Christchurch has recently seen an explosion of new dining establishments and places to whet your whistle in the CBD. We’ve rounded up 11 picks for your next foodie foray to the Garden City.
1. Brewda
Brewda is a Korean dining bar in the rapidly developing mini precinct The Terrace Courtyard behind Oxford Terrace. Brewda’s popularity is evident from the queues of evening punters waiting to get in, but for an easier dining experience, drop in for lunch. The fusion menu plays with ingredients both Korean and not, like a creamy burrata matched with kimchi atop a Jeon – a Korean pancake – served with watercress. Or gnocchi with gochujang and crumbed bocconcini. The crispy seaweed tacos filled with raw tuna and mayo are delicious, as are the intriguingly named ‘octodogs’ which, you guessed it, are hotdogs made from octopus.
Delicious Korean flavours at Brewda. Photo by Jo Percival.
2. Roca
At Roca, flame-cooked fare of Mediterranean origins is served amidst earthy decor with upstairs views over the Ōtakaro Avon River. If you’re struggling to choose, pick the ‘trust the chef’ menu, which includes multiple plates across multiple courses to be divvied up at the table. Not-so-flat bread comes straight from the oven, with burrata and charred peppers on stracciatella. Next, try mussels that have been both smoked and marinated, salmon crisp with juicy pearls of roe, goats cheese croquettes. There’s also succulent main of slow-roasted beef, harissa chicken with pomegranate, and cucumber salad bathed in avocado dressing. It’s pseudo-Mediterranean with flavours from many disparate countries served with a distinctly Kiwi twist.
Slow-cooked beef and harissa chicken at Roca. Photo by Jo Percival.
3. Westend Stories
Westend Stories is a must-visit for breakfast. You won’t find just standard bacon- and egg-based fare here. Pick from options like the Westend Fried chicken with bacon jam, cheddar, poached egg and jalapeño salsa, or for a slightly healthier option, opt for the focaccia with smashed peas, avocado, shaved fennel, confit chickpeas and pickled red onions, plus poached eggs and halloumi. Accompanied, of course, by perfectly-made creamy coffee. You’ll be bouncing into your day.
A breakfast of champions at Westend Stories. Photo by Jo Percival.
4. Cellar Door
In Christchurch’s gothic Arts Centre you’ll find Cellar Door – a wine-focused restaurant specialising in flights. Flights of wine, that is. The menu is designed to complement the large selection of interesting Cantabrian and international tipples that will take you on a vinous journey. Each wine flight – a selection of small samples designed to be tasted together and compared – is themed around style, varietal, terroir, or quirkiness. Try a selection of sparklings in ‘Let’s get fizzical’, North Canterbury wines in ‘How many dudes you know grow like this?’ or taste tūrangawaewae with four pinot noirs from different New Zealand regions. The accompanying food selection is designed to be shared. Think tapas-style snacks like crudo, venison tartare, classic fondue and marinated white anchovies on sourdough.
How many dudes you know grow like this? Taste the North Canterbury region with a wine flight at Cellar Door. Photo by Jo Percival.
5. Rollikin Gelato
There are two Rollickin Gelatos to choose from in central Christchurch – either the original location in the pastel-toned New Regent Street, or right next to the Bridge of Remembrance on Cashel Street. Open late, Rollickin is the ideal spot to end up at for a sweet treat at the end of the night. Founded by a teenage Jed Joyce after the Christchurch earthquakes as a fundraiser for a school trip, Rollickin Gelato now employs 40 staff and sells a delectable range of innovative and ever-evolving gelato and sorbet flavours.
Innovative flavours and colourful creamy concoctions at Rollickin' Gelato. Photo by Jo Percival.
6. Inati
In te reo Māori, Inati means ‘to share’. At this glass-fronted fine dining restaurant on Hereford Street you can have a front row seat, literally, to the kitchen’s creations, watching the chefs work their magic from the gold-topped bar. Sample a selection of delectable small plates, most of which feel almost too beautiful to use cutlery on. There’s magic at work here, alchemy, as tomatoes become tartare, and rich duck liver parfait is served in crumbly cones like ice cream. Be guided by the expert staff about drinks matches to complement your flavour journey.
A delicious work of art at Inati. Photo by Jo Percival.
7. Grizzly
In the achingly cool Welder Precinct on Welles Street you’ll find a collective of cafés and restaurants staffed almost exclusively by hip young people who look like they could be musicians. For a quick and easy breakfast, head to Grizzly Baked Goods where you can buy dense loaves of freshly baked bread, oozing doughnuts or flaky pastries to take away, or opt for a housemade bagel – the surprisingly spicy dill pickle option is recommended – along with a strong coffee.
Grizzly Baked Goods in the Welder Precinct. Photo by Jo Percival.
8. Kokomo
Another stellar addition to the Welder precinct is Kokomo. It’s seafood-focused, but not exclusively pescatarian. Relax in a casual dining space draped in greenery and retro artwork that belies the exceptional quality, style and flavours of food. Try the pāua vol-au-vent, the juicy prawn dog, salmon crudo, tuna tartare with crackling crisps of nori, and, a surprising highlight, the cos salad – mixed with daikon, green chilli and herbs.
Delectable tuna tartare at Kokomo. Photo by Jo Percival.
9. Bar Yoku
You could eat all three meals of a day at the Welder, returning for dinner at Bar Yoku. An authentic izayaka-style Japanese experience, here you can sit at low tables and eat delicious flame-cooked morsels off sticks. Sushi tacos are a must-order – crispy tempura nori shaped into a crisp casing stuffed with rice, pickles and your choice of protein. Choose kewpie-doused cabbage, modern style salmon sashimi, popcorn prawns, herby cucumber salad and croquettes stuffed with slow cooked beef. Wash it down with tangy, delicious homemade umeshu, or plum wine.
Don't miss the sushi tacos at Bar Yoku. Photo by Jo Percival.
10. Child Sister
For a hearty breakfast across the road from the famous Margaret Mahy playground, head to Child Sister. It’s a family-friendly location, but without the sticky tables and pots of chewed coloured pencils. A converted industrial building, bright with white-wash, the café serves interesting options with an Asian-influence. Egg and cereal-based staples are covered, but the larger plates (they’re not exaggerating about the size) are where things get different. The kimchi omelette comes with a heap of pulled pork and spicy rice plus a generous squirt of kewpie. They’re also generous with sides – an addition of avocado is a whole avocado.
A huge kimchi omelette at Child Sister. Photo by Jo Percival.
11. Manu
There is nothing bland about Manu. Bold maximalism takes centre stage here, from the vibrant colour schemes to the vivacious flavours and the bright patterns worn by proprietor and host Karen Hattaway and her staff. Flavour-wise, you’ll experience an explosion of Pacific and Asian fusion, served with glamour and style. To start, try the pork, prawn and crayfish Shumai dumplings, venison pāua spring rolls, rēwena flatbread and fried chicken with the weird-sounding, but incredibly delicious banana sauce. But ensure you save room for curries, too. The duck red curry and kaimoana laksa are both exceptional.
Everything about Manu is bold and beautiful. Photo by Jo Percival.
