Restaurants in Christchurch & Canterbury
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Glentanner Restaurant
The decor might resemble a school cafeteria, but there’s plenty of robust Kiwi tucker on offer. Steak sandwiches and fish and chips will get you through the longest of exploring days.
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Fusion
Cool and cosmopolitan in red and black, Fusion's modern cuisine channels both Mediterranean and Asian flavours. Pair a Kiwi craft beer with shared plates of kofta or felafel ($12.50), or partner confit duck leg and Asian slaw with a spicy Central Otago pinot gris. Between meals it's a good spot for coffee and cake, complete with views of Caroline Bay.
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Freeman's Dining Room
Freeman's does fresh pasta, top-notch pizzas and regular wine and beer specials featuring brews from Christchurch's Cassels & Son Brewery. Grab a spot on the deck for great town and harbour views, and take in Sunday afternoon jazz concerts from 3pm. Definitely the kind of neighbourhood local you'd like in your town.
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Fisherman's Wharf
Part alfresco bar and part gourmet fish-and-chippie, Fisherman's Wharf is a top spot for a cold beer and tasty seafood bar snacks and mains. Try the fish of the day – prepared any of three ways – or smaller plates like salmon with lemongrass, chilli and lime, and look forward to views of the harbour and the rugged working port.
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Edesia
Ignore the office-park location; Edesia's version of fine dining is worth seeking out. The dinner menu includes innovative spins on local venison, salmon and quail, while lunch is a more informal affair, with prime Canterbury steaks and gossamer-light pasta. The wine list is one of Christchurch's best, and after work Edesia morphs into a cosy bar for local desk jockeys.
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Coffee House
Housed in a heritage villa complete with sunny patio, the Coffee House has a great location near the Arts Centre and the Botanic Gardens. Highlights include feta-cheese–studded Mediterranean scrambled eggs for breakfast and herb-marinated lamb for dinner. Emerson's beer on tap and a concise wine list will probably see you lingering over something stronger than coffee.
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Christchurch Farmers Market
Welcome to one of New Zealand's best farmers markets, a tasty labyrinth of organic fruit and vegies, South Island cheeses and salmon, local craft beer and ethnic treats including Colombian empanadas and Moroccan briouats (filo parcels). Other tasty stalls to track down are Posh Porridge and She Chocolat. Check out the website before you go to create your own foodie hit list.
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Chantellini's
Tucked away behind the main street, this quiet oasis is a relaxed cafe with outdoor garden seating by day, and an intimate French bar and restaurant by night. Chandeliers and black drapes create an elegant ambience. Portions are generous, and the daily two/three-course lunch for $25/30 is great value – try the leek tart or onion soup. Bookings are recommended for dinner.
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Canterbury Cheesemongers
Pop in to buy artisan cheeses, or craft your own sandwich by combining freshly baked ficelles and ciabatta with a whole cheese shop of dairy goodies. Coffee and juices are also available to complete a good-value lunch. No Monty Python jokes, please.
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Black Betty
Infused with glorious caffeine-enriched aromas from Switch Espresso's roasting operation, Black Betty's chic industrial warehouse is a popular destination for students from nearby CPIT. Essential culinary attractions include all-day breakfasts – try the ciabatta toast with creamy mushrooms – and excellent counter food including wraps and bagels, as well as the best of NZ wine and craft beers.
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Beat Street
Welcome to the grungy hub of Christchurch cafe-cool. Free range this and organic that combine with terrific eggy breakfasts, gourmet pies (try the feta and vegie one) and robust Havana coffee. Beat Street hosts a bohemian open mic night featuring music and poetry on the third Thursday of every month from 6pm.
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Addington Coffee Co-op
One of Christchurch's biggest and most bustling cafes is also one of its best. Fair-trade coffee and a compact stall selling organic cotton T-shirts jostle for attention with delicious cakes and slices, while a cross-section of the city comes for the free wi-fi, gourmet pies and wraps, and the legendary big breakfasts. An onsite laundromat completes the deal for busy travellers.
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50 Bistro
The more casual restaurant at the George is a bustling affair, doing savvy local twists on classic bistro flavours. Try the Nifty 50 lunch menu – $29 for soup and a main dish – or sample more robust evening meals like lamb shoulder ragu with kumara (sweet potato) gnocchi.
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Holy Smoke
Here's your chance to get acquainted with the unique smoky character of manuka (NZ tea tree). At Holy Smoke, the native wood is used to smoke everything from pork ribs and chicken wings to bacon and salmon. Other menu items include robust slabs of venison, lamb and beef, all teamed with Kiwi craft beers and Central Otago wines.
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Pegasus Bay Restaurant
Old-world ambience set amid a lovely European-style garden. The menu takes advantage of superb local produce and recommends appropriate wines matches. Pegasus Bay is a regular contender for NZ’s Best Winery Restaurant award. Booking ahead is recommended.
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Bamboozle
Asian fusion is the name of the game at the stylish Bamboozle, with the talented chefs conjuring up innovative spins on traditional flavours. Dishes include Burmese-style fish with chilli, and wasabi, salmon and cream cheese dumplings. Leave room for dessert with one of Christchurch's best crème brulees, or ginger steamed pudding topped with a lime sauce and coffee ice cream.
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Almeidas Tapas Bar
Beachy Sumner meets the back streets of Barcelona at this rustic Spanish-themed tapas bar. More than 20 different small plate offerings include haloumi and roasted garlic in prosciutto, artichoke hearts wrapped in lemon and mint, and prawns sauteed in garlic, lime and coriander. Try and resist the urge for 'just one more plate', before settling on churros (Spanish donuts) for dessert.
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Lotus Heart
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Pak'n Save Supermarket
On the main road north.
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Alpine Village Inn
Hanmer's most popular pub also offers good-value bistro meals. Look forward to T-bone steak, chicken schnitzel and mountain views from a sunny deck. Kids have their own tyke-sized menu.
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Arthur St Café
Excellent coffee and cruisy Kiwi dub is always a good way to ease into the day. Decked out with retro furniture and tinged with a green and sustainable ethic, Timaru’s funkiest eatery offers sandwiches, bagels and world-famous-in-Timaru breakfasts. There's also occasional live music with an alternative and folkie spin.
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