Eateries
11 January 2026
The 10 must try restaurants in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Discover Christchurch’s best restaurants delivering exceptional dining experiences. From fine dining to casual bistro-style spots, here are 10 of the city’s most highly rated restaurants, each offering something special and an unforgettable culinary experience.
Christchurch's best restaurants for food lovers
Ōtautahi Christchurch is a city with a thriving food scene and a growing number of top-rated restaurants. Whether you’re looking for innovative tasting menus, fine-dining or relaxed bistro settings, all with top-notch hospitality, this guide has you covered. Check out 10 of the city’s very best restaurants and start making your reservations!
The Monday Room
Established in 2016, The Monday Room is a long-standing and much-loved restaurant in Christchurch offering a warm, cosy setting and exceptionally tasty food. The family-style sharing menu highlights seasonal produce, serving classic European fare with modern twists. Casual yet quietly luxurious, The Monday Room is both relaxed and refined. Set in a beautiful, historic building, it makes a charming place to spend an evening catching up with friends or celebrating something special.
Good for:
- Family-style dinners in a refined yet relaxed environment
- Great options for vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free
- Small private events or group gatherings with curated menus
Lillies
Located in a former industrial warehouse turned cool and casual restaurant, Lillies is the place to go for stand-out woodfire pizza, considered small plates and boutique wine and cider brewed on site. Lillies is the definition of simple done well. The small but mighty menu is split into two sections – pizza and not pizza. The wood-fire oven is the true hero, cooking each pizza to perfection alongside other menu items, adding smoky depth of flavour to each beautifully presented dish arriving at the table. With food designed to share, in a setting designed to come together, Lillies is a special spot and must visit in Christchurch.
Good for:
- Pizza lovers seeking creative, wood‑oven flavours
- Casual group outings with wine or house cider
- Shared dishes for family style dining
Roca
Perched above the vibrant Terrace, Roca blends flavours of the Mediterranean cooked with fire and smoke to create dishes that are unique, surprising and completely delicious.
With sweeping views over the Avon River, the chic space is modern and inviting, the perfect place for special occasions or slow evenings enjoying great food, company and views. Sip on a sangria and let the expert team whisk you away to a Mediterranean haven of flavour.
Good for:
- Lively date nights or special celebrations
- Mediterranean fusion dishes in a refined setting
- Extensive drink list with sangria and cocktails
Gatherings
Intimate, refined and thoughtful – Gatherings holds a special place in Christchurch’s culinary scene. Located on Carlton Corner, the small restaurant is understated and simple, inviting guests to relax as if seated in a friend's dining room for the evening.
The menu is a true celebration of quality produce, and the restaurant’s ethos of respecting local growers and producers is easy to see and taste. The weekly menu evolves with the seasons and what is sustainably sourced that week, meaning each visit is unique and special.
A must-visit for those looking for beautifully crafted dishes in a relaxing environment.
Good for:
- Seasonal weekly menu
- Sustainable and locally sourced ingredients
- Cosy and intimate space
Inati
With a focus on bringing people together to taste and share, INATI offers a unique dining experience for every guest that walks through the door.
Delighting tastebuds with exciting flavours, paired together in new and creative ways, INATI is a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. With the option to be seated around the chef’s-table, guests are treated to tasting-style plates celebrating Canterbury ingredients with theatrical plated presentations.
A must-visit for adventurous palates and those looking for immersive dining.
Good for:
- Special occasions with a twist on fine cuisine
- Immersive chef’s-table experiences
- Sharing explorative tasting-plates with friends
Twenty-Seven Steps
Located on the charming New Regent Street, Twenty-Seven Steps is a European-style bistro serving up hearty, delicious food in a cosy atmosphere. With a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients, including high-quality Canterbury beef fillet and lamb rack, complemented with seasonal produce, this is a must-visit for food lovers.
Think comforting, warm dishes elevated with modern twists, bringing something special to the table each time.
Perfect for those looking for a relaxed and charming atmosphere to enjoy tasty food and great wine.
Good for:
- Cosy candlelit dinners in a classic bistro
- Expertly prepared meat and fish dishes
- Friendly service that makes every visit memorable
5th Street Bar
In the heart of Sydenham, 5th Street is a stylish spot serving up seriously delicious food, making it a firm local favourite for food lovers. With small and large plates designed to share and enjoy together, the menu rotates seasonally and features carefully considered, creative dishes.
The warm and welcoming atmosphere, alongside its friendly staff means you can sit back and be treated to a wonderful evening of exceptional food and service.
The set menu is the perfect way to enjoy a little of everything, even better when seated atop the Chef's Bar so you can see the magic happen before you taste it.
Good for:
- Fantastic service from hospitality experts
- Sharing small to medium plates among friends
- Casual gatherings in a warm, cosy space
Bar Yoku
A chic izakaya located in The Welder, Bar Yoku dishes up expertly crafted Japanese favourites including yakitori and kushiyaki, as well as inventive dishes with a modern twist, like tasty sushi tacos.
Set in an airy green courtyard filled with lush greenery, the low-lit vibe makes this a cool, classy spot for small bites and drinks or a long-dinner from the set menu to enjoy with great company.
The extensive drinks list offers a range of cocktails, beer and wine, as well as its very own sake list to match your meal perfectly.
Good for:
- A shareable Japanese-style dining experience
- Sake lovers and cocktail fans
- Families and groups wanting a relaxed atmosphere
King of Snake
One of Christchurch’s most loved restaurants, King of Snake delivers in flavour, vibe and location. Set along the vibrant Terrace, and perched overlooking the Avon River, the elegant restaurant serves up delicious Euro-Asian fusion.
Think bold, punchy flavours with hits of zest, spice and umami – every dish is as much a feast for the eyes as it is the tastebuds.
The restaurant is stylish and modern, with an elegant fit-out full of colour and quirk, complimenting the bold flavours and creative fusion dishes served each night.
Good for:
- Stylish, refined fusion dining with elegant ambiance
- Panoramic balcony or river views to set the scene
- Sharing plates with an Asian flair
Cellar Door
Set in Christchurch’s charming Arts Centre, The Cellar Door is an award-winning wine bar serving exceptional food in a beautiful heritage building.
The menu is designed to suit a range of experiences, from small bites to accompany a wine tasting to a full evening of dining.
Using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, the dishes are created to complement wine and the expert team can guide you through the perfect matches for a full wining and dining experience, while their wine tasting flights are a fun way to try related wines.
Seated indoors or out, Cellar Door brings a whole new level of charm to a lunch or dinner shared with friends.
Don't miss a thing
Sign up to our newsletter to get valuable updates and news straight to your inbox.
)
)
)