Championing Christchurch

This charming city that has endured so much has been rebuilt, reinvented, and is now cranking on all cylinders!

It had been a goodly while since I had headed to the ‘garden city’ so it was with much excitement I headed south to attend the recent Christchurch Food Show and take a whistle- stop tour of the latest drinks and foodie spots with a morsel of retail therapy on the side.

The Church Pub
124 Worcester Street

Built in the late 1800s The Church Pub has seen many iterations, as a church, church hall and school room, latterly The Octagon, but sustained significant damage in the 2011 earthquake. Over several years it was lovingly restored and since July 2023 has been reborn as a pub and music hub for locals and visitors alike. The live music which features every night is certainly a draw card, as is the beautiful interior boasting many features from the original church, as well as a menu pitched perfectly for kicking back with a drink or two. Wood-fired pizzas are especially popular, appropriately named – for example the Barnabas, St Michael and (pictured pg21) The Good Shepherd topped with slow-cooked lamb shoulder, confit garlic, fennel, tzatziki and red onion. In summer the outdoor tables heave with happy punters while in the winter months they gather indoors to soak up the history, the atmosphere and the welcoming vibes. churchpub.co.nz

Estelle
19 Southwark Street

If you do one thing in Christchurch, promise me it is taking a trip to Estelle for the most excellent coffee and one of the spectacular toasts prepared by the über-talented Will Bowman. Bright, light and welcoming, the interior is small yet airy and the clientele are most definitely among Christchurch’s cool kids. Drawn to Christchurch by the people and the manageable pace of life, Will is a master of low-key yet sublime food offerings. Two of the toasts I sampled, the Smoked fish, pickled currants and rhubarb toast and the White bean, salsa verde and za’atar version were undeniably good. The softness of the fish mixed with crème fraiche and dotted with pops of tart pickled currants and sharp sweet rhubarb and finished with pepper and lemon zest on its seedy toast base was nothing short of perfect. No surprise then that it is a customer favourite while the staff also recommend the mince and cheese. This Ponsonby-meets-New York café with a calmer mood is open Monday to Friday, 7am – 3pm. Don’t miss it.

Londo
2 Papanui Road

With a Scandinavian/ Japanese inspired, pared-back fit-out and a small number of tables available you’ll need to secure your booking in advance for Londo, brainchild of Robert Fairs. Operating for two and a half years, Robert has brought all his expertise garnered from sojourns in Copenhagen, Dubai and London to this popular central city spot. The restrained and carefully curated menu matches the interior with its soft pale colours and low wicker stools and the food takes clever cues from the seasons, although regular clients ask for eggplant no matter the weather and availability. The menu changes every 6-8 weeks and the evening I stopped by customers were already arriving at 5:30pm to sample the delectable Figs with miso, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and sesame seeds while sipping their wine or clever cocktail prepared by host and beverage master Harry Findlay. Chic and effortlessly cool. londo.bar

Inati
48 Hereford Street

Christchurch mainstay Inati (meaning ‘to share’) is the place locals head to for special occasions and it’s easy to see why. For joint owners Simon and Lisa Levy, Inati is a labour of love, and one that extends to their family with their youngest daughter Ivy often joining the team at the tender age of 9. Hospitality is clearly a shared passion and each is a master of their trade with Simon on the tools in the kitchen and Lisa directing front of house. Like his daughter, Simon got a taste for hospo young, starting off working in kitchens from the age of 13 then progressing to work with the likes of Gordon Ramsay as Head Chef of The Warrington as well as Claridges and The Ivy. Like many chefs Simon takes inspiration from the seasons, however he presents the Inati menu in a pleasingly original way with sharing plates broken down into sections such as Earth, Land, Sea, Large Plates and Nectar. On the evening we dined we got started with a spectacular negroni (I swear they are different everywhere based on the vermouth, gin and Campari used) and for my colleague, a Titanic, featuring gin, elderflower and lemongrass. She confessed to often accidentally choosing cocktails that came out looking like lush desserts, and to be fair her Titanic looked like a very sleek, cocktail version of a lemon pie – which she assures me was heavenly. For the meal we went with the ‘Trust Us’ menu option so waited in anticipation of each dish as it arrived. We started with Smoked pickled  clams with lime and celery with a delicate curry coconut dressing before diving into my favourite shared plate of the evening ‘Duck trumpets and blackberry jam’ which are in fact the most exquisitely smooth mounds of duck parfait in savoury mini waffle cones, with a nut and seed sprinkle topping on the side and a wee blob of blackberry jam in the base of the cone. Utterly fabulous. Then it was on to crunchy fried Oyster mushrooms, with caramelised whey, burnt honey & buckwheat, Creamed corn with a kick of jalapeño and fennel and a cheeky little extra dish of Sweet breads with veal tongue and cheek. To finish we enjoyed a Strawberry, pistachio and fromage blanc pastry. With attentive wait- staff, a chic interior and innovative food it’s no wonder Inati continues to be a Christchurch go-to. inati.nz
 

Miro
176 Oxford Terrace

It turns out Christchurch locals know how to serve up not only an epic breakfast, but lunch as well for that matter. Miro, on the banks of the Avon, is popular for both, with a bustling crowd of business folk, locals and tourists. During winter the two open fires provide both ambience and warmth as diners peruse the menu and make selections such as Truffled eggs, softly scrambled with parsnip and truffle crisps and toasted sourdough, and Blue Swimmer Crab with brioche flatbread, crab, spicy kasundi, coriander vinaigrette and fish roe. Elegant, yet laid back, Miro provides a feeling of calm sophistication with warm hospitality. miro.nz

Salut Salut
5/20 Welles Street

Proving the saying ‘good things come in small packages’ true, Salut Salut is a tiny bar and eatery tucked into The Welder, purported to be New Zealand’s largest and most authentic Health & Wellbeing complex, in Christchurch’s South Town Precinct. With a long bar window down one side and a combination of leaners and small tables inside, the bar is jam-packed with wines of all origins while the food is a Spanish tapas delight. Owner Lizzie has been in charge for 2 1⁄2 years, and with her infectious, sunny demeanour its clear she was born to the role. The menu runs the gamut from small bowls of olives or smoked almonds, to hand carved Jamón Ibérico de Bellota a “Bikini” Catalan toasted Sandwich. The smallish number of items on offer is carefully curated so that all appetites are catered for. The perfect spot for everything from date nights, to solo drinks or catching up with friends, Salut Salut is also an excellent spot to take a seat at the outdoor window bar and people watch. salutsalut.co.nz
 

Roca
Level 1 The Terrace, 134 Oxford Terrace

While Roca can be admittedly a little hard to find, it is well worth the effort, and it seems many of those on the ground in the area are able to point punters in the right direction if they’re experiencing difficulty. Once there, it’s easy to see that many have already done so, with the large restaurant bustling and buzzing with diners. The menu is inspired by the owners love for the flavours of the Mediterranean. From Spain to the Middle East, Roca is a contemporary tribute to food cooked with fire and smoke – the flaming action taking place in full view at the bar with a split kitchen, part hidden, part on display. The vibes are distinctively sexy with a huge Italian marble bar counter home to rows of champagne on ice – and the name Roca, is taken from the Spanish name for rock, in reference to that marble. The chefs, several of whom are Argentine, are incredibly enthusiastic about their style of cooking, taking as much pride in the outrageously good Roca flat bread as with the Beef tartare with tonnato and shallots on toasted focaccia and the Akaroa salmon crudo with saffron vinaigrette and chilli. The Fresh market fish with smoked heirloom tomatoes, capers and basil was a hit with our team, and the side of Confit potato latkes with toum simply outrageous!rocabar.co.nz

The Mayfair
155 Victoria Street

The Mayfair might be best known to out- of-towners for providing gorgeous, luxury accommodation in the heart of Christchurch, but to locals it is a destination of choice for a magnificent brunch. Nick Tatom has been Head Chef since pre-opening and has taken his morning offerings to a whole new level – 12-hour Braised beef cheek with pressed potato, kimchi, poached eggs gochujang hollandaise and a rich jus anyone? I would highly recommend diving right in, although it is hard to decide from the clever menu – my favourite was the outrageous Breakfast Hawker comprised of grilled roti, Asian greens, scrambled egg, pickled shiitake, Badger Macha chilli oil and miso caramel pork belly. Eggs are the most popular item on the menu, offered in a variety of guises with the French toast coming in a close second. With pastry chef Aurelien Fermen doing extraordinary things with sweet offerings (the Paris Brest looked incredible) there is something for everyone at The Mayfair, from morning coffee, to brunch, to High Tea. They’re also open for chic drinks and dinner every night! mayfairluxuryhotels.com

Bar Franco
The Crossing, 166 Cashel Street

An unexpected find in the middle of The Crossing shopping precinct in Christchurch is Bar Franco. With a light, open interior, a fun, sexy Mediterranean vibe and even a dedicated Spritz and Negroni Bar (on level 1), this a place to put your feet up after a hard days’ work or shopping mission. For enjoying while sipping on a glass of wine or cheeky little aperitif, the nibbles are excellent – it’s a long time since I’ve seen marinated Button mushrooms in chardonnay vinegar on a menu, and I’m there for it. There are classics like Preserved peach with Prosciutto Emiliano, Buffalo mozzarella with rocket and balsamic alongside newcomers like Stracciatella with roasted pear, thyme and macadamia. The most popular dinner dish currently is the Mushroom pappardelle with truffle, pecorino, fior di latte and herb oil, but there is so much more that appeals. Bar Franco has a certain energy about it, it feels like a good time and I think that comes in part from the quirky cool interior, but also the palpable enthusiasm from the team in the kitchen. barfranco.nz
 

Civil and Naval
16 London Street, Lyttelton

Just 20 minutes or so drive from central Christchurch, it seems rude not to make the effort to nip into Lyttelton for a wee poke around. Charming little gift and knickknack shops sit cheek by jowl with bars and eateries and on a grey, blustery afternoon I found myself in a front window seat at Civil and Naval. With a fire in one corner and an eclectic woodsy interior it’s hard to imagine a cosier spot. With cocktails, beer, wine and tapas-style bites on offer I was quickly settled with a glass of Pinot Gris and an epic 'block' of mac and cheese – a particularly decadent and delicious wedge. The crunchy fried chicken and chips are both favourites for the regulars – deceptively sophisticated given their humble names. In fact, Civil and Naval is surprising, providing both a casual, fun and quirky vibe alongside first-class drinks and food.
 

Super
5 Norwich Quay, Lyttelton

Just down the hill from Civil and Naval, Super is large and airy, bright and friendly with calming wooden tables and dried flowers contrasted by hot pink neon signs. The Japanese Māori menu features Edamame flavoured with sesame, horopito, chilli and crispy shallots, Manuka-smoked Ika Croquettes and Akaroa salmon as well as Pork belly, Otafuku, with fennel apple slaw, Black sesame soba noodle salad and owner Sahni Bennett’s favourite, Ika Mata – local Ika with coconut cream, fresh chilli, yuzu & tamari pepita. Leading an all-female team, Sahni is no stranger to hospitality, having been in the industry since the age of 24, with 3am starts, making sandwiches to sell to local mechanics. She started her first café with just $5,000 and over time progressed to where she is now, celebrating six years owning and running Super. Head chef Anna Meyerhoff has been with her since day one at the restaurant and their collaboration is clearly tight – both have a love for the industry, and for feeding people with respect and kindness, expressing the essence of Manaakitanga. Anna takes enormous pride in her work and has always been into big bold flavours, bringing her experience and expertise to the menu with techniques and seasoning so that the Japanese Māori dishes sing. The menu changes with the seasons, with winter seeing the return of their much-loved spicy ramen. It was a real treat to see the all-female team in action, in the kitchen, front of house and behind the bar and together they bring a particularly nurturing, efficient, gentle energy. Super is a total delight. super.restaurant