5 Best Bars in Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island, New Zealand

Overlooking The Octagon, this high-ceilinged, upstairs wine bar and restaurant in 1880s surroundings is as elegant as the wines on offer. An accompanying fine-dining menu showcases New Zealand beef and lamb.

The Irish term for fun and banter certainly applies to this cozy tavern, which hosts live music and serves good pub grub and an excellent choice of beer, whisky, wine, and cocktails. Its menu emphasizes seafood and wild game, with a few Irish favorites.

Decor featuring steel and concrete gives this modern space with lots of natural light a semi-industrial look, and every table comes with a view of the iconic Dunedin Railway Station building just across the road. You can enjoy market-fresh light fare by day and a lively cocktail scene come sunset. Its brunch is also very popular.

Possibly the snuggest bar in Dunedin rose to notoriety as the hangout of choice for Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin (the latter of the band Coldplay) during the Dunedin shoot of the 2003 film Sylvia. Leather chairs, an open fire, and a good selection of whisky and cigars add to the lounge atmosphere. The wine list is good as well, if pricey, and there's live music some nights. 

A prime spot at the heart of the university campus ensures a predominantly student clientele at this bar, though everyone is welcome. Nights are split between local or national (or even international) live rock acts and DJ-driven nights of 1980s hits, hip-hop, house, and drum 'n' bass music.