Bar
Caretaker
Intimate basement cocktail bar off Roukai Lane in Britomart, inspired by the golden age of bartending and open until 3am every night.
Whammy Bar
Underground live music venue in St Kevin's Arcade on Karangahape Road, expanded in 2024 with the larger Double Whammy room and a community-minded public bar.
At a glance
- Type
- Live music bar
- Area
- Karangahape Road, Auckland, New Zealand
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Live bands
- Multiple rooms
- Bar
Why we recommend it
Whammy Bar is one of the cornerstones of Auckland's live music scene, an underground venue in St Kevin's Arcade off Karangahape Road. When a leading Auckland bartender was asked in 2026 where to see live bands in the city, Whammy was one of the first names he gave, and it has a long record of hosting local and international acts.
The venue grew out of the arcade's music history. Rohan Evans opened the Wine Cellar, a deliberately rough-edged bar with a bar-top made from giant rimu barrels, and it was hosting shows by the mid-2000s. He and Mike Taliaferro later took over the former Calibre dance club next door and relaunched it as Whammy Bar. Promoter Lucy Macrae and sound engineer Tom Anderson later bought Whammy, and a soundproof wall was eventually built between the rooms so that both could run shows.
Over the years the rooms have hosted a long list of New Zealand acts, including The Bats, Street Chant, The Mint Chicks and Tiny Ruins, as well as international bands such as Deerhoof, Wooden Shjips and Thee Oh Sees.
In 2024 the complex was reshaped. Backroom and the Wine Cellar, which had marked 20 years in June that year, closed after their final shows in early August and were refurbished and expanded into Double Whammy, a flexible venue holding between 400 and 500 people, which opened with a party on 17 August 2024. The old Wine Cellar bar area became Whammy's Public Bar, aimed at community gatherings and showcasing emerging artists. The original Whammy room kept its historic walls and long bar and continues to host live music.
Because Whammy is a gig venue, what you experience depends on who is playing. Check the line-up before you go and buy tickets in advance for popular shows. With three spaces of different sizes, the venue can host anything from an intimate set by an emerging artist in the Public Bar to a full-scale touring show in Double Whammy.
The venue suits music lovers, students and anyone wanting to see the local scene up close. St Kevin's Arcade also houses Gemmayze Street, so dinner upstairs and a gig downstairs makes an easy evening plan.
Whammy Bar FAQs
Where is Whammy Bar?
Underground in St Kevin's Arcade, off Karangahape Road.
What is Double Whammy?
A larger, flexible venue for 400 to 500 people created in 2024 from the former Backroom and Wine Cellar spaces.
What is Whammy's Public Bar?
The former Wine Cellar bar area, refurbished for community gatherings and emerging artists.
Who owns Whammy?
Lucy Macrae and Tom Anderson bought the venue from its founder Rohan Evans.
Does Whammy host international acts?
Yes. Past performers include Deerhoof, Wooden Shjips and Thee Oh Sees, alongside many New Zealand bands.
Do you need tickets?
Many shows are ticketed, so check the line-up and buy in advance for popular gigs.
Is there somewhere to eat nearby?
Gemmayze Street, a Lebanese restaurant, is in the same arcade.
When did Double Whammy open?
With a grand opening party on 17 August 2024.