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Nightlife Auckland may not be New York or Paris but it has its share of night entertainment. The waterfront is where most of the smarter venues are, in particular around the Americas Cup Village and the new Princes Wharf development. High Street, to the south of Queens Wharf, also has a number of good bars, including some with live music. In bars and clubs the dress code tends to be casual, although some places enforce a smarter rule and are particularly anti black jeans and leathers, since these tend to be clothes favoured by gangs. Licensing laws are not strict and some bars have a 24-hour licence, while others remain open into the early hours. The age limit for drinking alcohol is 18 years. On average, a pint of beer will cost approximately NZ$3-5, while a glass of wine can be anything from NZ$4-8, depending upon where you do your drinking. To find out what is on, read the Thursday and Saturday editions of the New Zealand Herald, the free monthly listings magazine, What’s Happening, or the free newspaper, Tourist Times. Bars: Lots of local favourites are down by the waterfront, such as The Loaded Hog, Quay Street, in the Viaduct Basin, with newly fashionable hangouts in Princes Wharf – refurbished in time for the 2000 Americas Cup – including the Belgian Café Hoegaarden and the decidedly un-Russian vodka bar, Lenin Bar. With the city’s British-influenced past, it is not surprising that there are numerous British-style bars in Auckland, the biggest being the Civic Tavern, 1 Wellesley Street West. This has an Irish bar, Murphy’s, and an English bar, the London Bar, both situated downstairs, with live music and a bistro restaurant. The Immigrant, 104 Fanshawe Street, is an out-and-out Irish pub, with live music at weekends, The Rose and Crown, 69 Customs Street, is an English bar with music, open from Wednesday to Saturday, while the Kiwi Tavern, 3 Britomart Place, is a pool bar with drink specials. The Shakespeare Tavern, 61 Albert Street, is a micro-brewery producing its own beer, while the Tabac, 6 Mills Lane, is renowned for its comfortable velvet room and for being part-owned by ex Crowded House singer Neil Finn. Casinos: Sky City Casino (tel: (09) 912 6000), in the Skytower, on the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets, is a gambling haven and an entertainment complex that includes a theatre, restaurant, bars and a hotel, as well as the casino itself. There is a minimum age of 20 years for entering the casino, although a passport is not required. Dress code is smart-casual and no T shirts, jeans or sandals are allowed. Clubs: The Club, 371 Queen Street, is a good place to start, with DJs from 2200 on Friday and Saturday. At the harbour, The Loaded Hog, Quay Street, in the Viaduct Basin, has long been a favoured hangout for yachties and yuppies alike. The younger and wilder crowd go to Calibre, St Kevin’s Arcade, 179 Karangahape (K) Road, but not before 2300, Thursday to Saturday, as it is open until 0800. Alternatives include Galatos, 17 Galatos Street, a mellow lounge bar with DJ-led dancing, Java Jive, 12 Pompallier Terrace, a basement bar full of live acoustic, jazz and blues music, Khuja Lounge, 536 Queen Street, a music lovers bar for the mellower older crowd and The Power Station, 33 Mount Eden Road, the most happening of the rock and rap dance venues. Comedy: Classic, 31 Queen Street, is a well-known comedy venue that showcases local talent as well as up and coming international acts. Live Music: There is plenty of choice at the weekends, mostly in the Downtown areas, along Karangahape (K) Road and in Ponsonby. Try The Temple, 486 Queen Street, which has music every night after 1700, Deschlers, 17 High Street, for live jazz Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, or Papa Jack’s Voodoo Lounge, 9 Vulcan Street, which has live touring bands and DJs. If folk music appeals, each Monday there are live acts at 2000 at the Devonport Folk Music Club, which meets in The Bunker, Mt Victoria, Devonport. |
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