Most drinking venues are to be found within the Four Avenues, with Colombo and Cashel streets harbouring a particularly dense concentration of watering holes. This is probably the best place to stroll at weekends, when a variety of establishments use loud music and late licences to pull in the crowds.

Pubs and bars

Azure , 128 Oxford Terrace. Live music bar with jazz or a solo pianist on selected evenings, and a DJ and lively atmosphere at weekends.

The Bog , 82 Cashel Mall. Rowdy Irish bar with draught stouts and bitters plus live music Wed-Sat evenings.

Brewers Arms , 177 Papanui Rd, Merivale. Northwest of the centre, this is a suburban pub with horse brasses, a range of beers, and English-style pub food in large portions at moderate prices. Open from 11am until late.

Coyote , 126 Oxford Terrace. The heart of "The Strip" which, around 10pm, becomes one of the main gathering places before a night's clubbing.

Dux de Lux , cnr Hereford St & Montreal St. Ever popular restaurant that doubles as a great bar with several award-winning beers bred on the premises. Live music Thurs-Sun and no cover charge.

Ferg's One Street Over , 165 Hereford St. A barn-like sports bar in the American tradition with big-screen TV, snacks, and a wide range of domestic and imported beers.

Fin Bar , Gloucester St. Traditional Irish pub with occasional live music.

Loaded Hog , cnr Manchester St & Cashel St. Comfortable but ever-busy city-centre boozer with ales brewed on the premises, and good bar meals in the $10-15 range served all day. DJs on hand Thurs-Sat.

Main Street Café & Bar , 840 Colombo St (tel 03/365 0421). Ever popular bar attached to the vegetarian café of the same name with a huge range of imported an local beers, and the most avant-garde (and least comfortable) bar stools in town.