Bars

Revival Bar
94 Victoria Street
Sunday to Wednesday 11am – Midnight
Thursday to Saturday 11am – 3am

EDITOR'S PICK: Made from three shipping containers, recycled shopping trollies, suitcases and half a car, this bar is severely aesthetically pleasing. On a Saturday night expect a bit of a wait for your drinks – Revival is a popular place – though you could always order some eats from the Lebanese kebab stall on premise. Along with the so retro that it's out-tro (that's totes a word) décor, the electric range of old and new music and the hair salon attached so you can 'snip while you sip,' this is also a great place to find a dreamboat, take her home and do the 'Simba'.

The Volstead Trading Company
55 Riccarton Road, Riccarton
Tuesday to Friday 4pm – 11pm
Saturday to Sunday 2pm – 11pm

Who said terrace furniture, astro turf and velvet curtains didn't go together? This bar is your go-to for its cocktails and funky Wellington vibe, especially if you feel the need to wear reading glasses even though you have 20/20 vision. The Volstead is also close to campus. Though it closes at 11pm, it is a definite stop off on your merry way into a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night... or the perfect Sunday nightcap.

Joe's Garage
7 Leslie Street, Upper Riccarton
Monday to Sunday 7am til late

Joe's Garage has a winning combination of handsome and attentive wait staff (an incredibly rare pairing), extra-large cans of Double Brown and heated concrete benches outside for your arse. These are so comfortable you will probably need to fill out a tenancy agreement – the owners won't mind as they are frequently about and offer, just like their venue, great hospitality and chat.

The Dux Live
363 Lincoln Road, Addington
Monday to Friday 11.30am – 3am
Saturday to Sunday 4.30pm – 3am

The old Dux got drunk at a party, fooled around with a mechanic store in the upstairs toilet – 9 months later – The Dux Live was born! Though smaller than it's daddy, the Dux Live boasts an outside area and an impressive layout. They also still sell their golden standard bar snack: Buffalo chips wedges. Head there for good bands and a pumping atmosphere.

The Darkroom
336 Saint Asaph Street, CBD
Wednesday to Saturday 5PM - 1AM

LIVE MUSIC PICK: Not many know about this dim beautiful place, and it's a shame. Try the house beer that comes in unmarked bottles for only $4 - but good luck trying to get the bands behind the bar to confess the name. When it tastes that good, what does it matter anyway? The free gigs consistently feature crazy underground bands and an interesting audience. There is plush comfortable seating, the pizzas and cakes are amazing, and it shares space with a record store, which is often open during the gigs. Yay-uh.

Fox & Ferret
28 Rotherham Street, Riccarton
Monday to Sunday 11am ti late

So well-known it's hardly worth mentioning except to keep freshers in the loop, the Fox is your typical English pub. It's mostly frequented by the slightly more mature for post-work drinks or a meal, though students can still be found there as the evening draws on.

The Running Bull
1 Riccarton Road, Riccarton
Monday to Sunday 11am ti late

Commonly treated by students and those newly-turned 18 as a substitute for town, the Bull is packed out on Thursday nights. Being back on a crowded dance floor is nice, but beware the queue – that thing seems longer than an 8am lecture on a Friday if you don't get in early enough. As a plus, 3am munchies are easily satisfied at the 24/7 next door. Go if your modus operandi is getting laid.

Snafu Bar & Restaurant
7 Chalmers St, Hornby
Monday to Sunday 10am ti late

Formerly the team at the Hornby Tavern, this is a newly-renovated building with a crowd that's a little rougher around the edges. The people are friendly, the dance floor gets busy on the weekends and it's less pretentious than some of the classic student haunts.

Aikmans
154 Aikmans Rd, Merivale
Monday to Sunday 10am ti late

Aikmans has a genuinely classy atmosphere – not that you'd expect anything less in the center of Merivale. The different dining and bar areas suit whatever type of evening you're after, and the place has been known to fill up on nights out. Could be something to do with the fact that it's Richie McCaw's local.

Club 22
22 Harewood Road, Papanui
Thursday to Saturday 8pm – 2am

Another establishment trying to capitalize on the loss of town and create an uproar through sexist cover charges. This joint is sleazy enough to be something of a guilty pleasure, while the boys will enjoy the stripper poles and drunk girls who just want to dance.

Speights Ale House
55 Clarence Street, Tower Junction
Monday to Sunday 11am ti late

Good food, if a bit pricey. Excellent spot to sit in the sun for an afternoon with a few beers, particularly if you want a less studenty crowd.

The Cassels & Sons Brewery
3 Garlands Road, Woolston
Monda to Sunday 8AM – 3AM

If you have a sober driver, take the trip down to The Brewery for the pleasure of their beer – it's brewed on the premises in a wood-fired kettle, and tastes as good as you imagine. Plus the giant wooden tables outside ensure you make friends. The Free Theatre Christchurch group are currently using the space for their latest play – all the more reason to visit.