The Northern Tavern has been part of Invercargill's story since 1956, sitting on the corner of Sydney and St Andrew Streets and growing into a favourite local meeting place. Today it positions itself as the city's ultimate sports bar, known locally for its "Best Country Pub in Town" vibe, with live sports shown on multiple screens covering rugby, racing and international matches, alongside self-service TAB pods and gaming machines.
The tavern serves great food seven days a week through a versatile menu that includes a Bar Menu of classic pub fare, a Snack Menu built for sharing (including chips and platters), a dedicated Kids Menu, and a Gold Card Menu offering great value for senior locals. For a full dining experience, guests can step next door to The Saucy Chef for expertly curated dishes.
Practical touches round out the offering: a free courtesy coach service and ample on-site parking make getting there easy, and the on-site Bottle Store at the corner of Sydney and St Andrew Street stocks beers, wines and spirits daily. Catering options are also available on enquiry for functions.
The Northern Tavern has been part of Invercargill's story since 1956, growing from a neighbourhood local into what it now calls the city's ultimate sports bar. Sitting on the corner of Sydney and St Andrew Streets, it has earned a reputation locals sum up simply as the "Best Country Pub in Town."
The tavern's identity centres on live sport. Multiple screens carry rugby, racing, and the latest international showdowns, giving fans a place to catch every moment of the game in an atmosphere the tavern describes as unbeatable. For those who like to add a bit more excitement, self-service TAB pods make it easy to have a punt, while the on-site gaming machines offer another way to test your luck — all delivered with the friendly, convenient service the Northern is known for.
Seven days a week, the Northern serves great value, crowd-pleasing food built for every appetite. The Bar Menu covers classic pub fare, while the Snack Menu — including chips and platters — is designed for sharing with mates over a drink. Families are catered for with a dedicated Kids Menu, and senior locals get their own Gold Card Menu, offering great value specifically for that crowd. For anyone after a more polished sit-down meal, The Saucy Chef sits right next door, serving expertly curated dishes crafted to delight every palate.
Attached to the tavern, the Northern Tavern Bottle Store covers all the usual favourites — beers, wines and spirits — with friendly service and handy parking making it easy to swing by and stock up, or ask the team for a new recommendation. The bottle store sits at the same corner of Sydney and St Andrew Street as the tavern itself, open daily from 11am until late.
The Northern makes a point of removing the usual friction around a night out. A free courtesy coach service and ample on-site parking mean guests can relax and enjoy their time at the tavern without worrying about how they'll get home or where they'll park — a detail that matters as much on a big game night as it does for a quiet midweek drink.
Beyond the everyday sports bar crowd, the Northern also caters to private functions, with catering options available on enquiry. Whether it's a birthday, a work do, or a bigger gathering, the tavern positions itself as a flexible local venue that can scale up for the occasion.
The Northern Tavern is open Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11am through to 1am, giving both a reliable weekday local and a proper weekend destination. Nearly seventy years into its history, it remains what it set out to be: a welcoming meeting place with a loyal crowd of locals and sports fans, delivering an experience that's distinctly Invercargill.