Bars Group Dining Light bites & snacks

Wellington’s five best Christmas party kick-ons

Best Restaurants Editorial

Published 04/11/2024

Beyond the obvious one, Wellington is the capital of many things. Te Whanganui-ā-Tara rightly commands authority over many important aspects of life, such as the flat white, craft beer, live music, comedy and ‘really cool bars’.

With its meandering bays, city-centre beaches and broad waterfront, as the saying rightly goes, ‘You can’t beat Wellington on a good day’.

The same applies when the sun goes down, with a fun, inclusive and energetic nightlife that is the envy of the rest of Aotearoa.

With festive season upon us, the hipster craft beer hideouts, live music venues and cocktail bars are gearing up for a roaring trade - especially for the onslaught of office Christmas party kick-ons.

We’ve selected the five top places to keep the festivities humming in the world’s coolest capital.

Ascot
55 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro

There’s nothing that says ‘exclusive after-party’ quite like entering a nondescript doorway down a quiet alleyway. Wind your way up the spiral staircase and you’ll find one of the capital’s top hideaway bars. Wine aficionados will appreciate the emphasis on organic, fully-natural drops, while the craft beer range is everything you would expect from a quirky Wellington watering hole. The festive period will make things cosy, but there’s room to stretch out on the rooftop terrace.
Dirty Little Secret
54 Taranaki Street, Te Aro

By no means dirty, and certainly not little, the remaining third of this establishment’s name is bang-on. A word-of-mouth delight, you wouldn’t know this sprawling rooftop bar exists without some Welly intel. Hiding in plain sight, you’ll need to find the discrete lift to help you uncover this particular secret. Commanding views right across the city, the harbour and the mountains beyond, Dirty Little Secret caters for the dancefloor-hoggers, the wine lovers and the quiet-chatters-in-the-corner. A top-end all-rounder.
The Library
1/53 Courtenay Place, Te Aro

If you judge a bar by its cover then you will not regret leading your after-party through these doors. Covered ceiling to floor with literary decor, shelves and endless books, this is another kick-on all-rounder to suit all tastes. Lively and vibrant, but at the same time laid-back and sophisticated, there’s a cocktail, wine and a craft beer for everyone. If you expect your kick-on to be well-attended, there are three private function rooms available to reserve ahead of time.
Havana Bar
32a/34 Wigan Street, Te Aro

By no means dirty, and certainly not little, the remaining third of this establishment’s name is bang-on. A word-of-mouth delight, you wouldn’t know this sprawling rooftop bar exists without some Welly intel. Hiding in plain sight, you’ll need to find the discrete lift to help you uncover this particular secret. Commanding views right across the city, the harbour and the mountains beyond, Dirty Little Secret caters for the dancefloor-hoggers, the wine lovers and the quiet-chatters-in-the-corner. A top-end all-rounder.