Monica Loves. - Napier

Love this trendy watering hole hidden down an alleyway in Napier. There's friendly service, a Dj on Fridays and a delicious fried chicken on the bar menu that I will go back for!

It was a Friday night. Napier was still in full 'winter ' mode as I wandered the empty streets, looking for something fun to do on a one night stay over. I was about to get Indian take away and go back to the hotel when I heard music and conversion down an alley. It turned out to be Monica Loves. A cute little tapas/hangout bar, it is definitely the middle class hipster bar of the area. It was virtually the only place with more than 3 people inside. They had a DJ spinning at 7:30, but I didn 't wait around for that. There was a good selection of beers. Some wines. I had an excellent IPA (sometimes hard to find in NZ), although it wasn 't on tap. The food menu consisted of fine meats by the 50g, and a dish called BREAD for $9. I almost got the nut plate, but the bar tender never asked me if I wanted anything from the food menu, so I drank my beer and headed out. Despite the minor complaints, this is what I was looking for. I have know doubt that small groups looking for a place to chill would not be disappointed here.

What a fun find in Napier! This cool bar is set back off the street a ways, which makes it slightly harder to find, but when you do, it's worth it. It has a nice patio with string lights on the outside, and a big inside with a welcoming bar. The wines and beers offered were mostly local, and the bartender certainly knew his stuff. He let us try a few things and take our time with the menu. Once I had my NZ Sauv Blanc in hand and my husband had his dark beer, we sat at a table to relax. The bartender came over with a few complimentary snacks for us (I don't think that's normal, but it was a really really nice touch). I really enjoyed our visit to Monica Loves and would recommend anyone to stop in for a drink.

To be clear, this is a bar that serves food. Should not be considered a restaurant. We enjoyed the chicken but we were the only people eating the menu is limited. The ambience was fun and lively. A nice break.

Always good Price per person: NZ$20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5