Here are the nominees for Best Late-Night Venue

For drinks after work, anywhere with a liquor licence will do But then there’s Drinks Late At Night (with capitals), which is a whole ‘nother thing. Late-night venues are where you go when you’re hoping for mischief and merriment, when you want to keep drinking to avoid the hangover, or if you’re just having too much fun to stop. If the staff at these venues could talk, what stories they could tell!

Hawthorn Lounge (82 Tory St)

When it’s cold outside late at night, there’s a roaring fire going that you can toast marshmallows over, and if it’s raining, they can get you out of your wet clothes and into a dry Martini. Hawthorn stays open late, and is deliciously intimate. If you’re worried about the size of your bill when you eventually leave, we recommend having another drink before you ask for it, so you won’t be so worried.

Mighty Mighty (Cuba St)

As well as being a great place to see all sorts of live music, Mighty Mighty brings it with a delicious cocktail menu, toasted sandwiches and cool decor. And the women’s toilets have the best graffiti.

Matterhorn (Cuba St)

It has timeless decor, a wine list that rivals War and Peace, and a choice of sub areas so that whether you like it relaxed and seated, standing and crowded or cold and smoky, there’s a place for you. Its public exposure has attracted a slightly more respectable crowd, making it less attractive to hard-core hipsters than it used to be, but we’ve just got three words for you: Mega Mai Tai.

SFBH (Cuba St)

Any place with a 6am license – if they choose to use it – is okay by us. Especially if there’s always great music (usually of a rocky nature), friendly staff, a big balcony for smokers and air, and hawt indie kids to perve on. It is very rare to not end up talking to strangers after a gig at the Bathhouse, and we really like that in a bar.

Blue Note (also on Cuba St)
Yes, we are serious. If you’re talking later than late, like “If we don’t leave the bar now, we’ll miss breakfast” late, then you can’t ignore the scunginess that is Blue Note. The floor might be tackier than their karaoke selection, and their drink selection will not appeal to connoisseurs, but the crowd can be at least as diverse and entertaining as any indie club.