Top-Rated Bars in Auckland for Every Occasion

Auckland's bar culture is vibrant and suits both business functions and social events. Its bars are casual yet fashionable, boast built-in ambience, catering services, and great locations. You can pick from rooftop bars, laneway hideaways, and modern venues along waterways, which makes it simple to get a venue that suits any event size and look.

Types of Events You Can Host at Auckland Bars

Auckland bars offer versatile spaces ideal for various events, from corporate functions to casual gatherings.

Corporate Events

Bars are great places for after-work drinks, networking events, or client appreciation nights. Many have private or semi-private areas that work well for presentations or speeches before the socialising starts.

Milestone Celebrations

Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or retirement parties in a fun and lively place. You can customise bar venues with decorations, entertainment, and menus to fit your event.

Social Gatherings & Launches

Bars provide a relaxed yet stylish space for events like product launches, team celebrations, and social club reunions. This atmosphere helps people connect and have conversations.

Pre-Wedding Events

Bars are a popular choice for hen and buck parties, engagement celebrations, or even post-wedding catch-ups, offering flexibility, drink packages, and party-friendly menus.

What to Look for in a Bar Venue

Not all bars are created equal when it comes to hosting events. Here are the key factors to consider:

• Space & Layout: Does the venue offer a private area or full venue hire? Make sure the space accommodates your guest count comfortably, with enough room for both seating and socialising.
• Ambience: Consider the overall vibe—industrial, rooftop, waterfront, cosy pub, or luxe cocktail lounge. Choose a space that reflects your event tone.
• F&B Offering: Review their food and beverage packages. Look for menu flexibility, signature cocktails, and dietary accommodation (vegan, gluten-free, etc.).
• AV Capabilities: Need a microphone for speeches, a projector for presentations, or good music? Check what is included and ask about any noise rules.
• Accessibility & Parking: Find bars that are close to public transport and are accessible to guests with mobility needs. If parking is limited, make sure ride-share options are available.
• Minimum Spend or Venue Hire Terms: Look at the terms of the booking. Some places charge a bar tab, a minimum spend requirement, or a room hire fee. Pick a place within your budget that can accommodate the number of people.

Need more tips?Avoid These Common Mistakes When Planning an Event

Bar Tab vs Other Payment Options: Pros & Cons

When organising an event in Auckland's bars, one of the most important decisions is how to process food and beverage payments. Here is a summary overview of the most popular options:

Bar Tab

A bar tab is an amount of money that you pay in advance for drinks. Guests can use this tab until the money runs out. This system saves time and makes the experience easier while helping you keep track of spending. However, it can run out quickly if not monitored and may not cover premium options unless specified.

Drink Tickets

Drink tickets enable you to pre-allocate drinks per guest and are a good way to control cost without giving too much. Guests can redeem tickets at the bar, but might feel restricted once tickets are exhausted, and could involve some admin on the night.

Open Bar

An open bar provides drinks to all participants for a set time, providing a sense of enjoyment. It eliminates restrictions on beverages and increases the event experience. Nevertheless, it may cause expensive tickets and confusion regarding how much the guests will consume, which can significantly increase expenses.

Cash Bar

At a cash bar, patrons buy their own beverages. This keeps the expenses low for the host and makes budgeting easier. It can, however, be perceived as impersonal or surprising for some types of events, particularly personal celebrations or business events where hosting is anticipated.

Event Planning Help – Bar tab or Beverage package?

Plan Your Bar Event with VenueNow

VenueNow makes it easy to find and book the ideal bar venue in Auckland. With many options to choose from and filters by capacity, style, and amenities, we simplify the planning process. Our team can help you shortlist and book the perfect space, so start planning your Auckland bar event with VenueNow today!

How much do bars in Auckland cost for events?

Based on VenueNow's historic data, on average, Auckland bars cost between 65 to 95 NZD per person for functions. For example, an event for 100 people could cost between 0-0 NZD. Costs may differ based on your food and beverage requirements, AV requirements, event date and time and the type of venue you decide to book.

What should I consider when comparing Auckland bars for events?

There are a number of different factors you should consider when comparing Auckland bars for events. Firstly, you should review the standing and seated capacity of the venue to see if they can fit your attendees. Next you should review the costs associated with hiring the venue such as venue hire fees, food & drink packages, additional costs such as audio-visual equipment, and whether there is a minimum spend to hire the venue. Other important factors include the location, aesthetic, amenities and facilities of the venue to understand if the venue fits all of your requirements. A great way to do this is review the venue's listings on VenueNow and review their function packs attached to the page.

How do I find and book Auckland bars for events?

Finding and booking Auckland bars for events is easy with VenueNow. Simply follow these steps: (1) Enter your location, event type and number of people into VenueNow's search engine. (2) Narrow down your search results by adding filters such as your event date and time, preferred room layout and budget. (3) Once you've found some venues you're interested in, visit the venue listings and send your enquiry via VenueNow. The venue will receive your enquiry immediately and respond to you within 24 hours via email. We recommend contacting 3-5 different venues to ensure you get the best price. (4) Venues will respond with a quote via email based on your requirements, and may suggest alternate dates when they can host your event. (5) Once you're happy with the quote, you can confirm your booking with the venue, pay your deposit and start planning your event.

How far in advance should I book Auckland bars for events?

On average, VenueNow customers book a venue 90 days in advance of the event. In some cases you are able to find venues that are available at short notice, however, availability for your preferred date and time may be limited. For large corporate events or weddings, we recommend booking your venue at least 3-6 months in advance, to ensure plenty of venues are available and you can lock in the best price for your requirements. Larger events also typically require additional planning with your attendees as well as any suppliers that may be required for the event.

Can VenueNow help me find Auckland bars for an event?

We sure can! Not only can you find and book venues via on VenueNow yourself or using our Match AI feature, our team of Venue Booking Experts can help you find the perfect venue, collect quotes from multiple venues on your behalf, negotiate the best price with venues and book venues, all for free. Simply send us your event brief and our team will be in contact with venue recommendations within 24-48 hours.