The Best Nightclubs in Wellington, New Zealand

Dance floor | © Kreulebeule/Pixabay

Wellington’s nightlife may be more partial towards the alternative crowds, but it still offers plenty of electrifying venues for the dance-craving clubbers. Here are some of the best places in the New Zealand capital to catch some cool DJ tunes and party up a storm.

Red Square

Red Square is the place in Wellington to go for all-night dancing. The elegant club, with its plush décor and decadent lighting, is known for its infectious ambiance and consistently great lineup of DJs. When you need a quick breather, just order some of their signature cocktails and settle by the deep leather booths for some people-watching. The ice topped bar is another interesting feature to lookout for – local tradition calls for patrons to leave their hand prints in the surface.

Red Square Bar, 26 Blair St, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Scotty & Mal’s Cocktail Bar (aka S&M’s)

When it comes to nightlife, S&M’s enjoys the best of both worlds: it has a classy cocktail lounge upstairs, and a bustling events venue downstairs. Head along on a Friday and Saturday night to see this joint transform into an epic nightclub, with DJs turning up the volume until 3 in the morning.

Scotty and Mal’s Cocktail and Lounge Bar, 176 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, +64 4-802 5335

Dance floor | © Kreulebeule/Pixabay

The Establishment

One of Wellington’s most popular nightclubs, The Establishment is known for its eclectic events calendar as well as an epic lineup of DJs. Along with being one of the few venues in the city to be open till 4am, the Establishment offers a bit of everything for everyone: there’s a tequila bar, a main bar, a restaurant and lounge – all of which come with their own separate sound systems.

The Establishment, Corner of Courtenay Pl and Blair Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, +64 4-382 8654

Good Luck Bar

Bar, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Pub Grub, $$$

Good Luck is an underground bar on Cuba Street that’s known for its extensive cocktail menu and an interesting contrast between its private lounge and a dynamic dance floor. Legend has it that this bar was once a Chinese Opium Den, and its thematic décor certainly adds fuel to the rumours. The music leans towards the alternative side, but with plenty of dynamism to keep the club goers pumping.

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Basement, 126 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand

+6448019950

Minibar

Minibar is another hip nightclub that’s open till 4am and offers plenty of musical acts to keep all tastes content. From rocking jam sessions to thematic parties and snazzy dance nights, this joint is guaranteed to have all the ingredients for a great night out. They also offer plenty of drink deals to complement whatever event is on schedule.

Minibar, 24 Courtenay Pl, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

San Fran

San Fran has a strong reputation for live music, and that includes a regular showcase of some of the best DJs to come to Wellington. Their gig calendar includes a mix of comedy nights, rock music acts, techno parties, and a ton of dance music for clubbers to jam along to.

San Fran, 171 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, +64 4-801 6797

These recommendations were updated on September 24, 2017 to keep your travel plans fresh.