The first time I was in Wellington, this was a brewery I only got to experience in the airport…read more(that location has since closed). I made it my mission to come here first on this trip and was thankful I did. Fortune Favours has gone through some ownership changes, but is once again independent and making great beer. This is a working brewery, taproom, and lounge. They have cozy booths, bar stools, plus an upstairs bar including outdoor seating. It's right off of Hannahs Laneway, which is a must-visit area of the city with other amazing art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The staff was super welcoming that day, thank you Phill and Grant for the fun conversation, a couple free beers, and gift of neckerchief for my pup! I ordered a flight and stuck with some of the rarer styles: thankfully I was there during their anniversary so they had a number of throwback kegs on tap. All the beer was delicious; I also ordered a Gorilla Burger from next door and really enjoyed it. One of the only souvenirs I bought for myself this trip was a pint glass with their signature font, it's a new favorite. If you're a beer fan in Wellington, this is a must-visit and part of the ale trail.

Ok. Stay with me, my review requires a bit of side-back-story. You see, my husband and I were on…read moreholiday in NZ; having only one free night in Wellington, after 20hours of flying, decided this was to be the night of the Wellington Beer Trail! Having started at Fork & Brewer, which was an old favorite spot from our previous visit in 2018- their fantastic brewer helped us circle must-try spots on the Beer Trail map, based on our preferences. Fortune Favours was not circled. Along our journey, in-between bars, we decided we wanted to stop and grab some grub and began our search for a recommended dumpling spot. Along our route, we smelled something absolutely delicious & also saw an amazing dinosaur graffiti down a long back alley..and bam! we found ourselves at Fortune Favours. Entering the bar, we asked, 'what smells so good?!' while perusing the menu-only to be told they were baking dog biscuits with the spent grains..whomp whomp. So we awkwardly decided to just leave & carry on our dumpling search, asking the friendly bartender if he could give us some better directions-to which he provided ample recommendations for eating. Arriving to our dumpling spot- we discovered a 'short staff closed sign' and decided to return to the friendly bartender at Fortune Favours. Glad for the misadventure, and friendliness, because the beers were quite delicious! I can understand why they weren't recommended to us, because the beers we ended up with weren't hazy citra ipas, so it was a veer from our normal enjoyments- but we were glad for the variety. I got the Rye Pale Ale- a piney, roasty, smooth malty hops- while my husband got a cold brut ipa-crisp and dank. We got to spend time with the bartender talking impact of shortages on the breweries, and learning more about the local area Beer Trail. Really glad we ended up here, if anyone asks us moving forward to circle spots on a Beer Trail map we will most certainly circle this location!!

I only get to LBQ once a year when I visit for Beervana but it's the first place I head to! Not…read moreonly do they have an epic, ever-changing beer list, but LBQ has a really warm and inviting atmosphere, even if you're a single female in a room filled with groups of boisterous beer-drinking blokes. LBQ has the added bonus of competing in Burger Wellington each year - this year their breakfast burger was served with bacon, eggs, black sausage and beans on a waffle and it almost defeated me! Almost! I haven't tried the rest of their menu but if I were in Wellington for more than a weekend I could see LBQ fast becoming a regular stop. Check it out next time you're in the capital!

Good selection of beers, great atmosphere. What more do you need for a Saturday afternoon?read more

Very busy after work on a weekday but this place is great to explore some local brews from…read moredifferent breweries. Friends brought us here and recommended some drinks to us. This is the place where I found my favorite ginger beer - Hawkes Bay Ginger Fusion. Highly recommend if you enjoy a good spicy ginger beer. Didn't have any food because all the tables were taken and decided to go elsewhere but they have standard bar food like burgers, etc. They also had a huge collection of hot sauces that I wish I got to try. You just order at the bar which was quick and easy.

Amazing place! Large outdoor grassy area with huge bean bags to lounge and hang out. As you walk…read morein it's dimly lit with strings of lights giving it that speakeasy feel. Extensive menu of drinks from beer, wine, and spirits. The service was super friendly and quick! They have live music and comfy seating in the back. Love this gem in the heart of Wellington.

What a fantastic gem of a brewery! Greeted with super enthusiastic bar tender who is happy and…read morehelpful. Outstanding menu of beer and great food too. Had the hazy ipa and it was juicy with tropical notes, what a palate pleaser. Lots of seating in a big open area. Wonderful visit highly recommend if visiting Wellington and also ask about the craft beer tour. You can get a sheet and stamp 8 breweries on the list and get a souvenir!

After a morning of exploring Wellington and avoiding the cruise ship crowds, it was great to find a…read morespot that was bright and sunny and friendly. Upstairs (do they have an elevator?) is a pretty massive dining room with lots of booths, some big tables and a balcony area in the Sun. Not quite ready for a big meal, I had a beer and a plate of the jalapeno poppers. They arrived after only 6 minutes, hot and fresh from the fryer. Delicious and a little spicy with a tangy dipping sauce, it went well with my pilsner. I stayed at Fork & Brewer for about an hour and enjoyed my time. This is a peaceful spot and the beer was delicious! [Review 510 of 2024 - 157 in New Zealand - 21542 overall]

I've now experienced a "cult beer bar" because I trusted the Yelp and did find this place. Hashigo…read moreZake is an underground music venue that sells beer and has a full kitchen. It's down a flight of stairs and yes, the Sun will be very blinding when you've finished drinking and return to the surface. Comfy spot sitting in a corner with my laptop, listening to their satellite radio while sipping at a beer and resting my sore feet. [Review 483 of 2024 - 133 in New Zealand - 21515 overall]

Very hip in almost everything. After years in Asia and learning the best places are hiding in plain…read moresight Hashigo Zake is a welcome reminder. Go!

Meeting a local friend on a recent trip, his suggestion was to meet here first. I'm thankful we…read moredid! Husk is a cool little place down a hallway off Ghuznee Street; the twinkle lights and colors invite you in, but you can't see what it's really like until you're closer. They have outdoor seating with plenty of light and heaters for cold weather. Inside it's cozy with a handful of tables, bar seating, and a large area devoted to the brewery. Choice Bros. Brewing makes their beers here; this is their sole facility and taproom. The staff was friendly from the get-go. They have a lot of choices on tap, and happily do tasting flights. I just loved the purple glow lights around the brew kettles, made for a nice evening backdrop long after the brewers had finished for the day. I tried four diverse styles and loved them all. I only wish I had had food! For any beer lover in Wellington, this is a must-stop!

If not local bring your passport. I've never had this happen before in NZ but turn 30 next week and…read moremy husband and I were denied service. Was suggested we walk back to our hotel and grab our passports, even though we had brought other ID. Very strange. We did not return.

If you're a beer and dive bar fan, this is a must stop in Wellington. A favorite of locals, it sits…read moreon Hannahs Lane around so many other fun restaurants, cafes, and shops. This is a dive bar in feel, but it's still kept tastefully clean and welcoming. It's dog friendly inside and out; they have a porch with outdoor tables that they kind of enclose in the winter. The bar is as kitschy fun as possible, with skis, Star Wars memorabilia, lights, buckets, and all kinds of beer stuff covering every inch. They have an amazing selection of draft beer, plus and cans and bottles and other alcohol. Tables are perfect for different sized groups. I came with a local friend who reminisced about early dates with his now wife here - how much they loved the vibe, pizza, and drinks. The high top tables have old faux-leather chairs, mostly torn and comfortable. Prices here are reasonable too for the local beer selection. The bartenders were happy and laughing as we arrived, they were nice all afternoon during our visit. Pizza is from a spot next door, but you can order and pay at the bar, and they'll bring it right to your table. This is a top spot in Wellington.

This place is definitely a dive bar. Very cool- you enter through a side door in a small "tunnel"…read more My husband loved it upon entering as it is a Star Wars themed dive bar- even if you don't like Star Wars, it's worth a stop. It's a full service bar with pizza service from the place next door (weird, but good- it is almost on pita bread or a tortilla). Something for everyone and very relaxing. I'd consider it a bonus if you are a Star Wars fan! Great local craft beer as well on draft and just a relaxing place.

During a recent visit I set up a private tour and tasting with the manager Adrian, who gave me more…read moreof his time than I expected. Black Dog is owned by DB Breweries, which means their beer can be found all over New Zealand on draught and in bottles. The benefit of visiting the brewery in Wellington is that it serves as an experimental bar with new and consistently rotating small batches. It's located on vibrant Cuba Street; the brewery is easy to spot along street level, but the main area to sit and drink including the full bar is upstairs. The bartenders are knowledgeable about their beer. Adrian led me through a tasting of everything on tap in an order that kept the palate fresh. We also split a savory meat pie, one a few snacks they have to order. If you're in Wellington and love beer, this is a stop worth your while!

It's amazing when you travel how sometimes your favorite stops are the ones you didn't know about…read morewhile planning, but that got recommended to you by locals. This was one of those spots. Hey Day had great beer and I felt like I was in the right place at the right time to have a great experience here. Bartenders Billy & Anthony were welcoming and helpful all night, their service stood out. The spot was modern, but with an 80s vibe of pastels on white. Because of Beervana, it was a busy place, but it was also trivia night so I found a team with an empty seat and joined them. We did mostly okay, definitely better than the other trivia night I joined on that trip. Their beers were all solid - a tasty array of styles that were well made. It's easy to get here walking around the city too. So if you're a beer fan in Wellington, it's worth a stop!

Beers excellent and creative. Created our own walking beer tour using yelp instead of outrageous…read morerates on tour sites.

Garage Project has many locations and during this trip i visited 3 of them (not all of them are on…read moreyelp). Overall, they have a wide variety of beers including sours and we tried multiple and bought some to bring home. I came to this location while waiting for my partner and it was pretty busy and all the tables were taken. While I was here, they were training a new person so grabbing a beer was kind of slow. This location is a little small. Their newer location on Leeds street is much bigger and more comfortable. The other location I went to was across the street one block down which sells to go bottles and cans while this one doesn't. I enjoyed the Konbini yuzu and lemon the most and got a pack of that and my partner got the pickle sours (spicy and regular).

After visiting the OG brewery location across the street and you're ready to sit down for a few…read morefull drinks, head here to Garage Project's proper Taproom. It's located in Te Aro nearby Wellington proper and a quick walk or ride-share away. It's situated in a historic old home that's skinny yet cozy. I'm told it gets packed on the weekend, so be sure to account for that if you're a fan of a quiet place to drink. The seating is all built in with a large bar, and plenty of tables for singles, doubles, or small groups. The bar takes full advantage of being the brewery's taproom with more selections than you could drink. They do not offer flights here (sampling is across the street), so be sure to look for special things on draught not available elsewhere. The staff was super friendly and easy to deal with. I loved the little touch of having little bulbs of each beer with the taps to show the color of what you're ordering. Prices are fantastic, cheap for the high quality of the freshest beer around. This is a must-stop for any beer lover visiting Wellington.