Bartender Bar Tour with Joe Slater from Monterey

This post is sponsored by our partner, Jameson.

Tauranga-born Joe Slater has worked in the bar scene for the past twelve years, bartending not only in Wellington, but Melbourne, Byron Bay, London and Paris too. He returned to Wellington in 2008, opening Monterey in 2010, and started a hugely successful old fashioned-style soda company under the moniker Six Barrel Soda in 2012.

Concrete Playground: What's your favourite drink?
Joe Slater: After work a shot and a beer, late in the evening a martini or old fashioned.

CP: What's your opinion on Wellington nightlife?
JS: There are a bunch of great bars owned and run by passionate people and some solid bartenders. I don't go out much in the city past 10pm, too many dudebros on Courtenay Place. We could do with a couple of weirder, less serious bars in town. Mighty Mighty closing left a big gap, and the live music scene has taken a big hit lately, but Moon in Newtown is helping out with that. Good neighbourhood bars are the future.

CP: Tell us an interesting story about yourself.
JS: I once made a martini for Pierce Brosnan. He's maybe the least cool Bond but I love that he's still keeping the dream alive and rocking Martinis.

CP: It's the weekend, and Bill Murray and some friends turns up at Monterey. What bars would you recommend for them to visit?
JS: I would start by saying they have come to the right place (Monterey), then steer them towards Fast Eddie's, Golding's, Club K or Hawthorn Lounge.

1. Monterey

I'd start at Monterey (my own bar). Bill would play some records, we'd drink some whiskey and start it off right.

Tip: The Liquored Iced Sodas are great and only a tenner.

2. Fast Eddie's

Fast Eddie's is great, it's totally different to other bars in the city, a true dive bar. We'd play street fighter and pool and drink whiskey and bad beer.

Tip: Have a can of Lion Brown and a neat whiskey, it's a dive, you gotta drink badly.

3. Golding's Free Dive

Golding's is a hell of a bar with a great line up of beer. I'm sure Bill and the gang would like to try some quality local beer.

Tip: You can't go far wrong with the tap beer here, try something from a local independent brewery.

4. Club K

Bill likes to party and get loose, Karaoke is perfect for this.

Tip: All Springsteen, all the time.

5. Hawthorn Lounge

For a civilised end to the night we'd go to Hawthorn, drink cocktails and play poker.

Tip: Pick a spirit and get the guys to make you something, ask for a Blazer if they're not too busy. If you have to work the next day, call in sick before you arrive.