The Wine Cellar

The wine cellar has two sides to it — music venue and bar. These are, logically enough, divided into two rooms. The music side has a really nice feel to it, very intimate and casual, like you’re sitting in on some friends jamming in their living room rather than a band performing on stage. The bar side is neat too, still very casual and boutique without being at all snooty. Wine Cellar has an association (business or family or both, I’m not sure) with the Purangi Winery in Coromandel, so they serve an interesting selection of liquors and wines from there. They also have their own ales on tap. Be warned though — of the two I’ve had I think one is quite nice and one is foul, and I can never remember which one is which.

Awesome cosy venue for a gig. I saw Tiny Ruins here and although I wasn’t in quick enough to get myself a seat on one of the couches, I love that they have them and that there’s still plenty of standing room as well. Very intimate music venue, cool character and just a neat space.
One downside is that if you haven’t been before and don’t know where you’re going, might be a little hard to find. Down some stairs and through a non-​descript side door you’ll find it. The bar area is separate to the couch-​filled room, which is nice in some ways but then of course if you’re all comfy in your arm chair and don’t want to lose your seat you’d better hope your friend doesn’t mind getting your drink for you!

I want to give The Wine Cellar a few props from the perspective of a door bitch at gigs. We are the bitches who take your money — we put silly insignias on your wrist and hand you cheap EPs.
Getting a gig together at The Wine Cellar is easy — the bar staff are really friendly people who don’t seem to mind when the door bitch once again forgets a pen. Rohan who runs the technical side of the shows clearly loves making people sound good and takes his work seriously enough to do an excellent job of it. It’s also massively cheap to rent the place — $ 100 for a PA and Rohan.

A great hang out for chill, eat nuts and waste your money on pin ball before or after a gig at Whammy bar. They obviously serve wine, the standards as well as a range of fruit liquors. Sit in the worn red leather booths and enjoy the company. Your bound to run into many an artist and musician in this hipster joint. If food doesn’t appeal here (really just nibbles) K rd above is packed with eateries, the closest being Sal’s pizza and the Hard Luck Café across the road.

Nestled to one side of the wide staircase which runs through St Kevin’s Arcade, the Wine Cellar offers little invitation, a small sign and an old door. The unassuming entrance, a comfortable accompaniment to the urban character of it’s Karangahape Road surroundings. Stepping around the usual sprawl of loitering teenagers in order to get to the entrance is all part of the K’ Road spirit, and once you do enter, you might be surprised by the Cellar’s low-​key sophistication. The dimly lit wood/​concrete décor lends a charming authenticity to the bar’s name, and there are a collection of booths, tables, and even a few large barrels to rest your drink on. Friendly patrons from all walks of life, the occasional wailing of a great (or not so great) indie music act, locally brewed beer and cider, and of course a whole lot of wine — the Wine Cellar is a great place to have a drink, an off-​beat and relaxed experience.

The Wine Cellar is a great place to go to meet up with friends on a weeknight and maybe catch some great live music. It is split into two rooms, with a nice little smoking area in between the two. The first room is where the bar itself resides, and has booths available and usually a DJ, or a staff member, playing tunes. The other room has a space for bands to play, with couches dotted around the room to relax in and watch the artists. The type of music here ranges from noise rock to acoustic songwriters — with everything in between, and quite a lot outside the spectrum as well. There has also been plays put on here, as well as dance troupes… the space offers itself as a very utilitarian setting. I enjoy getting a mulled wine and settling in here before heading out to see where the night can take me.