Sort & Filter

CGR Merchant & Co

Bars key icon.
A female bartender making a pink cocktail behind the bar at CGR Merchants.
Long bench seating and tables near the window at the CGR Merchants bar in Wellington.
Bottles of liquor filling every inch of the shelves behind the bar.
Empty tables and chairs in the dining area of the CGR Merchant bar.
A close up of a pink cocktail being made in a tall glass.
The red exterior leading to the inside of CGR Merchant.
Bars key icon.

MondayClosed.

TuesdayClosed.

Wednesday5:00 pm – 1:00 am.

Thursday5:00 pm – 1:00 am.

Friday5:00 pm – 2:00 am.

Saturday5:00 pm – 2:00 am.

SundayClosed.

44 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington

04 384 6737

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Casual

Look for an unassuming red door in the heart of Courtenay Place in Wellington and you’ll be whisked away to one of the city’s best cocktail lounges. 

CGR Merchant & Co is a hidden oasis tucked away upstairs, drawing crowds of cocktail, gin and rum lovers in the know. An innovative, experimental playground with a relaxed, upbeat vibe, everyone is welcome to settle in and enjoy one of the truly unique concoctions on offer. 

The intricately designed fitout of the space provides the perfect atmosphere in which to let your imaginations run wild, with the theme of the place clearly inspired by the early spice trade. Soft brown tones dominate, from the rustic floorboards to the polished tables and stools. Burlap sacks practically spill through the rafters, leaving space only for some foliage to peek through. Perhaps most dominating is the array of shelves behind the bar, showcasing a formidable arsenal of bottles and jars. 

Gin and rum infusions are what CGR Merchant & Co is all about, and you’ll find plenty of that here, so take your time navigating the menu. Every drink is carefully crafted to be a winner, but the salted caramel rum is by far the signature cocktail. 

With its unique space hidden away in one of the busiest pockets of town, CGR Merchant & Co offers a quiet haven for anyone to slip away and immerse themselves in a truly artisan cocktail. 

Words by John Son & Photography by Anna Briggs

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

44 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington

Nearby Places

Sully's

Shop view of Sully's including decorative lighting.
Place Wellington
Fashion key icon.

Clothing stores abound in Wellington, but Sully’s is one of those that feels like a breath of fresh air the moment you walk in.

Enjoy Contemporary Art Space

A man browsing the works at Enjoy Art Gallery.
Place Wellington
Galleries and museum key icon.

With a regularly rotating schedule of work on display in Enjoy's two separate exhibition spaces, you will always find something new and exciting to draw you in.

Kisa

Inside Kisa Restaurant Wellington.
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

Middle Eastern dining revolves around sharing - of food, conversation, and good times.

Pizza Pomodoro

A male chef putting sauce on dough.
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

Wellington's favourite Neapolitan pizza.

Similar Places

The Ram

A dish on the table at The Ram.
Place Wellington
Restaurants key icon.

Rubbing shoulders with Cuba Street institutions, The Ram is a classy, contemporary bistro that blends sophistication with an unmistakably laid-back Wellington vibe.

Peoples Coffee Roastery

A man with child sitting on a couch at Peoples Coffee in Wellington, New Zealand.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

Head to Newtown, venture a bit further past the chaotic and colourful Riddiford Street, and you’ll stumble across Peoples Coffee’s roastery HQ café, the...

Keihei Chicken

A plate of fried chickens and burgers.
Place Hutt Valley Upper Hutt
Restaurants key icon.

Keihei Chicken brings more than just warmth and colour to this corner of Upper Hutt.

Rich Coffee Roasters

A coffee being made.
Place Wellington
Cafes key icon.

Although the relative new guys on the block, Rich Coffee Roasters are by no means amateurs.

A Night Time Wine Crawl through Wellington City

A hand holding a glass of rose next to a plate of food.
Story Wellington
With some of the country’s finest wine bars conveniently at hand, Wellington is a great place in which to embark on a wine crawl.

The People Behind the Places: Meet the Food & Drink Heroes of Kāpiti Coast

A woman holding Dutch pancakes in front of a white caravan.
Story Kāpiti Coast
While Kāpiti Coast might be more commonly associated with a holiday destination where the classic fish 'n’ chips on the beach scenario is a fit-for-purpose culinary experience, scratch the surface, and you’ll find the region brimming with food and drink locations that will have you toss away the thought of eating off paper.