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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.
This cozy haunt is packed with locals who come for the tasty tapas-style food, produced in a tiny kitchen, and the excellent cocktails. There's an eclectic selection of international and New Zealand wines, spirits, and craft beers.
One of the city's most beautiful pieces of architecture also houses one its most popular cafés. Christchurch Botanic Gardens' rare plants and nurseries sit alongside a busy dining room in this modern take on a glass conservatory. With their own vegetables and herbs just outside, the ilex chefs are no doubt inspired by the 52 acres surrounding them. Line up with the locals for well-priced and inventive seasonal soups, pies, and salads washed down with organic soda or a glass of wine. On a fine day grab a picnic blanket from the friendly staff and spread out on the impressive lawn.
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.
This eatery's clever take on Māori Japanese fusion has won rave reviews from locals thanks to its selection of carefully crafted dishes that are perfect for sharing. It's set in the beautiful Old Royal Hotel Building on the waterfront, and the atmosphere is stylish and relaxed. Open every night for dinner and three days per week for sumptuous lunch.
A great place to get a coffee fix, this hip café is styled with a red-and-white American diner aesthetic. The café is a flagship outlet for the Coffee Supreme brand, which started in Wellington over 30 years ago before expanding to Japan and Australia. Look to the all-day breakfast menu for fresh fruit platters, and a decadent double stack of pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup. Countertop goodies are served with excellent coffee. Sit at the communal bar or smart wooden tables.
