2 Best Bars in Wellington, Wellington and the Wairarapa

With a comfortable but buzzing atmosphere and excellent beer selection, Golding's is a great place to spend an hour or two. There is geeky and Kiwi memorabilia on every wall. It's especially nice for solo travelers, whether you want to mingle or sit quietly and read. There's no food menu, but you can get some of the best pizza in town delivered from the pizza parlor next door. The bar is part of Hannah's Laneway.

Find Havana's two iconic, colorful cottages just off Cuba Street, and walk down between them to two doors. The quieter cottage on the left is a brilliant tapas restaurant. On the right, there's a well-stocked bar extending the length of the wooden dance floor. This spot is regularly packed on nights when jazz, rhythm, and funk musicians come to visit. For quieter drinks, you can cozy into a nook of the sheltered street-styled courtyard.