The best bars and cafés New Zealand

Timetable

For cafés, the classic opening times are 7am-3pm.

Bars generally open around 4-5pm, with a happy hour between 4pm and 6pm. On weekdays, they close very early! Between 9pm and 10pm, depending on how busy they are.

Many establishments are open 7 days a week, but some close one or two days a week, usually somewhere between Sunday and Thursday.

Some stores, the aptly named "Night 'n Day", are open day and night (24/7 in the big cities, but "only" from 6am to 11pm in the more isolated corners), and you'll be able to find something to nibble on at any hour if you're feeling peckish at an unlikely hour. French fries, fried chicken, pies, milkshakes, ice cream... nothing fantastically healthy, but it'll tide you over!

Budget & Tips

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Age restrictions

The sale of alcohol is strictly forbidden to anyone under 18. It's almost systematic to be IDed when you look under 25 ("ID" is an acronym for "Identification Documents" and is used as a verb meaning to have your papers checked - "Did they ID you?"/"Have you been IDed? - Have they checked your papers?)

So make sure you have your passport with you if you're in this age bracket, because we don't play around with it here. If you look a little young and don't have the papers to prove you're of legal drinking age, not only will you not be served, but you could be refused entry to (or kicked out of) an establishment (by the way: that goes for buying alcohol in stores too. Identity cards are systematically checked. And if you're in a group, the whole group is checked).

Reminder: establishments authorized to serve alcohol can be classified or divided into different zones where different rules apply. There are three types of zone: "restricted" (under-18s are prohibited), "supervised" (under-18s must be accompanied by a legal guardian) and "undesignated" (no restrictions).

However, under-18s can still drink alcohol if the glass is purchased by the accompanying legal guardian.

What's very local

In New Zealand, the culture is very relaxed and chill, so there are plenty of options for taking a break somewhere and having a good time with friends.

Dairy stores. One of New Zealand's institutions, an absolute must-see that you're bound to hear about, are the dairies. Dairy means dairy products. These small local stores sell milk, but not only milk. While their original function was undoubtedly to sell dairy products, today they're little mini-markets that have sprung up all over towns and countryside, and are an indispensable part of local life. You'll find basic necessities, as well as a wide range of products to satisfy a craving: sweets, cookies, ice cream, etc. In Wellington and Auckland, you can often top up your bus pass.

They are also often associated with two of the country's flagship franchises: Tip-Top and Chicken'n'Chips. Tip-Top is THE most widespread ice cream brand, and represents a treasure trove of local pride (Kiwis are always very proud of products that were born here, and given the young age of the country, it's an important part of their identity). It's a bit like our Carte d'Or. If you want to fill your freezer with them, you can find them in supermarkets, and if you just want an ice cream break during the day, you can go hunting for a dairy store !

Coffee. There's a strong coffee culture in New Zealand, particularly in Wellington, famous for its many roasters right in the heart of the city.

Here, café au lait is king, with many variations to which we French are generally unaccustomed: latte, cappuccino, mochaccino, macchiato, and the famous flat white, the local specialty!

It's simply a latte with a little less milk and a little less foam (flatter, hence the name " flat " white). Flat white is one of the things New Zealand and Australia vie with each other to invent, in their legendary friendly rivalry!

If you don't want to drink cow's milk, there's a wide range of plant milks: soya, almond, coconut and oat.

If you want a black coffee, ask for a short black (espresso), a long black or an americano (an even longer black).

And if you want a little sweetness in your coffee, you can ask for a dose of vanilla syrup, caramel, hazelnut, or even more original flavors like ginger and turmeric(tumeric).

Note that the caffeine standard here is double-shot; if you want a single-shot, you'll have to make a special request!

Craft beer

The country's second drug - after coffee - is beer! Microbreweries are legion in New Zealand (especially in Wellington once again), and it's a real paradise for aficionados.

Among the big names: Garage Project, Panhead, Boneface, 8 Wired, Sawmill, Behemot, Hop Federation, Duncan's, Mean Doses, Parrot Dog, Good George, Three sisters, Double Vision, Epic, Liberty, Yeastie Boys, Spring and Ferns, Moa, Kereru... it's impossible to name them all, and new ones open every year!

In a more classic range, Emerson, Speight, Steinlager, Monteith and Mac's are less experimental and are sure-fire values for those looking for a simple, good, inexpensive beer.

On the cider side, Morning Cider, Orchard Thieves and Zeffer are the 3 main names. Many breweries also try their hand at cider, and offer at least one cider in the middle of all their beers! Monteith, for example, has a cider in its range that is one of the classics.

It's worth noting that New Zealand cider is much sweeter than local cider! Evendry cider, which is still rarely explored and therefore hard to find, is infinitely sweeter than what we know.

Pub night

In New Zealand, it's not very common to invite one another to the home for an aperitif or a meal, as we do in France; instead, we meet up outside for a beer in a pub orbrewery. It's a convivial moment, and pub/brewery culture revolves around it: we order shared plates, small dishes to share, and many pubs organize quiz nights, bingo or other entertainment.

Shared plate classics include: jalapeño poppers, corn fritters, wedges, fries, cauliflower wings, chicken wings, hummus... if you go upmarket, you'll find more elaborate dishes, but it's a safe bet that you'll find at least one of these classics!

If you're in the country on ANZAC Day or Good Friday (Easter Friday), alcohol sales are very limited on these two days, as it would be considered disrespectful to be a little too tipsy on these special days. If you wish to drink, you'll be asked to order food as well, so that the alcohol doesn't go to your head. Note that this is not only cultural, it's required by law.

Kids

Some establishments (those with a "restricted" license) are strictly forbidden to those under 18.

Most of the time, the establishments are classified as "supervised", which means that people under 18 are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a legal guardian.