The 10 Best Bars in Wellington, New Zealand

Conceptualizing the traditional values and culture of Shanghai in the 1930s, Ancestral offers a dining and drinking experience that encourages people to share food, drinks, stories and time between friends and family. The facility’s Haipai dining room is where you can find the chic Ancestral bar, or if you’re looking for something a little more casual, try the garden bar, where you can taste the delicate cocktails in the fresh, open-air setting.

Specializing in scrumptious desserts and delicious cocktails, The Library is a low-key, unpretentious setting for a few after-work drinks, and is also the perfect location to start your night out. You’ll be spoiled for choice here, where the drink list extends to almost 20 pages, from single malt whiskeys to beers, rare wines and a list of cognacs. Of course, you can’t name a bar ‘The Library’ without having at least a few books hanging around. So naturally, when you come into this bar and take a seat, you’re likely to be sitting under a huge bookshelf that extends the length of the bar and holds thousands of classic titles for you to admire while you enjoy your exquisite cocktail.

Duke Carvell’s Swan Lane Emporium is located in Wellington’s center, and is a throwback to the Victorian era when the art of cocktail making made its appearance on the bar scene, previously occupied by mostly beer and wine. As well as offering a wide selection of beverages, this bar and cafe offers hearty food that warms the soul and goes perfectly with the traditional cocktails provided by the skilled bartenders.

Foxglove is one of Wellington’s most exciting venues, serving a range of fine wines and rare whiskeys. They also have an intriguing choice of original cocktails that are based on traditional cocktail making with a twist, that reflects New Zealand’s culture and agriculture. This bar is located behind the secret door of an oak wardrobe in the equally stunning Foxglove restaurant in Queen’s Wharf, where the decor matches the drinks, making this one of the classiest venues in the city.