Queenstown’s Must-visit Bars
Queenstown is not only the “Adventure Capital of the World” but it seems to be competing for party capital too. The town centre is pretty much made up of bars so if you haven’t got time to check them all out, we have whittled it down to our favourite five! Here it is, some awesome bars in Queenstown!
Remember, New Zealand is very strict on only serving alcohol to those with valid ID. Check out What ID is Valid for Buying Alcohol in New Zealand? to find out more.
Want more about Queenstown’s bars and clubs? Check out places to dance in Queenstown and places for a quiet pint. Plus, don’t forget to book a place to stay from The 50 Best Accommodations in Queenstown.
1. Cowboys
This themed bar is home to a bucking bronco, huge stuffed animals, table games, saddle bar stools, and litre handles of beer! Cowboys is usually pretty busy so don’t be shocked if you have to queue to get in, especially during the winter season.
Location: 7 Searle Lane
2. 1876
Favourable for its frequent drink offers, 1876 is a good place to start your night and hang out with friends. It’s also a good place to grab some cheap eats. Find out more in our Cheap Eats in Queenstown guide.
Location: 45 Ballarat Street
3. Winnies
In contrast to 1876, Winnies is a good place to end your night out in Queenstown. The place gets busy in the early hours of the morning when people just want to dance!
Location: 7-9 The Mall
4. Zephyr
Into your rock music? Zephyr is a small venue with big tunes. Live music is often played here too, which makes Zephyr an awesome place to discover some local music.
Location: Searle Lane
5. Searle Lane
Searle Lane is awesome because one night it could be a live band playing and another night could be a mad dance fest! A great place to party in Queenstown. Searle Lane is also one of our go-to bars for cheap eats! Find out more in Cheap Eats in Queenstown.
Location: 15 Church Street
More Great Things to Do in Queenstown
We know a thing or two about the adventure capital of the world. Check out these other articles:
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
About The Author
Laura S.
This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.