Luxury Escapes Guide to Christchurch

Welcome to the most innovative bistro in the city. Divided into ‘Earth, Land & Sea’, Inati’s menu of shared plates is best enjoyed around the curved bar while chatting to the savvy bar staff. Sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients are harnessed for seasonal dishes like venison tartare with elderflower caper berries or charred octopus with chilli and lemon. Leave room for dessert of feijoa tea cake and be sure to ask for wine recommendations from a wine list focusing on boutique vineyards from the nearby Waipara wine region.

Settle into one of Earl’s comfortable booths and explore a menu focused on delivering southern Mediterranean flavours to the southern hemisphere. Shared plates include leek and smoked cheddar croquettes or braised artichokes with a trio of Italian cheeses, while bistro classics feature confit duck and slow-cooked Canterbury lamb. Earl celebrates a casual and inclusive ambience, and each week there is a focus on varietals from smaller New Zealand and international winemakers. Beginning with an artisan gin and tonic or prosecco cocktail is highly recommended.

Positioned as the final act after an evening’s dining along New Regent Street, the Last Word is also a fine place for a tipple earlier in the night. The city’s best whiskey selection spans the globe from Tokyo to Tasmania and Islay to Ireland, while considered cocktails and a well-curated selection of craft beer are also key attractions. Ask about special tasting flights pairing whiskey and artisan chocolate and don’t be deceived by the compact downstairs area. Upstairs is spacious with a warming fire and very comfortable sofas.

An excellent dining option amid the Spanish Mission architecture of New Regent Street, Twenty Seven Steps celebrates a cosy and compact two-storey space. Established in 2015, the restaurant has been a consistent winner of regional and national dining awards, with local and seasonal produce underpinning a hearty but sophisticated menu. Canterbury lamb, venison and seafood are all regularly featured, often infused with French technique and flavours. Booking ahead is essential and starting the evening with a drink downstairs at the Tiny Bar is recommended form.

Thoroughly grown-up ice cream flavours including dark chocolate and sea salt, or coconut, tayberry and kaffir lime are the focus at Utopia. Many of the icy treats are crafted using local and seasonal ingredients, and there’s a diverse range of vegan options. Pick up a cone to go and explore the surrounding High Street area to see what’s new and different in the neighbourhood’s eating and drinking scene. Utopia also offers a fine line of deliciously chewy cookies. How does chocolate chip, olive oil and sea salt sound to get you started?

Located in the up and coming South Town precinct, the Welder fits a wide variety of businesses into what used to be six industrial workshops dating from the 1880s. There’s a broad focus on health and wellbeing as an ‘Urban Oasis’ – including a yoga studio and an organic, cold press juicery – and options to eat well include sourdough sandwiches at the Grizzly Baker and raw plant-based flavours from Two Raw Sisters. It’s also possible to sign up for private cooking classes with the eponymous siblings, Rosa and Margo Flanagan.

Story’s head chef Finbar McCarthy works consistently with local producers and farmers throughout the seasons, crafting a different three-course menu every week. The restaurant’s ambience is easygoing and relaxed, with Story’s kitchen turning out good-value $65 menus that could include Canterbury rump with sweetbreads, braised daikon and a celeriac puree, or a delicate dessert of poached tamarillo with a citrus- and Sichuan pepper-infused yoghurt mousse. Downstairs, Story’s compact bar pairs an eclectic wine list with tapas and local cheeses.

Relocated to New Regent Street in October 2020, gin gin joins the thoroughfare’s well-established whiskey and craft-beer bars popular with discerning Christchurch drinkers. Gins from around the world are represented, including small batch options distilled around New Zealand. Local gins to look for include Little Biddy from the historic South Island mining town of Reefton, and Scapegrace, a perennial award-winner in overseas competitions. Specialist gin cocktails incorporating flavoured tonics, fruit and berries are magicked up by gin gin’s astute bartenders, and craft beer, wine and Italian-influenced flatbreads and snacks also feature.

One of Christchurch’s best destinations for food-focused locals and visitors is this multi-level labyrinth of artisan produce and international flavours. Several of the city’s most popular food trucks are represented, making the market a convenient stop for Nashville-style fried chicken, Argentinean empanadas or Korean barbecue. For fans of New Zealand’s excellent craft beer scene, the compact bar at the Canterbury Brewers Collective is a fine place to try beers from local brewers including Two Thumbs, Brew Moon and the Beer Baroness. Ask chatty owner Chris what’s new and different.

Part of the eating and drinking scene emerging in Sydenham south of central Christchurch, 5th Street is an energetic combination of restaurant and bar. One of the city’s longest bars and plenty of greenery soften 5th Street’s historic warehouse space, and the menu of shared plates effortlessly incorporates flavours from around the world. Partner a craft beer from local brewing legends Three Boys with the Middle Eastern-style slow-cooked lamb shoulder, or team the southeast Asian flavours of the market fish with a New Zealand pinot gris or riesling.

Combine views of the sprawling Canterbury plains and the foothills of the Southern Alps on a ballooning adventure. Transport to and from central Christchurch accommodation is provided, and the sky-high experience begins just as the first light of a Canterbury dawn illuminates the region’s agricultural patchwork. Fly during winter to take in snowcapped peaks or soar above newborn calves and lambs in spring. All the while, look forward to a post-flight breakfast with sparkling wine, orange juice and freshly-baked muffins.

An easy 60km north of Christchurch, the Waipara Valley is one of New Zealand’s smaller wine-growing areas, but regularly produces some of the country’s finest cool-climate wines including riesling and pinot noir. Guided tours explore the best of this fast-growing region, taking in organic wines from Greystone and award-winning gewürztraminer at Waipara Hills. Both vineyards have excellent cafes, while wine tours also include the palate-cleansing coda of a craft ale or lager from Brew Moon in Amberley. The Waipara series of on-trend hazy IPAs harnesses the best of New Zealand hops.

Around 90 minutes from Christchurch, Akaroa was New Zealand’s first French settlement – the country’s history could have been très différent – and a certain Gallic charm still lingers around its spectacular Banks Peninsula location. The Akaroa Cooking School celebrates a harbourfront address with regular cooking classes covering a global array of culinary styles. Classes usually run on Saturdays or Sundays, including the popular Fresh from the Wharf option, which transforms New Zealand seafood into a five-course feast enjoyed by all participants.

Immerse yourself in Christchurch with Luxury Escapes’ hand-picked Experiences. We’ve curated a selection of cultural activities, adrenaline thrills, food adventures and luxury add-ons to help you discover your destination. These Experiences are bookable when you purchase your next escape. Simply select your travel dates and number of travellers for any package, and opt to tailor your escape by selecting the available Experiences.