Nightlife

As per usual, mighty Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is pulling out all the stops. Here’s what’s on in Auckland this week, this month, and this year. 

Nothing has us feeling more festive than a completely over-the-top display of Christmas lights—this is definitely a case of the more the merrier! Lucky for us Aucklanders, a decent dose of holiday twinkle is never far away.

Whether you’re looking for a classy establishment for date night or a lively spot to dance the night away, here’s our guide to the best bars in Queenstown.

With thatched-roof farmhouses and world-renowned udon on her must-do in Japan hit-list, we asked Nozomi Inoue for the ultimate run-down on her favourite hotspots.

The Urban List guide to the absolute best things to do in Wellington. 

Ōtautahi is an absolute gem of a city—there’s not a lot it doesn’t have. Beaches? Yes. Arts and culture? Absolutely. Outdoor excursions? You bet. A bunch more fun stuff? By the bucket load! So go get out there and explore it with our list of 50 of the best things to do in Christchurch. 

As the gateway to the South Island, Ōtautahi Christchurch attracts visitors of all types, and it's not hard to see why. Alongside amazing food and drink, the Garden City is blessed with some of the country’s best hotels, and we've put together a list of our faves so you can have an A+ Christchurch getaway, whether you're travelling in luxury or you're on a budget.

Whatever your tipple of choice—we’ve got you. Here are the best bars in Wellington.

Ho, ho, holy snowball. December is nearly here and it's time to get our Christmas party on. Is it just us, or did this year really sneak up on us?

Invercargill may get a bad rap but once you start exploring this southern extreme of New Zealand, you soon realise just how much there is to love. 

In the past, The Bay Of Plenty's Tauranga and the Mount may have been overlooked as a food destination in their own right. Fortunately the times are changing and the dining scene is evolving, with lots of new and exciting restaurants popping up—ones that’ll even rival their friends in the big smoke. Here are the best restaurants in Tauranga and the Mount.

While your Spotify may be overflowing with a cracking collection of music, nothing beats the sweet, sweet sound of live music.

For tasty kai with bangin' views, make a beeline for the Auckland Viaduct. 

Takapuna is one of my favourite suburbs in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Not only is it home to one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore, it also boasts a long list of amazing places to eat and drink and that's a combo that makes this food writer very happy indeed.

Forks at the ready, Taupō isn’t just about hitting the slopes or whiling away hours on the lake.

There’s something about dancing I just can’t get enough of. Whether it’s dancing in the moonlight, dancing in the dark or dancing in the rain, there really is nothing greater.

With its top-notch eateries and unrivalled views of the Waitematā Harbour, Wynyard Quarter is one of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s most beautiful spots. 

We've rounded up the best of the best bars, with oldies, newbies and everything in between. No matter the specifics, all of these places have one thing in common: they're a damn fine spot to sink a drink.

Matariki a.k.a. Māori New Year is just around the corner (Friday 20 June to be exact). A time of reflection and new beginnings, Aotearoa is busting out all the stops with a treasure trove of ways to celebrate.

Skip dinner altogether and go straight into a sugar-glazed euphoria.

Dubbed The Tron, Hamilton is a vibrant city with countless experiences to uncover. From adventurous activities and epic eats to natural wonders and zen retreats, there’s something for locals and visitors alike. Here are the very best Hamilton attractions.

We love Japanese food an awful lot here at the Urban List. And who’s to blame us? From sushi to sashimi to sake, Japanese cuisine delivers deliciousness on all levels.

Whether you’re staying down the road in Queenstown, or in the heart of this magical town, here are seven Arrowtown restaurants you seriously need to dine at, trust us.

Bargain bevvies, a bar snack or two and some quality yarns make for the ultimate after-work wind-down.

If you’re looking to woo someone special, celebrate a milestone or perhaps even pop a special question, our handpicked list of the most romantic restaurants in Auckland has your next date sorted. Food, wine, romantic vibes, views—they’re all here.

Easter is upon us and a long weekend of resting and feasting awaits. Take this holiday as a chance to go out to get your wine and dine on because that’s what we’ll be doing!

Renowned for serving up the best in spirit-stacked sips, creative mastermind, and a-lister in the bartending scene Alastair Walker is set to hit Ōtautahi to host an epic night of all things shaken and stirred. 

After a long morning walk and a day spent lounging lakeside, a bar hop chasing the sun seems the next appropriate step.

There’s a lot to love about music festivals in the Aotearoa summer. Racing between stages, dancing like no one’s watching, and snapping up some epic memories. 

We caught up with Hāmiora Bailey, director of Auckland Pride 2025 to pick their brains on the festival and all their favourite spots in the Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Hello lovers, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so if you haven’t made plans yet, you'd better hustle.

Let us hear you say love. Whether it’s your first or your one hundredth date, a little thought goes a long way and a dinner and a movie just ain't it. 

Sport is basically a religion here in Aotearoa, and meeting your mates to share a drink and yell sports-themed profanities is a rite of passage. And when you can’t make it to a game, there’s no better way to experience nail-biting sport than with a drink in your hand and plenty of people to create the vibe. 

It's official—Onehunga is one of Auckland's most hip albeit underrated suburbs. Studded with historic buildings and delightful villas, this charming neighbourhood has really amped things up in recent years on the eating-out front, with a host of top-notch bars, restaurants and cafés coming to the fore.

Blenheim certainly does a good elixir (of the alcoholic variety) but it holds its own on the foodie front too. Forks at the ready, here are the best Blenheim restaurants.

Waiheke Island. A magical getaway, a wine-lover’s paradise, the perfect wedding destination... and a next-level foodie scene. Here are the best and tastiest restaurants on Waiheke Island. 

Whether you’re diving into the mad scramble that is Boxing Day sales, after a top-tier refuel mid-beach day, or soothing a deathly hangover on New Year’s Day, don’t waste your calories (and dollaz) on shoddy fare. It’s time to celebrate. Come 2025, it’s a new year and a new you, and that new you deserves to be fueled by the finest kai Auckland has to offer.

Legend has it that at summer’s end or ‘Samhain’—the inspiration behind Halloween traditions—the veil between the world of the living and the underworld is at its thinnest. The dead will walk.

We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: rooftop bars are the shiz. What’s not to love about sitting sky-high, sipping on a beverage and taking in an epic view? Auckland’s best rooftop bars are dotted across the city and come in all shapes in sizes.

Get amped up for the most wonderful time of the year. We’re talkin’ New Zealand’s festival season. Across the country, lads and lasses will be locking in tickets to some of the best festivals our country has to offer, all promising an epic mash-up of beats, vibes and all round good times.

Grab a spot by the water, dig in to a tasty something and let the City of Sails treat you some next-level hospitality at Auckland’s best waterfront eateries.

Ahhh Karangahape Road. One of the most vibrant, creative, and bangin’ precincts in all of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The independent arts festival kicks off from 2-22 September, celebrating the weird and wonderful of Auckland’s art scene, and everything in between.

Calling all snow homies, holiday heroes, music-mad, and just plain festy frothers—epic destination festival, Snow Machine is next week. And. You. Don’t. Want. To. Miss. Out. 

The centrepiece of Auckland’s food events is officially back on the radar: Restaurant Month is here. We’ve never been so grateful to for having 31 whole days.

Want to challenge your taste buds? Read on as we shine a spotlight on dining in the dark. 

Those in the know frequent Auckland CBD’s best-kept secret: Panacea. The intimate cocktail kitchen can be stumbled upon up an unassuming flight of stairs on O’Connell Street. 

Don’t get us wrong, we love a night in with Netflix but it just doesn’t compare to seeing movies on the silver screen, a bucket of popcorn in hand.

Forget what you know about the Southern Lights. Aurora Australis? Please…we have something much more exciting for you! Come Queen’s Birthday weekend, Queenstown’s waterfront is set to transform into a magical forest wonderland, lit up with interactive light sculptures and illuminated art installations.

When it comes to Ponsonby restaurants, it's a literal smorgasbord—the hardest part about eating out here is narrowing down where to go. Whether you're after bistro classics, a spot of Asian street food or an old-fashioned burger and fries, this inner-city neighbourhood punches well above its weight.

A petite city full of the eclectic and interesting, Dunedin practically owns the term ‘boutique’. The gorgeous, retrofitted heritage buildings, ornate old villas and secret wild spots hide some of New Zealand’s most epic boutique lodgings. The moody romanticism of the neo-gothic architecture, urban quirk and spectacular coastline are a natural backdrop for everything from award-winning five-star hotels and eco retreats to space-age apartments unlike anything you’ve seen.

If you’re sticking around Tāmaki Makaurau this Waitangi Day—Tuesday 6 February to be exact—you’ll be delighted to know a bunch of top notch eateries will be open for brunch, lunch, a cheeky tipple or three, or an all-out feast. 

From hidden speakeasies to bright and breezy spots with gorgeous courtyards to boot these are the best bars in Ponsonby.

Enter, Queenstown’s newest hospitality destination SUNDAYS, a character-filled eatery and drink(ery) in a stunning church building from 1933.

From bars out of buses to dimly lit speakeasies, art deco homages to local craft breweries. Keep reading and you'll discover a pint-sized pub plucked straight from Dublin, a repurposed tailor's, a repurposed Post-Office, and even a repurposed Church. Frankly, Ōtautahi's nightlife is anything but dull.

We’ve rounded up the best of the best costume shops in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and online so you can dive straight into bringing your fantasy (or worst nightmare) to life and take out that costume competition. 

Takapuna Winter Lights will be lighting up the shore over four nights this July as part of the Elemental AKL festival and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Could Devonport be Auckland's most charming suburb? Its old-fashioned villas, picturesque gardens and character buildings are straight out of a storybook, while it also happens to be located right beside the sea and beneath the watchful eye of not one, but two volcanic mountains. 

Rid yourself of life's stresses at this tranquil oasis. 

After taking Auckland and then Christchurch by storm, entertainment masters Funlab has announced that its biggest (and best) Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq AND Holey Moley will be opening right in the heart of Wellington.

Whether you’re craving a taste of luxury, a little quirkiness or a cozy home away from home, we’ve got you covered with our list of best hotels in (and around) Ponsonby. 

Espresso martinis are like the grown-up version of a coffee, a harmonious yet powerful blend of alcohol and caffeine that will see you through the night (and potentially into the next day).

After having opened in the midst of various lockdowns, multi-award-winning distillery Broken Heart Spirits has launched Queenstown’s first-ever boutique gin garden.

Between free bottomless popcorn, in-film snack deliveries and a Tarantino-approved space, we’ve found the very best of Auckland’s bustling boutique cinema scene. 

Auckland crew listen up! In some hugely exciting news, it’s been revealed that Ponsonby is (finally) getting a cinema complex all of its own for the first time in more than 50 years, and it’ll be of the luxury boutique variety that we absolutely stan.

If you consider yourself a foodie, chances are you’ve heard of Logan Brown. The Cuba Street institution is one of Wellington’s OG fine dining spots and has been impressing diners for the last couple of decades.

Aotearoa is having a pop-public holiday in memorial of Queen Elizabeth II next week, Monday 26 September to be exact. Here are all some of the best places to feast in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

After taking Auckland by storm, entertainment masters Funlab have announced they’re opening an Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq AND a Holey Moley right in the heart of Christchurch. Yes and yes. 

These wallet-friendly restaurants will leave you full, satisfied, and with money in the bank—winning.

Rain or shine, bowling is one of the most fun ways to spend an afternoon. 

Sitting at the base of Bob’s Peak Mountain and the iconic Skyline Gondola, Queenstown’s rad new dining and entertainment precinct, Upper Village awaits. 

Hot on the heels of Te Marama Puoro O Aotearoa NZ Music Month we caught up with eight of Aotearoa's most exciting up-and-coming DJs to hear about life on the scene.

Whether you’re planning the ultimate staff do, a creative girls' night out, or your little one’s birthday bash, bowling is a time-tested way to get a party started.

Take your tastebuds on tour, Wellington’s got a new restaurant serving epic Turkish and Middle-Eastern-inspired eats.

In the time of Visa Wellington On a Plate, nothing is too outlandish. From immersive themed dinners to sensory experiments to adults-only menus, there are heaps of options out there that'll have your mind blown and your tastebuds cheering. We've got the scoop on the hottest events coming up this year and if our intel is anything to go by, you'll want to get in quick.

From boujee new destination restaurants and distilleries to plant-based brunch spots and craft breweries, things have certainly changed around here.

While the endless summer sun might be losing its heat, why not welcome in autumn while keeping the fiesta vibes strong with bottomless jugs of sangria?

Artweek is just around the corner and 2020 marks a massive ten years for the week-long festival. Once again, it's time to celebrate all the dynamic, abstract and awe-inspiring pieces right here in the City of Sails. We’ve narrowed down our top picks for some of the best events this year's programme has to offer, so come along to appreciate all the wonderful art that has flourished while the city has been in lockdown. 

Auckland’s Smoke & Spice Festival will be bigger and better than ever with plenty of barbecues, booze, live music, demos and events on the agenda but this time spread over two days.

From late night eats to gorgeous gondola rides and delicious cocktails to live gigs, Queenstown is an epic city around the clock. Here are the best things to do in Queenstown at night.

These days, the best kind of food comes straight from the streets. Whether it’s a cart, caravan or truck—these tiny, portable kitchens seem to be pumping out some of the best food in town.

Queenstown has a new pop-up on its culinary menu and we’re crossing our fingers (and toes) that this cosy restaurant will extend its stay well past the winter season. Hear that QT? That’s a hint!

Whether you’re planning a big birthday or a special shindig, only the best will do. Because we’re about nothing but the best, we’ve got you covered!

The snow gods heard your cry for alp. Take your mittens out of hibernation and pop on your snuggliest coat because Auckland is getting a whole lotta snow!

Winter is coming, and that means ski party season is too. So, dust off your boots and grab your warmest jackets, because things are about to get seriously cool.

We're talking luxurious resorts, pristine winter powder and indulgent eats.

Ponsonby is about as far from the beaches and jungles of Bali as you can get—unless, that is, you find yourself visiting Bali Nights, the tasty new eatery dishing up legit Balinese street food and doing a damn fine job of it.

It’s not a fiesta without tequila!

Just imagine the scene if Snoop Dogg or Dr. Dre picked up a trumpet and smashed out some good ol’ bangers. Well, New Zealand’s very own MC Slave, aka “The Logg Cabin'' is giving us all a chance to witness just what this may sound like, right here in Auckland.

There’s always that one friend that doesn’t vibe with your choice in music, isn’t there? Well, now you can dance to the beat of your own drum, quite literally, at this highly anticipated event coming to Auckland this weekend.