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Christchurch has an exciting foodie scene, and many new restaurants, cafés, and bars have opened in recent years. Restaurants are usually open every day; if they do close, it’s either Sunday or Monday. Outside Christchurch, restaurants are more likely to close on Monday and Tuesday and during the winter.
The Waipara Valley is seeing a surge in exotic food production. North Canterbury is now a key producer in the country's fledgling black truffle industry. Locally sourced saffron, hazelnuts, manuka (an indigenous kind of tea tree) honey, olive oil, and ostrich meat are making their way onto area menus.
This diner-style café is open for all day. Breakfast is the usual Kiwi fare, like eggs Benedict and pancakes. The lunch and dinner menu is Mexican-themed with burritos, nachos, and quesadilla. There's also the classic Kiwi meals like burgers and chips. If you're in a rush, food to-go is also available.
Named after a notorious American pirate, this modern restaurant occupies a great site overlooking the yachts moored in the harbor. New Zealand cuisine is highlighted, and there are light and full-size main courses for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all year round. Enjoy tapas and a cocktail in the sun, and don't miss the plentiful seafood platter.
If you've left Christchurch a bit late for breakfast, about 30 minutes south in the Selwyn district, stop at the Dunsandel Store. It's a fascinating mix of local store, deli, and café with excellent food. The offers plenty of tasty sandwiches and baked goods. They also have a good range of breakfasts and all-day treats made from mostly local and organic produce. There are tables indoors and out, surrounded by a courtyard full of fruit trees and vegetables.
Well-known for its excellent coffee available in many Christchurch cafés, this is the home of the legendary roastery and plenty of hearty fare to match. Great service and an arty atmosphere mean this heritage building is buzzing from early morning until late afternoon every day. They won't serve drinks in single-use takeaway cups, so if you're in a rush, be prepared to bring your own, or dine in.
Now a popular café for locals, the Powerhouse building used to contain a small hydroelectric generator that supplied power to the old Queen Mary Hospital and a few streetlights. Today, it opens at 7:30 am and offers a great brunch and lunch menu to suit all tastes. Local and free-range ingredients are used in dishes that are all house-made.
Western and Thai spins on local produce, meat and seafood, along with a seaside location makes for sought-after reservations at this, venue, which serves delicious food all day. Dark wooden floors, white tablecloths, and leather chairs lend a seaside chic quality, and on a nice day, snatch a table outside. In addition to breakfast, there are three different menus, including Kiwi, Thai, and seafood. The latter is the highlight, boasting Akaroa salmon fillet, huge seafood platters, whole squid, oysters, and more.
