the bar. There are also very competitive drinks specials.

16 Tun has a fantastic range of beer on offer; they've just added 9 more taps to their line up making a grand total of 19. Since they've done this they've gone a little crazy with their selection adding some pretty 'out there' beers to their tap list such as a 8% sweet stout or a 9% double IPA by Tuatara. The bottle selection is equally as impressive, with over 50 locally brewed beers on offer in an excellent list meant to represent the very best of each style of brew - Try the Mikes Vanilla Coffee Porter, it's like dessert in a glass. The food is yet another reason to visit with an amazing menu including the moreish paua fritters (my favourite) or the zesty pan-fried snapper and pickled lemon sliders. Last of all the staff are a good time; ask for the famous Craft Beer Sisters if you want some solid advice on what to drink or even a bit of general banter, they'll be happy to oblige. 16 Tun is definitely my favourite contender for the title of Auckland's best beer bar!

Vultures Lane is perhaps my favourite bar in Auckland. The place appears to be an unassuming old school pub however behind the bar there's an impressive tap and bottle selection showcasing some of the very best craft beer in the world. There's even swappa bottles of Lion Red if you're that way inclined. The food menu is almost as impressive with interesting options like the duck taco (delicious) and the umami burger. The staff are a bunch of characters matched only by the patrons who are always an interesting bunch. Go here if you're after a delicious beer in a relaxed pub atmosphere, surrounded by a wide array of Auckland's more colourful characters - and/or a duck taco.

Out of all the bars on my list The Free House has the most unique and endearing character to it. Set in an old restored church building - It's name refers to the fact that it's not tied to any brewery - no they're free to pour whatever beers they please. This is great for us beer drinkers as whenever you rock up for a bevvy you can be sure that The Free House will be serving the best NZ beers on offer right now. If you're famished after a few brews the lads at the bar can order you up an awesome feed from award winning Nelson restaurant Mint Dining Rooms who make a mean Sunday roast! Soak up some of that Nelson sun shine out in their beer garden or take in a live gig in the massive yurt out back - either way you're in for a pretty special experience and some delicious NZ brewed beer.

Sinking into a plush leather chair I'm grinning from ear to ear as I take a hearty swig of my Habanero Sculpin - a spicy, hoppy creation straight out of beer geek nirvana. Gazing around through a fog of pure contentment in Pomeroys old English style pub - I feel at home in it's brick and timber laden, rustic surroundings. There's 31 taps (31 TAPS!!!) pouring all sorts of classic Kiwi Brews from Emmersons to Tuatara - with 15 which stay the same year around so that your favourite beer never deserts you in your time of need. The pub snacks menu nicely compliments the tasty beers, offering up comforting goodness such as home made pork crackling (good lord) or spicy chicken wings. Cheers to Pomeroys for keeping our awesome Kiwi beer culture alive down south!

There's some stiff competition for the title of "best craft bar" in Wellington but I reckon Hashigo Zake stands head and shoulders above the rest. The entrance is down a brick alley off the busy Taranaki Street and leads down to set of stairs to a dimly lit basement characterised by brick walls and shabby dark wood furniture. It's kind of like a mix between a homely British pub and a Japanese sake bar down here with all the leather seating and Asian inspired furnishings and screens. The beer selection is extensive and includes some out of it brews like an 18% stout by Mikkeller and several others from all over U.S.A, New Zealand and Europe. The staff really know their stuff and love to have a yarn so if you're at a loss picking something to drink , or just fancy a chat they're always happy to help. Plus the food is pretty top notch - give the kimchi pork pie a whirl next time you're around - it's a bit weird but super tasty!

What a place to head to if you’re after a good atmosphere, brilliant food and a nicely chilled brew. No shortage of screens here to catch whatever game you want to watch, they’re always playing multiple sports at any one time…pure bliss for any sports fan, just like myself!

If you’re looking for 100% party vibes with people just as excited about the game as you, this is the place. People just kept coming in and the atmosphere kept getting better and better. An all American inspired menu makes this an place awesome to settle in for an afternoon of NBA too, it’s THE BEST!

So many good vibes coming from this place, with a menu and drink selection they can be super proud of. This is the cosiest of the bars on my top 5, with a buzzing atmosphere made by good people who like a quality outing. Smiles all around!

The spot to head if you’re after a good dose of classic Kiwi hospitality. Warm, welcoming and always busy it’s got those ‘ye ollld watering hole’ vibes but the food and drinks menu is far from out dated. Plenty of big screens to get amongst the game with ample viewing spots.

The Speights Ale House is always on point with their good old pubby atmosphere, with great food and a pint served with a smile. They’ve been doing it for ages, and you can tell as the staff are happy to try make your requests happen. Plenty of screens as well, with easy viewing advantage points!

I LOVE the fact that this place is the best Irish pub in Lower Hutt and they are proud to show it by keeping to the theme. Murphy’s is a great place to pop on down for a meal during the week, or weekend, with the generous portions of food and great service as well. Great place to head for a couple of quiet drinks early in the night before heading into town or if you feel like staying local then chill out with Murphy’s laid back atmosphere and thirst quenching tipples all night long.

Not only is this inviting establishment great for a catch up with friends it is also smack bang in the central train station!. This works in benefit for people from the outer city suburbs when catching the train home after a hard days work or just got off the train heading for a night out in town.

I love the out door area that the green man does its great place to sit and people watch while enjoying a nice drink and some nibbles. Its walking distance to central city and the train station.

Wicked layout and so many beers from around the world your spoilt for choice. A must on your list of night out bars in town.

LOVE that Burger fuel is centralised right across the road from the busiest part of Courtney place are open late catering for anyone with a hunger pain in the later hours of the eve

Hashigo Zake boasts a bounty of incredible craft beer, especially gems you will struggle to find elsewhere, plus those which come from abroad are imported with care by Hashigo themselves, so when the beer arrives in your glass you’re guaranteed that it is in the best condition possible. Plus the bar staff  are incredibly knowledgeable and super cute, with beards a plenty...bonus.

  Golding’s is Wellington’s newest wee craft beer haught. Highlights include plenty of wacky decor to keep your eyes entertain with  a romantic, dimly lit and relaxed atmosphere. Plus it’s the best craft beer spot if you find yourself without a companion and fancy sitting at the bar for a decent yarn.  

Rogue and Vagabond holds the trump card, it comes with it’s own English Bulldog, Bruce who is both tough and adorable. Plus the Rogue goes out of it’s way to ensure each week is jam packed with awesome music, from thumping Friday nights to mellow Jazz Sundays.

This joint is an institution which has recently upped the ante by equipping itself with a serious craft beer bounty. The garden bar is a highlight, both for enjoying the sunshine, or cuddling up with a polar fleece blanket and hot water supplied by the cross themselves. I would seriously recommend the Tuesday night quiz if you’re after a pub quiz with a bit of a difference.

Newtown is very quickly becoming the cool new part of town and Monterey can certainly take some responsibility. They encourage your inner artist by letting you create works of art on the tables while you enjoy a decent beer, the halloumi burger rules and it has a super laid back vibe. Plus keep an eye out for Wayward's return in Summer (tucked out the back of Monterey), because that place and their spiced rum is epic.