Lets be honest, Winners Bar is not a thriving nightlife hotspot. The main attraction for the…read morepunters seems to be the back pokies room, with a constant stream of punters coming in and out the last time I was there. This is a shame in my opinion, as the bar has two big screen televisions playing live sky sport, as well as a karaoke screen on which they often play (quite hillarious) nineties/early 2000's videos. They also offer pool and darts, and have a jenga set behind the counter. The decor is the highlight of Winner's bar - a wall completely covered with beer bottles - an installation that is continued all the way through to the bathroom. The beers are priced just right - ranging from 4 dollars to 6 dollars, and they have daily specials on cocktails, and aren't too light on the pour. If you are in the area, and just want to have a conversation with a friend over a few drinks, I recommend checking out Winners Bar. At the very least, the bouncer will be guaranteed to give you a funny conversation.

Bloody ripper of a bar ! Winners was a legend to all. $5 beer or RTD of choice notably Jd's was $6…read more Get hungry? How about wedge or chip ? Or some of the bloody best popcorn in town. I don't think the rice cooker out back was functional, but I digress. Entertainment- how about a choose your own song from Youtube. No need for a dj or a jukebox. Ultimately you choose your own adventure. Some pokies, some cue balls in the corner pocket . Some tasty treats at any hour. Winners was the spot. Sadly it is gone RIP.

On our last day, it was just non-stop rain as we were killing some time before heading to the…read moreairport. We walked nearby our hotel to My Bar, a tiny place with more outdoor tables (although obviously not the best place to sit on a day like that). Heading inside, we were greeted with a cozy place; mood lighting, exposed brick, wood floors, and tiny table nooks along the wall. The bartender was friendly and got us some drinks. They have a full selection of hard drinks, but I was here for the beer. They have six tap handles, all from the larger breweries of the country. I chose a flight of three. We slowly sipped our drinks and listened to the rain. Prices were reasonable, it was definitely worth a few minutes for some drinks!

Great bar! Stopped here one night & sat outside. Relaxed, friendly service; beer was great. Had a…read moreramen dish from a restaurant next door. Liked it so much, went back the next night.

Great dive bar to just drink, eat and hang out. Don't expect great service, but you'll get decent…read morequick service ordering at the counter. The guiness pie was alright. However, the burger was freaking phenomenal! Wish they had more seating. It was busy for a Tuesday night, cant imagine how it becomes on the weekend.

First thing first, food was good. We ordered guinness meat pie, Fish 'n chips and Chicken ceasar…read moresalad. Fish 'n chips wasn't too greasy or watery inside. It was just right. And Guinness meat pie was quite heavenly. Very juicy and tender beef inside w/ bitterness from guinness. This is perfect marriage between two. This place could've gotten 4 stars if the waiting time wasn't too long. 1st dish didn't come out until 40 minutes later. It didn't look back up as there was only one party of 3 beside us who ordered food at that time. At least, salad could've come out sooner. Maybe we came here in wrong occasion because we had to catch the bus to airport within next 30min after we got the food. We probably should've come here when we were not-so-in-hurry even though we thought we gave enough time. But I had to say, as soon as I put the food in my mouth, the wait was worth it.

I've said it about The Wine Cellar and I'll say it about Whammy too - this place treats bands (and…read moretheir respective door bitches) incredibly well. Booking a gig at Whammy (or The Wine Cellar) is done through Rohan, a professional sound tech who will make your band sound pretty gosh darn good. He'll do it for $100. Get 6-10 paying people through the door and you've broken even already. Accommodating about 150 people more than Wine Cellar and starting later in the evening, Whammy is the place to go if your band wants to be late and loud. Doorman Will is a massive boss as well - about as courteous as a man who deals with drunk idiots can be.

I'm embarrassed by how long it took me to realise the pun in the name…read more Whammy bar is like a lot of music/performance venues: the quality of your experience here is directly related to what's on. Good band: good night. Crappy poser art-noise: bleeding eardrums and regret. It's a gamble, but a fun one to make. Whammy has all the requisite dive bar trappings - low ceilings, awkward stairs, an unassuming entrance. The crowd is your typical fashionable scene, but not too teenage to make you feel old - although again, this depends somewhat on the band playing. They don't just have bands playing, I've seen poetry recitals and comedy here. But the best times to be had are the rowdy live music nights, when the energy's deafening and everyone's bouncing off the ceiling.

I'm sure this place is legendary. It's one of Auckland's best little secrets, and lies hidden…read morebetween the festering brew bars and chain-store chicken shacks. There are usually a couple of homeless people sitting on the bus stop outside, and occasionally there'll be a sign outside telling you it's booked out for the night and you'll have to go elsewhere to get your nightly pizza and kiwi music fix. When you can get yourself a table however (the reason it's often full is more down to its woefully small capacity), it's well worth the chance of dejection. Themed as a kind of bizarre tribute to some of the misguided cult-heroes of New Zealand's musical pantheon, Pizza Pizza Kiwi Music keeps the Aotearoan soundtrack pumping and serves up some of the nicest pizzas in town. The aforementioned pizzas are named after the aforementioned cult-heroes and so it's entirely possible to chow down on a "Betchadupa" while knocking back a cold beer ($5 Stellas during happy hour!!!) and getting quietly and joyously plastered and looking down on the great unwashed as they dither their nights away, up and down Queen Street. Great sub-features of the place: 1. It's tiny and therefore exclusive and therefore good. 2. The main barman (is he the owner?) has a brilliant moustache and looks suspiciously like he just arrived back from The Gathering c. 1998 (via a time machine (potentially pizza powered)). 3. There is a chicken pizza called "Salmonella Dub". Brilliant. 4. Their awkward to decipher signage means most people develop their own special name for the place. I call it "Pizza Pizza Kiwi Music Pizza Pizza". 5. Their stairwell is ungodly. Incredibly steep and pretty much purpose designed to have people fall down and injure themselves after too many happy hour beers. Genius.

Excellent pizza! Great combos and perfect vibes to sit and enjoy a slice. Loved the local info…read moreabout the origins and inspirations.

Love it! Slightly eccentric, lovely courtyard and a good…read morerange of drinks! Always easy to get a cab out the front which I love!

Tucked away in an underground corner of the swanky Parnell area, Shanghai Lil's isn't as Asian as…read moreit makes out, but it's certainly a unique experience. Once wondering down the stairs, you are greeted by some lovely staff who offer you a drink while you wait for your dinner compadres. There's a delightful lounge, moodily lit and decorated like it was the roaring '20s. Antique leather couches, precious lights, gorgeous paintings and soothing Jazzy music, this place makes you feel like you've stepped into another world. Once you're done with the lounge, you venture into the restaurant for a scrummy dinner. It becomes much lighter with open french windows and a decidedly European menu. The portions are small and incredibly pricey, but not bad if you're wanting something a little special. They were delicious, I have to admit! Otherwise, if you're on a budget, drinks are the way to go for this quaint establishment.

I went here for my friend's flatmates 21st. What an experience. As Shore girls, we are used to…read moreprissy 21sts with cupcakes and girls that think they are princesses. This 21st was quite the contrary. In what was previously a brothel, Shooters looks like an old school Saloon from those old cowboy movies. This would be cool but the stripper pole and mechanical bull are slightly ridiculous and by ridiculous I mean hilarious. There is a 100 year old fish in a tiny tank by the bar which stares at you and makes you feel dirty. I feel that is all one needs to know... Oh and any 10 drinks for $50

Oh Shooters, you wild thing you. How you throw off the constraints of a socially acceptable bar…read more You to me are like an ugly but tasty trifle dessert. Even though you look squishy, you might taste good inside my mouth. Where did you come from? How are we supposed to know what you are as you distort our mind with cheap liquor and high-heeled women? Is it a Western or a rave? Is it a gentleman's club or a rodeo? Why have you turned your car-park into a volleyball beach? Why have you put bubble-bath in a spa pool? Will I remember organizing a wet T-shirt contest and then making human soup in a swimming pool? Will I be able to survive if you set up a surf board simulator or a bouncy castle? Did you buy this bucket of Vodka Cruisers? And is that bearded gentleman at the pool table winking at me? Yes. Yes.

Absolutely a great place. Environment is very relaxing…read more Quality of the food is superb!! Especially the deep fried lamb ribs! Oh and the calamari!! Oh and.... They're just all good!! Very friendly service

THIS PLACE IS INSANELY GOOD!!! Cocktails To Tantalize The Most Judgmental Tongue! Food Made To…read moreStimulate The Senses! Infusions Of Vietnam Reign Supreme! If Your Taste Buds can only handle meat pies & Pizzas, make your way to the nearest 7-Eleven. This place isn't for you!!! Immediately, walking into the restaurant, the ambiance has your eyes feasting on all the beautiful decor. There are a couple of private tables tucked nicely away from the crowds. But, reservations are HIGHLY recommended. So, COCKTAILS!!! The Hand-Crafted Cocktails Are Impeccable! My personal favorite is the Blushing Dragon! Don't forget about the Red Bliss.. What are they, you ask...? Get over there and check it out! I promise you they won't disappoint. For the appetizers, we had the papaya salad, mango salad & the veggie wraps. The Mango Salad had an array of spices including a 'Vietnamese Mint' that has you guessing what that good unexpected flavor is... The Entrées Are Next Level Crazy-Yum!!! Must-Haves: Pork Belly, Pad See Ew Noodles, Mekong Fried Rice & The Deep-Fried Squid!

Stumbled into Munster Inn looking for a casual pint and ended up staying much longer than planned;…read morealways a good sign. This place has that no-frills Irish pub energy: lively without being chaotic, friendly without trying too hard. Sports on the television and great bartender to boot. The bartender was quick and genuinely welcoming, even with a busy crowd, and the Guinness was poured properly (which matters more than people admit). What really stood out was the atmosphere. Locals mixing with travelers, sports on the TVs, conversations flowing easily, it feels like the kind of pub you could make your regular if you lived nearby. Great spot to kick off a night or settle in and let it unfold.

Not a bad dive bar near AUT! Good tunes, (2) large tele's with sports, and evidently they have live…read moremusic, karaoke, and open mic nights. Pints were cold and they have a huge video gambling room.

It's Saturday night, really late (or really early, however you look at it), and you're with a group…read moreof friends and you're really not ready to call it a night, but everything's closed.... where do you go? HERE. Luxury Karaoke!! They are open until 2am most nights and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights. The rooms are pretty flash - cool couches and furniture, and a bazillion songs to drunkenly belt out with your friends. You can buy drinks there (no BYO) but the snack choices are not that great, and you can't bring your own food. Expect to be drinking wine from plastic cups and eating Doritos. All class, baby! Tips: The rooms are not soundproof. So no matter how awesome you think your singing is, anyone in the hall outside your room will be laughing at you :) Also, it's a bit hard to find, but just tell your taxi driver to take you to the Karaoke bar that is next to the Louis Vuitton store in Queen Street. EPIC NIGHT OUT!!!

Hands down the best karaoke in town. Great rooms with a really good collection of songs supported…read moreby a friendly and helpful team of staff. The sound is good, the beers are cold and the prices are good. Our "go to" for the start of a good night. Love these guys