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Unfurl within the captivating embrace of Dunedin, where the night sparkles with vivacious energy and each moment is a delicate sip of exhilaration! This vintage city, while venerably historic, is anything but stale, boasting a nightlife that effervesces with the bubbling vivacity of champagne.
Between its grand cultural canvases, historic jewels, and a cocktail of intriguing museums and attractions, the best Dunedin bars shimmer enticingly, pouring a symphony of nights to remember.
Underneath Dunedin’s starlit canvas, the best Dunedin bars open their arms, offering you an entrancing concoction of the old and the chic, blending seamlessly with the city’s nocturnal heartbeat. Each haven among the best Dunedin bars is a chalice of pleasure, serving drinks that are a harmonious dance of tradition and novelty, echoing the enthralling tales of Otago.
Nestled within the city’s venerable enclaves, where history whispers through the cobblestone, the best Dunedin bars await with tales told through spirited beverages, each glass a crafted narrative of the region’s allure. And as dawn whispers through, offering a soft counterpoint to the night’s vibrant melody, consider retreating to the best Dunedin hotels. These sanctuaries of comfort provide the perfect nooks for a soothing nightcap or a revitalizing morning after, with each suite offering a quiet solace to nurse the tales of a night well celebrated.
Sip and savor, for the night is young and brimming with potential in the heart of Dunedin. With every bar door swinging open, a cascade of possibilities flows forth, whispering promises of unforgettable stories and drinks that echo with the resonance of Dunedin’s heartbeat. As the golden glow of the evening gently transitions to the serene embrace of the night, find the city’s top hotels standing by, ready to cradle you in luxury after your epicurean adventure.
Here’s a toast to Dunedin, where nights are spun from the finest gold and every drink is a droplet of its enchanted essence!
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Zanzibar
The Zanzibar bill itself as Dunedin’s finest ginstitution. And with a selection of over 120 different gins on its list, who can argue? The bar also has a fine selection of wines and craft beers, not to mention an atmosphere where “comfortable city ambiance meets vibrant, worldly energy.”
It’s “spotlight gins” include the Moon Dust Cosmo, with cranberry jiuce, Triple Sec, ice and a twist of lemon; and also the Laughing Club Dry Gin — made with various ingredients including juniper seed, citrus lemon, and liquorice.
The Craic Irish Tavern
As you can probably judge just from this list, Irish style pubs and taverns feature prominently in Dunedin, and this is no doubt a reflection of the city’s heritage. The Craic Irish Tavern DunedinThe Craic Irish Tavern is another such establishment, and to be sure it is not the least among them. For anyone who isn’t aware: Craic is the Irish/Gaelic word for fun and good times, loosely speaking.
And the tavern certainly delivers on its name. “Not just a pub,” as its promotional language states, The Craic serves up brunch, lunch and dinner with a focus on traditional Irish fare. The brunch is egg-centric, and the Craic Burger is highly recommended, and has a vegetarian option.
There are also some interesting beers and ciders on tap, including several New Zealand bottled beers like Monteiths, Steinlagers, and Speights. International bottled beers include most notably Heineken and Corona.
When it comes to accommodations, some of the best hotels in Dunedin provide a cozy and comfortable stay, making your visit to this vibrant city even more enjoyable.
Carousel Lounge Bar
Here we have another fine bar in the Octagon. The Carouse Lounge Bar is another lounge-style bar just as the name suggests, so it’s a great place to stop in and have a nice quiet drink or two with a comfortable ambiance. Cocktails, whiskey, champagne, wine, beer, cigars, tapas and more are all on the menu.
With its stylish décor, a great location and acclaimed service, the Carousel would be hard to beat for a nice evening out with good company, or for just a quick bite or drink by yourself after a long day.
Albar
This Scottish pub is a favorite of Dunedin natives. It offers tastings of in-house whiskeys as well as a different “malt of the month” each and every month, which guests can get a double-shot of at a discounted price. It’s not all about whiskey here, though. Not by a long shot. Emerson’s Brewery launches every new beer it creates right here at Albar first.
Albar also has a month-long event called “Mayfest,” which is the bar’s answer to Oktoberfest. During Mayfest, the bar features a different specialty beer each day of the month, making it a must-visit among the many things to do in New Zealand.
Pequeno Wine & Cocktail Bar
This lounge-style bar is situated very near the Octagon, in the “Grand old lady” — that is, Dunedin’s fabulously restored Savoy Building. Pequeno Wine & Cocktail Bar means small in Spanish, and the name is apt, for this bar has a cozy vibe complete with fireplace and leather-cushioned chairs and couches.
It also has quite a lengthy cocktail list, as well as a good selection of wines.This is the perfect place for a quiet night out with a small group of friends, or even by oneself, for a quiet drink in an intimate setting.
The Baaa Sports Bar & Grill
This sports themed bar, The Baaa Sports Bar & Grill, will treat you like a local, even if you aren’t one. It offers sports betting with gaming machines – always a fun and sometimes lucrative option if you are the lucky sort.
While this place, The Baaa Sports Bar & Grill, is relatively quiet throughout the day, it livens up substantially when the evening student crowd rolls in, guaranteeing a night of fun, energetic company.The grill portion of this bar and grill has a terrific menu with several appetizing main fare selections as well as snacks, salads, burgers, desserts and even a kid’s menu.
The Bog Irish Bar
The Bog Irish bar and restaurant promises Guinness and good times for all. Being an Irish bar, Guinness does feature heavily here though rest assured there is a full bar and a great choice of other drinks are on hand. The menu is traditional Irish fare as well, though it adds some intriguing flair.
Main courses include The Bog Burger, beef schnitzel, and chicken parmigiana, and of course the menu would be woefully incomplete without fish and chips. There is also lamb shanks, pork roast and traditional Irish stew. The Bog is your go-to for a lively night out, and you’re just a stone’s throw away from exploring UNESCO world heritage sites in New Zealand.
Vault 21
This Asian fusion restaurant is also a popular nightlife hub in Dunedin’s Octagon. While the restaurant has some savory and exciting dishes such as crispy squid, sweet and sour pork, and fresh caught southern ocean fish, it is the lively bar that is the draw for many visitors to Dunedin as well as locals.
Vault 21 offers a sophisticated vibe if that is more your kind of style, or if you just want to create a more formal night out. It also has a delectable drinks menu on hand with beers, ciders, red and white wines, and mocktails such as Passionfruit Soda and Sherbet Martini.
Cocktails – shaken stirred and otherwise – include the Candy Floss Cosmopolitan and the Japanese Sunset, made with White rum, yuzu, black sesame seed, lime and other ingredients.
Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar
Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar is a favorite of many Dunedin natives. It is known for its great service and staff. As implied by the establishment’s name, the main bar is separate from the restaurant proper, which has its own smaller bar.
It also has a courtyard for a lovely outdoor dining experience, and there is a private dining room available for a more intimate dinner if you want privacy and quietude. The main bar’s 12 taps feature an ever-revolving lineup of craft beers.
They even have a mobile bar that you can hire, fully stocked and staffed, for an event or just a fun evening, and they can bring it wherever you are.
Kensington Tavern
With its live sports viewing, Wednesday night quiz nights, and gaming room, the Kensington Tavern DunedinKensington Tavern Dunedin has a little something for just about everyone. What it also has is a fantastic menu with such diverse options as fettuccine carbonara, pork ribs, chicken wings, salt and pepper squid, and the Kensington Burger.
The cocktail list is quite extensive, with many of the selections having movie-inspired names such as The Orient Espresso (with vodka, Kahlua and cold-brewed espresso) and How to Train Your Dragonfruit, with Absolut Vanilla, passionfruit puree, and lemon and cranberry juice. The Kensington is a can’t lose choice for a fun night out with friends.
Dog With Two Tails
This Dog With Two Tails Dunedin establishment has what is quite possibly the coolest name ever, and that alone is reason enough to make worth at least one visit. Known locally as just “The Dog,” this bar produces some of its own gins as well as a variety of absinthe, courtesy of no.8 Distillery. Free tastings are offered throughout the day.
The Dog also takes pride in its coffee (it’s also a café by day). Besides live music, The Dog also has open mic nights in addition to jazz nights and quiz nights.
Crown & Bull
This American style restaurant and bar is a hit with tourists and Dunedin locals alike, and it is no wonder why. The Crown & Bull has a delectable menu that is much more than just sandwiches and burger (though there is a wide variety of those as well), with impressive breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
It also has a gorgeous outdoor area for dining alfresco or just taking in the nightly live music while enjoying your favorite drink.
And speaking of those drinks, the libation choices abound to say the least, with a wealthy selection of cocktails, martinis, champagne, whiskey, red, white and reserve wines, draft beers, ales, sangria and the list goes on — probably well over a hundred different selections in all. It is quite a happening place to be for a fun night out.
