Mystery bar number 23

File under: drink, nightlife, Wellington

Last week's Mystery Bar proved harder than I thought, since it's a very established and visible bar, but I guess that a lot of people (like me) don't actually go inside very often. Either that, or you can blame my crummy photos. Hadyn was right: it's Mini Bar. He's also bang on with his description of it being "always filled with real estate agents and subaru drivers", and Kate would probably agree that it's cougar central. It's part of a crypto-chain that includes Jet and GoGo, and perhaps it was this anonymity that made it so hard to pick.

This week's mystery bar is a little more refined, though it can also get quite noisy, especially when there's a band playing. This is despite (or perhaps because of) a target demographic that is distinctly older than that of most bars in town. The decor is an intriguing mix of Art Nouveau (lots of organic swirls) and Kiwiana (woven flax and paua set into the bar), and while it aims to imitate some international historic models, it has a style all its own.

It serves food as well as drink, including main meals, but with a definite focus on snacks and finger food. There are some interesting views from here, and while parts of the bar make the most of the outlook, other sections are much more internally focussed. The mood can change quite markedly during the day, being quiet and relaxed when there's some sun to enjoy, but definitely ramping up in the evenings, and there are many nights when it's impossible to get a seat.