The Fiddler Irish Bar is a small — but, as the regulars will happily tell you, perfectly formed — Irish bar on Victoria Street West in the heart of Auckland's CBD. Proudly voted Auckland's top rated and most authentic Irish bar, it packs proper pints, smooth whiskey and a famously warm welcome into one cosy room, then keeps the doors open late, every day of the week.
The drinks list leans unapologetically Irish. Guinness is the house hero, poured properly and priced fairly — 'proper pints at a proper price' is the bar's own promise — while the backbar carries an all-Irish whiskey line-up including Jameson, Proper No. Twelve, Teeling Small Batch and Powers Gold. Whether you're after a pint of the black stuff or a smooth dram to make you feel like you're right in the green isle itself, you're covered.
Music is at the heart of The Fiddler's appeal. Every Friday and Saturday night, bands and solo artists from Aotearoa and around the globe take to the room, and the bar has built a name as one of the city's most happening spots for live music, dancing and late, late nights. Upstairs, things slow down a notch: a deck with views of the famous Sky Tower and a pool table offer a genuine break from the stress of reality.
It's the friendliest little bar in town — a perfect place to mingle after work, savour late at night, or celebrate those special occasions. Open 12pm to 4am, seven days, at 71 Victoria Street West. Call (09) 377-8135 or email [email protected].
On Victoria Street West, right in the heart of Auckland's CBD, The Fiddler Irish Bar does things the old-fashioned way. It's small, unpretentious and endlessly welcoming — a bar that describes itself, accurately, as small but perfectly formed. Proudly voted Auckland's top rated and most authentic Irish bar, The Fiddler has become the city's go-to spot for a properly poured pint, a smooth whiskey and a night that tends to run later than anyone planned. From after-work pints with colleagues to weekend sessions that end in dancing, it manages to be both the city's cosiest hideaway and one of its most happening bars.
The black stuff is the headline act here. The Fiddler pours Guinness with the reverence it deserves, and its promise of proper pints at a proper price is the whole philosophy in one line — no fuss, no gimmicks, just a well-poured stout in a room that feels lifted straight out of Ireland. Whether you're winding down after work, catching up with mates or settling in for a big one, the first order practically places itself. Of course they serve Guinness. It's what the place is for.
If stout isn't your style, the backbar answers with an all-Irish whiskey line-up. Jameson — a sponsor of the bar — is joined by Proper No. Twelve, Teeling Small Batch and Powers Gold, giving whiskey drinkers every reason to linger. As the Fiddler itself puts it, a smooth whiskey here can make you feel like you're right in the green isle itself. Whether you're a whiskey devotee or just whiskey-curious, there's a pour with your name on it. Order it neat, find a spot by the bar, and let the room do the rest.
Music is the beating heart of The Fiddler. Every Friday and Saturday night, bands and solo artists from Aotearoa and around the globe take to the room, filling the small space with big sound. It's this live-music pedigree — along with the dancing and the famously late nights — that has earned the bar its reputation as one of the city's most happening venues. If you like your gigs intimate and your sessions rowdy, this is the room for you.
Head upstairs and the pace changes. The deck is The Fiddler's secret weapon — a relaxing perch for a beverage with views of the famous Sky Tower, far enough above the CBD bustle to feel like a genuine escape. There's a pool table up here too, and the invitation is the bar's own: break away from the stress of reality with a frame or two among friends and colleagues.
Ask regulars what makes The Fiddler special and the answers circle back to the same things: the welcome, the pints, the music and the people. It's a bar built for mingling after work, savouring late at night and celebrating special occasions — the kind of place where first-timers become regulars and regulars become friends. It may be one of the smaller rooms in town, but it punches well above its weight, and it wouldn't have it any other way.
The Fiddler Irish Bar sits at 71 Victoria Street West, Auckland 1010, in the heart of the CBD, and opens every day of the week from 12pm until 4am — so whether it's an afternoon pint or a proper late night, the doors are open. Live music runs every Friday and Saturday; keep an eye on the bar's Eventfinda venue page, Facebook and Instagram to see who's on. To get in touch, call (09) 377-8135 or email [email protected]. Come and enjoy a pint of the black stuff — or a smooth whiskey to make you feel like you're in the green isle itself.