Come to Wellington for the Best Bar in New Zealand
23 July 2007
Inside the Matterhorn
It’s confirmed, Wellington is home to the best bar in the country. Iconic establishment Matterhorn won the title of Bar of the Year at the New Zealand Bartender Magazine Bar Awards, for the second year in a row. It was joined by a host of other Wellington bars, all receiving prestigious accolades.
Matterhorn is a top Wellington restaurant and bar, known around the world for its great food, drinks and service. It also took the prize for Best Drinks Selection at the awards, for the second consecutive year.
“We are very grateful and humbled in fact to be chosen again,” says Sam Chapman, co-owner of Matterhorn. “It was a really nice surprise. We're thrilled, and honoured and even more delighted than we were last year, and it’s fantastic for Wellington. The awards are a validation of everything I feel about this great city.”
Newcomer to the Wellington scene, Hawthorn Lounge, has quickly made its presence known. It won both the New Bar of the Year and Cocktail List of the Year awards. Sandwiches won Best Music Offering, while Vivo Enoteca Cucina won Wine Bar of the Year.
“The Sandwiches experience is cutting edge, forward thinking music,” says co-director Bryce Mason. “The success at the Bar Awards is a reflection of the world class music that we carefully select and showcase and also of the Wellington market.”
Wellington is no stranger to praise for its restaurants, bars and nightclubs. They play a large role in the city’s appeal as a destination for domestic and international visitors.
“Wellington is a vibrant destination that offers a great experience for visitors,” says Tim Cossar, CEO of Positively Wellington Tourism. “It’s the place to go for amazing arts and culture experiences and a diverse array of events. The food and beverage offer here is world class, and we constantly receive glowing feedback about it from visiting trade and media.”
“Congratulations to those bars that have received such prestigious accolades at the recent New Zealand Bartender Magazine Bar Awards. We’ve always known that Wellington excels in this area, and now we’ve got the awards to prove it.”
The second annual New Zealand Bartender Magazine Bar Awards took place in Auckland on Tuesday 17 July.
Fast Fact:
- Wellington’s food and beverage sector contributes approximately $600 million to the city each year. This includes restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, takeaway food outlets and liquor stores in the Wellington city area.
