The Howlin' Wolf Bar in Crown Street has been named as a finalist in best regional bar and best live music venue in the 2015 Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards.

The nominations come hot on the heels of the small bar being named in the 2015 Wollongong City Centre Retail and Business of the Year Awards as winner of the bar award.

The regional bar category has finalists from the Gold Coast, Hunter Valley, Townsville, Noosa, Terrigal, Margaret River as well as Wollongong, and recognises that there are bars in regional areas which are rivalling those in major city hubs.

Howlin' Wolf bar manager Jay Cozma said being named as a finalist in two categories was a great honour for the small bar, which specialises in high-end whisky, American whiskey, single malt Scotch whisky and creative cocktails.

"It's a massive thing for the bar and for Wollongong," he said.

"It's pretty exciting to be named as one of the top eight bars in the country outside the capital cities. It's a great achievement to be on that list."

Mr Cozma said Howlin' Wolf had created opportunities for young musicians to perform and had offered exhibition spaces for community-based artists.

"Our community drive and our community focus is the biggest thing we try and do with our bar, in addition to offering premium spirits and premium cocktails," he said.

"We pride ourselves on showcasing what the Illawarra has to offer."

Howlin' Wolf owner Manny Mavridis said the bar's growth and success had been supported by Wollongong City Council, Destination Wollongong and the Wollongong Licensing Police.

The awards night will be held on September 22 at Doltone House in Sydney.