Top 5 Best Bars & Pubs In Gisborne
- May 19
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 13
Gisborne nightlife does not try too hard.
That is part of its charm.
This is not a city built around velvet ropes, rooftop exclusivity, or people pretending to have a better night than they are actually having. Gisborne’s best bars and pubs feel grounded in the city itself: relaxed, social, slightly unpredictable, and closely tied to the slower Gisborne rhythm.
Good drinks matter here.
But atmosphere matters more.
The best places are the ones where conversations stretch longer than planned, live music unexpectedly turns into the highlight of the night, and locals quietly settle into their regular corner without needing the venue to announce how “authentic” it is.
Here are some of the best bars and pubs in Gisborne.
Smash Palace Bar
Location: 24 Banks Street, Awapuni, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 021 128 7689
Website: www.smashpalacebar.com
Hours: Mon Closed
Tue 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Wed 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Thu 4:00pm - 11:00pm
Fri 4:00pm -11:30pm
Sat 3:00pm - 1:00am
Sun 4:00pm - 8:00pm
If Gisborne has one truly iconic bar, this is probably it.
Part live music venue, part community gathering place, part organised chaos, Smash Palace feels completely unlike a polished modern hospitality venue. And that is exactly why people love it.
Built around an old aircraft fuselage and filled with eclectic decor, the place feels creative, rough-edged, welcoming, and deeply local all at once. There is live music, pub choir nights, touring bands, outdoor seating, strong drinks, and the kind of atmosphere where strangers naturally end up talking to each other.
Smash Palace feels less like a business and more like part of Gisborne culture itself.
Best For
Live music
Alternative atmosphere
Craft beer & casual nights
Meeting locals
Sunshine Brewing
Location: 49 Awapuni Road, Awapuni, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 06 867 7777
Website: www.sunshinebrewing.co.nz/taproom/
Hours: Mon - Sat 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Sun 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Sunshine Brewing's Taproom is not simply somewhere to drink craft beer.
It is one of those places that feels inseparable from Gisborne itself.
Brewing locally since 1989, Sunshine has built its identity around the things Gisborne tends to take seriously:
Sun.
Surf.
Mates.
And beer that actually tastes like somebody cared while making it.
The taproom sits between the city centre and Waikanae Beach, with more than 20 Sunshine beers available on tap.
Visitors can settle in with a fresh pint, look through to the working brewery, or ask the staff enough questions about beer before the conversation inevitably drifts toward the surf conditions.
The atmosphere is casual and unmistakably local.
There is no attempt to turn beer into a formal ceremony.
You choose something from the board, order a pizza or bar snack, find a table, and begin making increasingly confident statements about hops.
Long-standing Gisborne favourites such as Gisborne Gold sit alongside pilsners, pale ales, hazy IPAs, darker beers and more adventurous seasonal releases. Tasting boards are available for people who want to explore the range without committing their entire afternoon to one decision.
Sunshine Brewing works particularly well after the beach, during a slow afternoon with friends, or whenever drinking beer produced only metres from your table feels like the sensible thing to do.
It is relaxed.
Unpolished in the right ways.
And very Gisborne.
Best For
Locally brewed craft beer
Tasting boards
Pizza and pints
Casual afternoons with friends
Genuine Gisborne brewery atmosphere
Wharf Bar & Grill
Location: 60 The Esplanade, Inner Kaiti, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 06 281 0035
Website/Menu: www.wharfbar.co.nz
Hours: Mon Closed
Tue 11 am–8 pm
Wed 10 am–8 pm
Thu - Fri 11 am–8 pm
Sat 10 am–8 pm
Sun 10 am–4 pm
The location alone makes Wharf Bar one of Gisborne’s great casual drinking spots.
Overlooking the inner harbour, the venue combines waterfront views with a relaxed social atmosphere that works equally well for afternoon drinks or longer evenings.
The harbour setting gives the place movement and energy without feeling hectic. Fishing boats, changing light, and warm summer evenings create the kind of setting that naturally encourages people to stay for “one more drink”.
It feels very Gisborne:
casual, scenic, and unforced.
Best For
Harbour views
Sunset drinks
Groups
Relaxed waterfront atmosphere
The Tav
Location: 6 Ruru Avenue, Lytton West, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 06 867 6867
Website/Menu: www.tavgisborne.nz
Hours: Mon - Wed 11:30am - 8:00pm
Thu 11:30am - 10:00pm
Fri - Sat 11:30am - 11:00pm
Sun 11:30am - 8:00pm
The Tav delivers what a good neighbourhood pub is supposed to deliver.
Cold drinks.
Solid food.
Friendly atmosphere.
No unnecessary complications.
This is one of the more traditional pub experiences in Gisborne and remains consistently popular with locals. The atmosphere feels approachable and community-oriented, particularly during sport weekends or casual group dinners.
It is not trying to reinvent hospitality.
It is simply trying to be a good pub.
And it succeeds.
Best For
Traditional pub atmosphere
Sports nights
Casual dinners
Reliable local energy
The Works
Location: 41 Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne 4010
Phone: 06 868 9699
Website/Menu: www.theworksgisborne.co.nz
Hours: Mon - Fri 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Sat 10:00am - 8:00pm
Sun 10:00am - 3:00pm
The Works sits somewhere between restaurant, waterfront social venue, and relaxed bar scene.
Positioned near the water, the venue has become one of Gisborne’s more dependable social spaces, particularly during warmer months when the outdoor atmosphere really comes alive.
The drinks list is strong, the setting works beautifully for groups, and the location captures part of what makes Gisborne hospitality enjoyable:
space, light, and an absence of unnecessary pressure.
It feels lively without becoming overwhelming.
Best For
Waterfront drinks
Social groups
Summer evenings
Casual cocktails & food
Other Gisborne Bars Worth Mentioning
Gisborne’s hospitality scene is small enough that people often drift between venues depending on mood, live music, weather, and who happens to be out that night.
Other well-known local spots include:
Roseland Tavern
Each brings a slightly different version of Gisborne nightlife culture.
Why Gisborne Nights Feel Different
Part of what makes going out in Gisborne enjoyable is that the city still feels socially connected.
You run into people unexpectedly.
Venues feel local rather than corporate.
Live music still matters.
And nights out tend to evolve naturally rather than following rigid plans.
There is also less pressure here.
People are generally more interested in enjoying themselves than performing nightlife for social media.
That difference changes the atmosphere completely.
Local Tips
Summer evenings are when Gisborne nightlife feels at its best.
Live music is a major part of local bar culture, especially at Smash Palace.
Waterfront venues become especially popular around sunset.
Gisborne’s nightlife scene is relatively compact, making it easy to move between venues.
Weekends can become surprisingly lively, particularly during surf events, festivals, and holiday periods.
