The 5 Best Petone Bars in NZ for More Than Just Beer
David Sims
| Last Updated: November 2025 Bar hopping always looks like a blast in movies, but in real life, it’s often more hassle than fun.
My friend’s bachelor night a few months ago is proof—we spent 45 minutes at one bar just waiting for an IPA that tasted like dishwater. At another spot, the only thing resembling ambiance was a sad, flickering neon sign.
Finding a bar that’s actually worth hanging out at is harder than it should be. So when I started planning for my birthday, I decided not to leave it to chance.
I checked out the bars in Petone myself. And after countless nights of tasting, testing, and wandering, here are the ones that stood out!
How much does it cost to get a drink at a bar in Petone, NZ?
1. Sprig + Fern Petone
Address: 146 Jackson Street
Contact Details: +6445660649
Operating Hours:
- Monday – 2 PM to 10 PM
- Tuesday, Sunday – 12 PM to 10 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday – 12 PM to 11 PM
Sprig + Fern Petone stands out immediately for its blend of craft beer culture and heritage. It’s housed in a converted 19th-century hardware store. The exposed brickwork and original sarking around the fireplace give it a lived-in, cozy vibe.
But the real draw here is the beer. Sprig + Fern features 20 rotating taps, offering crisp pilsners, bold lagers, and seasonal brews.
The Local Pinner NZ Pilsner (5%) was my favorite—clean and grassy, with a subtle citrus zing that cut through the richness of the food.
Speaking of food, the spicy beef croquettes are a must. The golden, crunchy shells gave way to tender, cumin-spiced beef. They’re paired with a punchy habanero mustard that lingered just long enough to make me reach for another sip of beer.
Others like the Three Little Pigs pizza because of the smoky pulled pork and bourbon bacon jam.
The service here isn’t bad either. The bartender walked one customer through their brews, explaining the different taste notes and even offering tasters.
My only gripe? Service slows to a crawl during Friday’s DJ night—flagging down a server feels like competing in their Tuesday quiz night.
Amazing food and music
“Sprig and Fern is the best spot for a brew in Petone. A magic range of craft beer on tap, amazing food, and music. Once a month they have a Vinyl club session where some local cats bring down some wax to spin. Always an amazing afternoon.”
– Ant Hony, Google Reviews
Great selection of beers
“A little haven on the main street. Beer garden tucked in the back. Great selection of beers.”
– Darren Craig, Google Reviews
2. Speights Ale House Petone
Address: 75/81 Jackson Street
Contact Details: +64 4 586 6266
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 3 PM to 12 AM
- Thursday to Sunday – 12 PM to 12 AM
Speight’s Ale House Petone is a beer lover’s sanctuary, blending decades of brewing heritage with fresh collaborations.
The star here is the rotating tap list: the Hazy Pale Ale (4.5%) bursts with juicy mango and grapefruit notes. Meanwhile, the 5 Malt Old Dark (4%) delivers a roasty, almost coffee-like depth that’s perfect for sipping by the fireplace.
The food leans into hearty bar fare. Their jalapeño cheese balls are addictive—crunchy on the outside, with molten cheddar spiked by diced jalapeño inside. Everything is balanced by a garlicky aioli.
The edamame dip (served with crispy wonton chips) surprised me: creamy, bright with lemon zest, and flecked with chili flakes. Even the Ale House Loaf, slathered in basil pesto, is something I’d eat again.
The downside? Service can be hit or miss. On a busy Friday, I waited 15 minutes for a beer refill while two servers chatted at the bar, ignoring empty glasses all around.
And parking is a pain—grab a spot early because I had to circle the block.
Can’t recommend this restaurant and bar enough
“My whanau and I had a holiday in wellington, our first night we came here for dinner. Amazing kai, staff were so friendly an helpful. Can’t recommend this restaurant and bar enough.”
– T. Johanna R, Google Reviews
Welcoming atmosphere
“I recently held my 70th birthday function upstairs in the private bar area at Speights Ale House. What a great night – thanks to Simon, Justin and the team. It couldn’t have been better – the help they gave when planning it was much appreciated, and the catering, bar service and helpful staff could not have been better, as were the welcoming atmosphere and all facilities provided on the night. Faultless! My wife and I went for dinner there the following week and had possibly then best T-bone steak I’ve ever had!. Well done and thanks agianguys.”
– John H, Google Reviews
3. Martini on Jackson Bar & Restaurant
Address: 181 Jackson Street
Contact Details: +6442601200
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12 PM to 9:30 PM
- Friday – 12 PM to 11:30 PM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 11:30 PM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 9:30 PM
Martini on Jackson ditches the rowdy bar scene for a personalized, almost familial vibe. It’s a spot where the staff remembers local customers’ names and favorite drinks.
One regular shared with me that they appreciate the bartender starting to craft their usual drink before they even sit down.
The martinis are the main event, though. The spiced apple martini is like crisp autumn with its Crystal Head vodka mingling with the sweetness of apple and a subtle agave warmth.
But the martini Lamington was my top pick. The Grey Goose vodka, Malibu, coconut, and raspberry combine for a dessert-like indulgence.
Another customer liked the refreshing cucumber & elderflower martini. The Scapegrace gin plays beautifully with the floral elderflower liqueur for that refreshing lime zing.
The bar food complements the drinks perfectly. The popcorn chicken is dangerously addictive—crispy, bite-sized pieces of fried chicken with a spicy mayo dip that balances heat and creaminess.
And the beer-battered fish & chips? Golden, crispy fish, and a tangy tartare sauce that cuts through the richness.
The only minor downside? It can get crowded, especially on weekends.
Top notch cocktails
“Awesome place. Cocktails are amazing foods really good too! Came here for my birthday a while ago and enjoyed it so much sometimes it can be a bit quiet but I encourage more people to come out and give this place a try. Whenever me and the girlfriend want somewhere with top notch cocktails we come out here :)”
– Cade, Google Reviews
Feels like you’re dinning in 5 star restaurant
“Wow this place is next level❤️ went in for few drinks for our anniversary, amazed by starters, drinks and decided to have mains, it’s not a regular bar with fried food man, it feels like you’re dinning in 5 star restaurant. Will definetely back again😊”
– Bobby Dhaliwal, Google Reviews
4. Gear Street Union
Address: 18 Gear Street
Contact Details: +64 4 282 1733
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 12 AM
- Saturday – 9 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 10 PM
Gear Street Union has an eclectic, come-one-come-all vibe—a place that welcomes both cocktail aficionados and their canine companions. Pet owners love that they can bring their dogs along with them for the night out.
The cocktails are playful and inventive. The lemon cheesecake coupe is a boozy dessert in a glass. The limoncello, Frangelico, vanilla, and lemon blend into a creamy yet tangy concoction that tastes exactly like its namesake.
And I’d definitely order their taptails again. The Flor de Caña Extra Seco 4 rum and strawberry liqueur in the strawberry daiquiri was as sweet as its actual fruit, with a boozy kick.
On the other hand, the raspberry margarita was a tart, tequila-fueled refresher that went down a little way too easily.
The food is equally craveable. I ordered the American Muscle dirty bun. It’s a smashed beef patty, brisket, cheese, and pickles all vying for attention in a brioche bun.
The only quirk? The 3-4 pm snack menu restriction. During this time, customers can only order bar snacks and nothing from their actual menu.
Lovely bar
“We were at this lovely bar on Saturday evening with a group of 20 people They put us upstairs. They were amazing accommodating for us . Totally going back there. Just wanted to say thank you for making our stay so awesome ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
– Katrina Vis. Google Reviews
Had an awesome time here
“We had my husband’s 50th birthday here in the upstairs Mezzanine area. Our family and friends had an awesome time here celebrating in our own area. We could decorate and take our own speaker it was amazing. We ordered from the event platters which we loved and our guest were able to order drinks easily from the bar.
Thanks team for a great night”
– Gillies Whanau, Google Reviews
5. Horse & Hound Bar & Cafe
Address: 219 Jackson Street
Contact Details: +6445683740
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 3 AM
On Friday and Saturday, at Horse & Hound Bar, there is karaoke night. People can come and belt out classics. The DJs spin a mix of crowd-pleasers (from ‘80s rock to modern pop) while the staff keep the energy going with generous pours all night.
I had a decent night here thanks to their pool tables and gaming room. They have a few arcade games that bring back childhood gaming nostalgia.
Drink-wise, they have a great selection of draft beers and cocktails that pair well with the bar’s snacks. I tried a simple old-fashioned and appreciated the extra decorative orange slice and cherries.
The food menu, though, is a letdown. Most of what I tried was bland, but it’ll do if you’re starving. The fish and chips needed more crunch, and the fries were overly salty.
Cleanliness is another area where they could step it up—especially in the bathrooms. The smell of industrial cleaner was fighting a losing battle in there.
Lovely bartender
“First ever time here.
Had a leisurely jug of beer and coke & raspberry for the kids.
Lovely bartender said if need more raspberry to pop back up.
Better..she gave my boys a complimentry bag of chips to munch on later.
Great service..great prices..relaxed venue.”
– Felix wankel, Google Reviews
Great bar staff
“Interesting night playing poker today. Fun day monday but I busted out early. Great bar staff and a well organized and run poker game still made for an enjoyable time.”
– Ian Klein, Google Reviews
