39 Abel Smith St,
Wellington Central
Wellington,
6011

04 3849085

add to my map

Suggest a meet-up at The Southern Cross to a Wellingtonian and you generally seem to illicit a smile. It has that hint of notoriety, and everyone seems to have some kind of story to tell about the place. It’s not entirely surprising, given that it’s been on the scene for over a century.

Arriving to check it out, I was a little thrown – from the front, it looks more restaurant than bar. In fact, the front part is just that – with a menu offering traditional fare from calamari to lamb racks, as well as their stonegrills (where you cook your food yourself on a slab of hot granite!). But I’m here to see how it holds up as a drinkery, and for that I find myself heading through the eating area to the rear rooms.

The place is large, and has undergone a recent revamp. It’s all nooks and crannies – booths, tables and corners, plus a nicely situated pool table. But what really sets it apart is the superb outside space. Armed with a pint of Monteith’s Golden, I hunkered down in this large Tiki Bar-esque barbecue/drinking garden and felt totally at home. I’ve heard that in summer it’s really fantastic, but even on the chilly autumn night I stopped by, the heaters and blankets provided made it cosy and fun.

Catering for the students in the adjoining apartment block, as well as the general populace, The Southern Cross features all sorts of events through the week – from a knitting circle on Mondays to a music quiz run by the staff of Real Groovy on Thursdays, plus DJs, live bands and massage sessions. This has to be Wellington’s most versatile bar. And while cocktails are not its speciality, there’s a good range of New Zealand wines ($7.50-$13 by the glass), and all the spirits and beers you could realistically hope for.

Trying to be all things to all men (and women) is not without its pitfalls, and The Southern Cross perhaps lacks its own distinctive vibe, but for medium to large groups of drinkers there are few places better set up, and with that excellent garden as well as a good program of events its popularity looks set to continue.