Mystery bar number 11

File under: drink, nightlife, Wellington

It took you a surprisingly long time to recognise the previous mystery bar as the Southern Cross, which has recently emerged from hefty renovations as a much smarter and no doubt much less rowdy place. I had presumed that there must be a few recent ex-students reading this, so the old Zebo's should have been familiar, but I guess few of you have gone back recently enough to recognise the tarted up version. Anyway, time for a bar that hasn't seen any renovations for quite some time.

This week's mystery bar is so old school that it almost resembles the headmaster's office at my old school. The wood panelled walls and brown leather sofas give it a dark, cosy feeling which is let down only slightly by a few decidedly 80s tub chairs. Among the celebrity signatures framed on the walls are those of Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, and you wouldn't be surprised to see them pop up in the corner to belt out a rendition of "Lush Life".

Though I'm sure that the bar staff are more than capable of crafting a damned fine martini, this is not a cocktail bar, but instead specialises in wine, aperitifs and spirits. Their cognac collection is particularly impressive, including Remy Martin Louis XIII by the glass (I must remember to pop by next time I have a spare $250).

The clientele is therefore, as you might expect, largely of a mature and moneyed persuasion. While I doubt it often has the need to enforce a dress code, I actually saw one impressively-moustachioed gentleman resplendent in a double-breasted gold-buttoned navy blazer and striped shirt with white collar. Enough to make one think that one is back in the City, what what? It would make the perfect starting place for a Chaps' Night Out.