The Best Pubs in Wellington, New Zealand

This Irish-style pub and restaurant is a culmination of everything that’s great about downtown Wellington. Pop into the Green Man Pub for an extensive range of craft beers on tap, a diverse bistro-style menu, live music on Friday nights and regular weekly specials. If you like sports, this is one of the best places in town to watch a rugby match when the two local teams – the Hurricanes and the Wellington Lions – are playing.

As its name suggests, the Hop Garden is a craft-beer pub and restaurant with a strong focus on New Zealand’s microbrewery scene. With a rooftop bar area, its regular line-up of events (which includes fortnightly open-mic nights) and a weekly rotation of food specials, this Mount Victoria venue is the go-to for a fun, laid-back night out.

D4 on Featherston is an Irish pub with an elegant flair. Besides your classic pint of Guinness, the bar boasts one of Wellington’s widest ranges of New Zealand craft beers, a selection of national and international boutique wines and quality cuisine to appease the budding foodies – with stone-grill dining as its top culinary speciality.

Ever since pouring its first beer in 1993, the Malthouse has shown a strong commitment to serving up an incredibly diverse variety of hops – stemming from the lesser-known boutique brewers to big-industry players. The pub is also one of a few in Australasia to house a rare assortment of carefully aged brews in its cellar.

The Pickle Jar is a family-friendly neighbourhood pub in Karori, renowned for its craft beers and quality food. Throughout the week, it offers various specials and events, such as burger nights on Thursdays and weekly quiz nights. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for updates.