Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, may be the center of politics and arts in the country, but it also possesses a wonderful nightlife that will not leave any sober individual, local or tourist, unaffected. The city, located on a picturesque harbor encircled by hills, Wellington nightlife in New Zealand is different with activities available for all kinds of tastes. From quietly sipping craft gluten-free beers with close friends and long chats to dancing all night long, every person’s entertainment expectations are catered for in Wellington nightlife.
10 Places For Wellington Nightlife In New Zealand
Let’s explore the possible places to enjoy the Wellington nightlife in New Zealand
1. San Fran
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San Fran is an iconic music venue situated on Cuba Street in Wellington, New Zealand. It appreciates a warm and cozy vibe and a rich talent mixing both local and foreign artists, from indie rock groups to electro DJs. The place is full of music energy which music lovers would appreciate making sure it is a perfect hangout for people who want to soak in the music within the city borders. The sound quality is very good, meaning that if one decides to dance or just listen to music, it is an enjoyable affair.
Location: 171 Cuba Street, Wellington
2. Cuba Street
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Cuba Street is a well-known, picturesque, and busy road located in the heart of Wellington, New Zealand that has a rich culture and a bohemian environment. It consists of several vintage stores, coffee shops, bars and restaurants that hospitably welcome both the residents and visitors for an adventurous outing. The street is decorated with fascinating art, and several kinds of street actors, and has a vibrant nightlife which is especially appealing, hence it being featured on the cover of many tourism brochures. There is a buzz about the place with venues like Mighty Mighty and Good Luck Bar providing live music and impressive drinks in the cocktail form.
Location: Central Wellington, easily accessible by foot or public transport
3. Danger Danger
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Danger Danger is a highly-rated retro-themed nightclub situated at 132 Courtenay Place in Wellington, New Zealand. The nightclub has historically been the center of the city’s nightlife, drawing a predominately young population ready to let loose and dance the night away. Grown-up music is the order of the day, characterized mostly by the hits from the 80s and the 90s, and many join in to belt out familiar tunes. The club has a large dance floor, an excellent bar, visiting celebrity DJs and an all-night in-house DJ to keep the club hopping.
Location: 132 Courtenay Place, Wellington
4. Molly Malones
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Molly Malones is the largest and the most crowded Irish pub in Wellington. The place enjoys a nice mix of regular and tourist patrons because of its coziness and its great nightlife. Inside the pub’s wooden walls and furnishing ‘pubs and restaurants’ are Mrs. Malloy decorations and ‘overseas’ trip memorials. Each weekend, a live band or two, often complemented by Irish traditional music, plays at the pub prompting most clients to sing along or get up and dance. The rich imbibing section has varying types of beers, whiskies and cocktails as well as light meals that include fish and chips, burgers and Irish stew.
Location: 204 Taranaki Street, Wellington
5. Minibar
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Minibar is a remarkable and electrifying rock bar catered as an entertainment spot to both music and party lovers for more than two decades, due to its small but cozy setting that is quite relaxing, yet active to the patrons. Minibar is well known for the large variety of music that is simply whipped to all the guests, spanning from pure rock songs to party songs with every other theme in between, enabling all the audiences present to enjoy some good music. During the week, there are still activities that feature ‘New Music Mondays’ and ‘Tequila Tuesdays’ as well as ‘Fire Fridays’ so the Minibar has every day covered.
Location: 24 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
6. Valhalla
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Valhalla is a perfect alternative bar decorated in a Viking fashion and does not resemble the usual places where one could go at night. Valhalla has a punk rock culture, and a friendly atmosphere and if you want to sit down for a while and share some beers with your friends, then and long drink while listening to live music, this is the place for you, as it has various craft beers on tap, a rock’n’roll jukebox and a small garden bar. This premises provides a platform for local and underground performers, aimed at people who enjoy or do not mind alternative music and want a different kind of night. The decor communicates its improvement very clearly as it creates a very homogeneous atmosphere.
Location: 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington
7. Ivy Club
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Ivy Club is a contemporary and youthful nightclub decorated tastefully and exuding a warm vibe, it is no surprise why Ivy Club is one of the favorite spots for people going out for the night. The club offers a range of music including top 40 and dance music typically along with theme nights and guest DJs who come in regularly. Ivy Club, with its stylish design appeals to people of all ages and is therefore a great place to meet people and dance too. The drinks menu gets a special mention as it contains some exotic combinations that are ideal to begin the night.
Location: 13 Dixon Street, Wellington
8. Laundry
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Laundry is yet another busy club characterized by the loud music and the excitement of the crowd. One of the favorite places for the residents and the guests of the city to spend time in, it spins the wheels within a week and presents several known performers and special activities. From Latin dance parties to electronic gatherings, Laundry has a different party for almost every kind of music, therefore, something fun is always going on. The club has a good-sized dance floor and a nice bar area, perfect for people who want to go out and have fun.
Location: 240 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
9. Cavern Club
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The Cavern Club is another highly frequented nightlife spot. This joint is popular due to its closeness and energetic space often filled with people who love music and partying. The Cavern Club offers a range of live entertainment, including local bands and DJs playing all kinds of music from rock and indie music to the electronic kind. The room’s lights and the design of the house make the place so warm and friendly that one feels comfortable enough to listen to the music without wanting to get up.
Location: 22 Allen Street, Wellington
10. Shed 6
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Shed 6 is a unique venue well known for its flexible design. The space has large dance floors and views enhanced by the harbor assuring creating a memorable experience for the guests. The venue located in Shed 6 has a modern industrial theme with the elements of beauty of the waterfront which makes it innovative for clubbing purposes. Shed 6 is used for concerts often with acts coming from both near and far, and music of different kinds can be heard here.
Location: Shed 6, 2 Queens Wharf, Wellington
Wellington Nightlife in New Zealand caters to all tastes, featuring lively nightclubs, quiet pubs and local fun. You could be on the dance floor all night long or merely sipping a drink with friends – whatever the case, there are many ways to spend your nights in Wellington and ensure that they are memorable. Go ahead, plan your visit to these places with TripXL and soak up the energy of the atmosphere in Wellington at night – one of the most attractive cities in New Zealand, after dusk.
Cover Photo: Ebin Thonakara Saji / Unsplash