Finding the best restaurant in Christchurch can feel like an endless quest since the city’s food scene is booming with fresh flavours. 

Whether you’re searching for lively restaurants for group dining to celebrate a birthday or craving a quiet night out, picking the right spot matters. 

Some evenings call for spicy curries at local Indian restaurants, while other times you want a seasonal feast or a clever fusion menu. 

I have spent weeks eating my way through the local neighbourhoods to uncover the ultimate dining gems that will satisfy your cravings and keep you coming back for another bite.

Dining Style	Average Cost (NZD)
Casual Cafes & Pubs	$15 – $35 per meal
Mid-Range Restaurants	$30 – $55 per main course
Fine Dining Establishments	$40 – $100+ per main course
Drinks (Beer or Glass of Wine)	$9 – $15 each

1. Twenty Seven Steps

Website: https://twentysevensteps.co.nz/

Address: 16 New Regent St

Contact: 336 627 27

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Set inside a historic 1932 building on New Regent Street, Twenty Seven Steps serves award-winning seasonal cuisine that changes with regional harvests. 

You climb exactly 27-seven steps into a cosy dining room that instantly feels removed from the energy of the busy streets below. 

My partner and I grabbed a table by the window last month, and the intimate old-world charm made the whole evening feel extra special.

The kitchen focuses on honest, produce-led dishes like tender Canterbury lamb and fresh local fish, all crafted to highlight regional suppliers. 

You can really feel the experience of owners Emma Mettrick and Paul Howells, who bring a warm, genuine style of hospitality to the room.

However, the premium pricing does set high expectations, and service can slow a little when the restaurant is full.

A truly remarkable restaurant

Twenty Seven Steps is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Christchurch, and a recent visit only confirmed this.

I have a severe allergy to preservatives and we arrived without a reservation. Chef went above and beyond, putting together the best preservative-free meal I have ever had anywhere in the world. That is genuinely impressive given they had absolutely no prior warning of our visit.

The meal was so exceptional that I now use a photo of it as the gold standard when dining at other restaurants.

An absolutely outstanding Chef at a truly remarkable restaurant. Very highly recommended. A++++.

• Damon Rutherford | Google Review 

Great atmosphere

Wednesday night walk in for one. The restaurant was busy but they had a spare table for me. Complementary bread and butter and a beer was all I needed for an entree. Venison rump with a glass of Craggy Range for dinner – very tasty and right sized. Staff were all attentive and friendly. Great atmosphere, funky fitout, convenient location, cool vibe. Loved it, definitely recommended and look forward to visiting again.

• Matt Bull | Google Review  

2. Manu Restaurant and Bar

Website: https://manu.co.nz/

Address: 151 Cambridge Terrace

Contact: 342 138 87

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

If you want a vibrant dining experience, Manu Restaurant and Bar brings contemporary Māori culinary influences together with Asian-inspired flavours in a way that feels bold but still grounded. 

The menu is designed entirely around sharing and communal dining, which makes it a great fit for lively group gatherings where dishes keep arriving, and conversations don’t really pause.

Every plate brings a sense of colour and creativity to the table. I spoke with a local foodie who visits regularly, and they said the social energy of the shared-plate style is a big part of why they keep coming back.

The kitchen also does a great job of celebrating local identity while still experimenting with flavour through its Pacific-inspired approach. 

Unfortunately, the consistency can vary a bit between visits. A few dishes, like the dumplings, don’t always hit the same balance every time.

The food was absolutely delicious

Had an awesome experience at Manu! From the moment we walked in, the team was super friendly and welcoming. They took the time to explain the menu and even shared a bit about the restaurant, which was such a nice touch. You can really tell they care about their guests.

The food was absolutely delicious, and the cocktails were next level — especially the “Manuka Me Crazy”, that one’s a must-try! Overall, amazing food, amazing service, and just a really good vibe all around. Can’t wait to go back!

• Thilan Pathirage | Google Review 

The food is sublime, the atmosphere is intimate 

Wanted to celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary in style. Made a late booking at Manu and couldn’t believe the experience. The food is sublime, the atmosphere is intimate and relaxing and the service was absolutely top notch. If you haven’t been to Manu you are missing out on Christchurch’s best restaurant. A big thank you to the team for making our wedding anniversary so memorable.

Bruce & Gill

• Bruce Gilbert | Google Review  

3. The Goldfinch

Website: https://www.thegoldfinch.co.nz/

Address: 145 Victoria St

Contact: 324 404 64

Hours: 

• Tuesday – Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Saturday & Sunday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM 

If you’re looking for a restaurant that can handle everything from a business lunch to a milestone celebration, The Goldfinch is well worth considering. 

Its concept is built around heritage and shared culinary traditions, bringing together European and Asian influences in a menu designed for sharing. 

That makes it an easy choice for family gatherings or any occasion where good food is meant to be enjoyed around the table.

The kitchen showcases excellent New Zealand seafood and seasonal produce, while the handcrafted cocktail programme offers plenty of pairing options to elevate the experience.

They also have weekday lunch service available, which is surprisingly hard to find at venues of this calibre. 

On the downside, some guests feel the set menu portions can be a little small for the price point. Service can also be inconsistent during busier periods, so you may find yourself waiting a bit longer for small touches like water refills.

Has a stylish and comfortable atmosphere

Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The beef cheek was so tender, and the dumplings matched perfectly with the Thai curry flavour. The grilled confit cabbage was also amazing with the sauce.

It was my first time trying oxtail, but it was easy to eat and didn’t have a strong smell.

The staff were very kind and explained the dishes clearly. The restaurant has a stylish and comfortable atmosphere. I’d love to come back and try more dishes!

• Haruka Ueda | Google Review 

Exceptional service 

Gold Finch came highly rated and we weren’t disappointed. We had dumplings and two medium plates – all delicious, as was the wine. But the highlight was the exceptional service from the very personable Arpit. He was very helpful in answering our questions regarding the menu, attentive throughout the meal, and delighted us with unrushed personal experiences of his life in NZ and back in Northern India. It’s those personal interactions with quality front of house staff that really add to the dining pleasure in a nice restaurant.

• Barry Matthews | Google Review 

4. ROCA

Website: https://rocabar.co.nz/

Address: Level 1, The Terrace, 134 Oxford Terrace 

Contact: 359 559 95

Hours:

• Sunday – Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Thursday – Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM 

For those who love bold flavours and a memorable dining atmosphere, ROCA is an easy recommendation. The restaurant was created by the award-winning team behind King of Snake, and that hospitality experience is evident throughout the venue. 

The menu draws inspiration from Mediterranean cuisines spanning Spain to the Middle East, with fire and smoke playing a central role in many of the dishes. 

Everything is built around premium New Zealand produce, which gives the food a strong local connection despite its international influences.

When I dined here last Tuesday, the smoky aromas drifting from the open kitchen had me excited before the first plate even arrived. 

There’s also a great selection of share plates, along with a popular trust-the-chef option that takes the guesswork out of ordering.

Just keep in mind that the menu follows a structured course-style format that won’t suit everyone. Service can also slow down during peak periods, particularly when the restaurant is busy.

Overall, it was a great experience 

Recently dined at this elegant restaurant. It’s very classy, making it a great spot for a special night out. The staff were friendly and explained the menu to us, though there was a slight language barrier. The food was incredible and beautifully presented. Perfect for sharing meals. Overall, it was a great experience and highly recommended.

• Leonie Venter | Google Review 

Very attentive staff, fabulous food

Lovely restaurant fit out, very attentive staff, fabulous food. We had the goats cheese croquettes and heirloom tomatoes as a starter. Both dishes were spectacular. We followed the two starters with the lamb, the smashed cucumber salad and the tabbouleh salad. The tabbouleh salad was not like any other tabbouleh salad we had tried, it was crunchy and flavoursome. The lamb was perfectly cooked. Great wine list. Will definitely revisit.

• Kim Palmer | Google Review 

5. 5th Street

Website: https://5thstreet.co.nz/

Address: 5 Elgin St, Sydenham

Contact: 336 596 67

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM

If you enjoy restaurants where sharing food is part of the experience, 5th Street delivers a warm, hospitality-first approach that makes guests feel genuinely looked after. 

The menu is built around dishes designed for the whole table, making it a great fit for celebrations, catch-ups, and long dinners with friends. 

There’s a strong focus on inclusivity here, with vegan and dairy-free options clearly marked so everyone can order with confidence. They also strike a thoughtful balance between creative plant-based dishes and premium meat options.

One of the highlights is the curated chef’s selection, which takes the decision-making off your plate and lets the kitchen showcase a broader range of specialities. 

Do take note, though, that the overall value doesn’t always align with the higher price point.

An amazing place

Absolutely Blown away.  We walked almost a mile straight out of Christchurch over the railway bridge and sidings…very urban indeed! From the street, the place looks like a shack BUT what an amazing place!! TIPS: 1) Book to sit at the counter – Will was fantastic entertainment…a d Jamie was a worthwhile sidekick! 2) Book a cab to the restaurant!

• Barrie Duerden | Google Review 

A place that delivers exceptional food 

We had a fantastic evening at 5th Street Restaurant. The ambience is modern and cozy, the staff are incredibly professional, and every dish was cooked to perfection. The flavours, presentation, and portion sizes were all spot on.

If you’re looking for a place that delivers exceptional food and genuine hospitality, 5th Street is a must-try.

• Dan Yeoh | Google Review