Zoe RocheDid you know that dance music and DJ culture only started gaining popularity in New Zealand by the late 1990s? So, it’s amazing that the club scene in Auckland is as vibrant as it is today!
Auckland’s nightlife is filled with classic clubs with neon lights and great beats. But, the city also has more unique spots or underrated clubs.
From quirky music to great drinks, this list is your backstage pass to the city’s must go destinations after dark. Ready to lose yourself in the rhythm? Join us as we explore the best nightclubs in Auckland.
Archie Bros Cirque Electriq
Address: 309 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 801 3381
Hours:
- Open from Wednesday to Thursday and from Sunday to Monday from 10 am to 10 pm
- Open from Friday to Saturday from 10 am to 12 am
Archie Bros Cirque Electriq is mostly known as a family friendly arcade, but when day turns into night, the inside transforms into one of New Market’s most unique nighttime venues. The kid friendly decor serves as a circus themed club for adults to have fun.
The colorful floors act as dance floors for people to use in the rhythm of the beats they blast on the sound systems. All the games become ten times more fun with some booze in your system. Especially the dodge cars.
| Pro Tip: Unlike other entries on this list, Archie Bros Cirque Electriq is just as lively in the morning as it is at night. We suggest making a day of your night out by coming here early to enjoy the arcade, bowling, karaoke, laser tag, and virtual reality activities. |
AV Club
Address: 48 Customs Street East, Britomart, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 914 8431
Hours:
- Open on Wednesday from 10 pm to 4 am
- Open on Friday from 5 pm to 4 am
- Open on Saturday from 8 pm to 4 am
AV Club, hailed as the place to be for electronic music in the city, lives up to expectations with big name DJs playing every night that they’re open. The music combined with the great crowd always makes for an exciting and lively night out here.
The space is another plus with the interior being very spacious but decorated to the brim with bright neon lights and light fixtures. And if you’re keen on making a statement, grab one of their ‘Dance or Die’ tees as a souvenir.
| Pro Tip: If you’re going to the AV Club in Britomart via public transportation, then you can get off at Britomart Train Station which is just a 5 minute walk from the spot. If you’re driving, you can park at the Britomart Carpark which is 3 minutes away on foot. |
Bar 101
Address: 18 Elliott Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 7 839 1050
Hours: Open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 pm to 4 am
Bar 101 is branded as the city’s go to place for students (of the right age that is). A big part of the reason why are the super cheap drinks you can get here. Unlike other premier clubs in Auckland with huge price tags on bottles, the menu here is affordable.
They take this a step further by offering free entries to students every Wednesday and Friday night and cruisers for as low as $3.50.
On Saturdays, if you get there before midnight and present a student ID, you also get to go in for free. On these days, they offer $6 double drinks and 2 vodka redbull drinks for $13.
| Pro Tip: If student crowds aren’t really your thing then it might be best to visit the Bar 101 during exam season and avoid going there on the last days of the semester which is when the crowd really gets filled with students celebrating! |
Cassette 9
Address: 9 Vulcan Lane Cbd, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 366 0196
Hours:
- Open on Tuesday from 8 pm to 3 am
- Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8 pm to 4 am
Cassette 9 has been in the industry of nighttime fun for over 15 years, and the experience shows. Some of our best nights out were held here on the glow in the dark dance floors under the disco ball.
They host a wide array of artists to blast your ears with quality music. If you visit on Fridays, you’ll be treated to local indie artists’ more experimental tunes. On Saturdays, you can expect New Zealand big names to be leading the show.
You can pair the experience with their famous Teapot cocktails in amounts that are for sharing rather than glasses that get emptied right away!
| Pro Tip: The Cassette 9 family also hosts one of a kind events so be sure to stay tuned by following their social media pages. Some of the more well received ones are slam poetry performances, stand up comedy shows, and drag shows. |
Coops Corner Pub
Address: 204 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 377 1200
Hours:
- Open from Sunday to Monday from 12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Open from Tuesday to Wednesday from 12 pm to 10 pm
- Open on Thursday from 12 pm to 11 pm
- Open from Friday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 3 am
- Open on Sunday from 12 pm to 9:30 pm
Coops Corner Pub is one of our favorite spots for a night out in Auckland. The main attraction for us here is the extremely friendly crowd. We never have to worry about getting into trouble when we’re here.
The friendly atmosphere might be because everyone’s having a great time with the great music playing and the good drinks flowing. We especially enjoy Saturday nights when they have live band karaoke.
You can request songs and sing whatever you like with a live band backing you!
| Pro Tip: If you don’t have dinner plans yet, you can just skip going to another location and have dinner at Coops Corner Pub instead. They have pizza, burgers, pudding, fish and chips, dips, pasta, and even steak! |
EAST ST. HALL
Address: 5 East Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Hours:
- Open on Thursday from 6 pm to 12 am
- Open from Friday to Saturday from 6 pm to 2 am
EAST ST. HALL has one of the most unique locations among all the nightclubs in New Zealand. The space that holds it now used to be a community hall of a Samoan church.
But this place is far from being solemn.
From Friday to Saturday, the space transforms into one of the city’s most fun night time destinations. You can expect great music that pounds inside the acoustics of the hall.
Every month, they hold a hip hop night where they invite the industry’s best DJs and producers for an even more exciting night. To fuel up in between sets, you can savor a slice of pizza or sip one of their specialty cocktails.
| Pro Tip: For their pizzas, we highly recommend getting the Pork and Fennel Sausage one. It’s really filling and loaded with toppings to help you hold down your alcohol. Choose from their drinks list and explore the adventurous cocktails like the Love Lasso. |
Everybody’s
Address: 7 Fort Lane, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 390 4510
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Thursday from 4 pm to 7 pm
- Open from Friday to Sunday from from 11:30 am to 3 am
If you’re looking for a night out, but you want a dash of luxury and elegance mixed in, then there’s nowhere better to go in Auckland than Everybody’s on Fort Lane. This place is known for being one the most high end places to party.
This nightclub boasts some of the best house DJs and musicians in the country. You can revel in the opulence of the night which is as evident in the decor as in the crowd which is mostly business people, high executives, or models and artists.
They also feature a menu that matches the luxury with European dishes that look like they’re from fine dining restaurants.
| Pro Tip: If you don’t want to stand out in the crowd for all the wrong reasons, we highly suggest you bust out your best treasures from the closet. For inspo, check their Instagram page to get a feel of how the crowd there dresses. |
Family Bar and Club
Address: 270 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 309 0213
Hours: Open from Friday to Saturday from 10 pm to 4 am
On a completely different plane from the last entry on our list, the Family Bar and Club forgoes all of the excess fluff and just promises you a night of wild wild fun.
This place is known as an LGBTQ+ friendly institution which is exactly what the owner wanted for fellow members of his community. The atmosphere is fun, but also very friendly.
There are cage dancers and drag queens performing the whole night.
Their DJs are always updated on what’s on the Top 40 list, so you can always expect relevant music to dance to.
| Pro Tip: Each Friday and Saturday night follows a theme that party goers follow to a tee, so make sure you stay updated. There are also 2 dance floors to choose from with their own music. So if you don’t vibe with one, you can always just try the other. |
Impala
Address: 7 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 373 2495
Hours: Open on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 pm to 4 am
Impala is the place to be if you’re looking for the textbook nightclub experience with all the fix-ins. The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the elevated DJ booth that already brings an air of excitement.
Every guest here is treated to some quality music from state of the art sound systems. Not to mention the well-stocked bar that features an extensive collection of wines for those who want to keep it classes, as well as classic cocktails and craft beer.
| Pro Tip: 2 VIP lounges are located on the left and right side of the booth, and if you’re celebrating a special event or just have some dollars to spend, then we highly suggest booking them. Being so close to the DJ with your own space is a great experience. |
Neck Of The Woods
Address: 155B Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 320 5221
Hours: Open from Friday to Saturday from 10 pm to 4 am
Neck Of The Woods, located on Karangahape Road effortlessly blends cool vibes with a commitment to inclusivity. More than just a party venue, it’s a n avid supporter of local musicians and artists, lots of whom get their start in this Auckland nightlife spot.
This means that the music here is almost always live and dance-worthy. The genres you can expect here vary from club classics like hip hop and electronic music to indie and house music.
| Pro Tip: When the night gets a little too intense for your liking, you’ll be glad to know that they have an upstairs area where you can chill out and recuperate. |
Ponsonby Social Club
Address: 152 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 361 2320
Hours:
- Open on Tuesday and Sunday from 5 pm to 2 am
- Open from Thursday to Friday from 5 pm to 3 am
If you feel like nightclubs can get a bit stuffy and cramped as the night passes, then the Ponsonby Social Club might be your best bet for your next adventure. This place has all the good things you expect from a nightclub from good music to good drinks.
What sets it apart is their enchanting courtyard all decorated and lit up by fairy string and strobe lights.
Partying here always starts out like a warm community lawn party that morphs into a great club experience with the DJs blasting music and drinks being served.
| Pro Tip: Going there on a Saturday or a Sunday guarantees you DJ spinning tracks, but if you want to explore other music, go on a weekday and check their schedules for live music. |
Sapphire Nightclub
Address: 1 Fort Lane, CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Hours: Open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 pm to 4 am
The Sapphire Nightclub is the place to be for hip hop lovers. Every night that they’re open, people stop by for a visit especially for the big name DJs performing for the crowds.
Another selling point of the Sapphire Nightclub is their cocktail selection that is made up of some of the most inventive drinks we’ve tried. Just try to get there early to avoid the long lines that tend to build up for the bar as the night gets later.
| Pro Tip: You can go to a VIP booth for an elevated experience or save some cash by following their social media pages. They often announce themed nights with selected nights offering free entry. |
The Lula Inn
Address: 149 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 365 2690
Hours:
- Open from Monday to Tuesday from 12 pm to 9 pm
- Open on Wednesday from 12 pm to 10 pm
- Open on Thursday from 12 pm to 11 pm
- Open on Friday from 12 pm to 2 am
- Open on Saturday from 10 am to 2 am
- Open on Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm
At The Lula Inn in Auckland Viaduct, cocktails and live music intertwine to create an unbeatable combination.
You can choose to go on a fun musical journey with Jukebox Thursdays, revel in the energetic swing music every Sunday, or indulge in disco and rock music on Saturdays.
The variety in music makes sure you’ll find something you like, but what they all have in common are the quality drinks you can enjoy at The Lula Inn from mocktails to high quality cocktails.
| Pro Tip: The dance floor of The Lula Inn is located outdoors, so if you’re planning to bust a move, we suggest going in some cool and comfy clothes to avoid sweating too much. |
The Roxy
– Media Credit: cypris.afakasi
Address: 7 Fort Lane, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 390 4510
Hours: Open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 pm to 4 am
Just next to Everybody’s, The Roxy on Fort Lane offers just as much of a fun time as its neighbors. For over 12 years, the team behind this nightclub has been giving all visitors a grand time within its walls that used to be a movie theater 100 years ago.
From the infamous neon sign out front to the amazing line of DJs, you cannot spend a night here and not have fun. The interior is rustic and it creates a zero inhibition atmosphere that’s perfect if you just want to let loose.
| Pro Tip: This is one of the most popular nightclubs in Auckland, so if you don’t want to wait in line too long, then we suggest arriving by 9 pm. |
Whammy Bar
Address: 183 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone Number: +64 9 377 3004
Hours: Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8:30 pm to 4 am
Descending the stairs to the basement that holds Whammy Bar is always a recipe for some unexpected fun and unique music. With a smaller capacity than most entries on this list, you get a more intimate venue.
The music here ranges from indie, folk, heavy metal, experimental, psych, hardcore, no wave, and jazz. But they also have regular club music for some head banging fun!
When you step in, you might be surprised to see that you don’t understand a word of the bar signs. Don’t worry, you aren’t drunk yet, the signs are just in Tolkien to add even more quirkiness to the experience.
| Pro Tip: If you guess some of the bar signs right, the bartenders can sometimes offer you a free drink! |
