Christchurch

Wondering where to eat in Christchurch? The Garden City has so many choice restaurants popping up all over the place that it can be hard to keep track, so let us make life a whole lot easier with this invaluable list.

Ōtautahi is an absolute gem of a city—there’s not a lot it doesn’t have. Beaches? Yes. Arts and culture? Absolutely. Outdoor excursions? You bet. A bunch more fun stuff? By the bucket load! So go get out there and explore it with our list of 50 of the best things to do in Christchurch. 

Cantabrians sure know a thing or two about living the sweet life (or what the Italians call ''la dolce vita''). If you're wondering what such a life looks like, it's this: gorging on woodfired pizza, tackling mountains of handmade pasta and inhaling bowls of tiramisu, while simultaneously sipping on vinos, spritzes, and limoncello shots. All of which are in ample supply at Christchurch's long list of Italian restaurants.

Everyone who’s anyone knows New Zealand will deliver when it comes to walking tracks and the heart of Canterbury is certainly no exception. From your 30-minute morning run before work to a Sunday spent adventuring the outdoors, Christchurch has it all. With spectacular views and plenty to get the blood pumping, we’re here to share the best walking tracks and trails of our suitably titled Garden City.

From rolling valleys to dense native forest and cliffs overlooking black sand beaches, we've found the most jaw-dropping Airbnbs across New Zealand that you can book for a getaway.

Turns out The Garden City isn’t just about botanicals—it’s also one helluva foodie scene.

Whether you love getting amongst the arts or prefer to eat your way around town, Ōtautahi’s got something for you. Here are the best events happening in Christchurch in 2025. 

We’ve rounded up our top picks of Māori-owned kai pakihi (food businesses) across the motu where you can show your support.

As the gateway to the South Island, Ōtautahi Christchurch attracts visitors of all types and it's not hard to see why. Alongside amazing food and drink, the Garden City is blessed with some of the country’s best hotels, and we've put together a list of our faves so you can have an A+ Christchurch getaway whether you're travelling in luxury or you're on a budget.

The best things in life are furry, so we've compiled a list of the top places to adopt a cat in New Zealand so you can help a kitty in need.

You’ve inevitably stumbled into this friendly neighbourhood cafe at some stage of your life, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee greets you like an old friend, and each bite of the pastries feels like grandma baked it.

We've teamed up with Bombay Sapphire to inspire you to get out of your G&T comfort zone and stir a bit more creatively. 

There’s loads to do in the Garden City so if you haven’t visited before, or even if you have, it should be right up there on your to-do list. And while you could check into a hotel, sometimes you’re in the mood for something with a little more character, which is exactly why we love Airbnb.

At long last, women’s sport is taking centre stage and we are here. for. it. As we head into the cooler months, all eyes are on our Black Ferns and their highly-anticipated 2024 test calendar. 

If there’s anything better than great food, it’s great food that’s cheap. On those nights when the fridge is empty and the very thought of a trip to the supermarket plunges you into melancholy, we've got you covered. There’s no need to spend a small fortune when you can smash a hearty meal in Christchurch/Ōtautahi for the loose change in your pocket (if that’s even a thing anymore). Here are Urban List's picks of the best cheap eats in Christchurch for 2024.

From unconventional bars in buses to speakeasies and craft breweries, Christchurch nightlife is anything but dull.

Alpine village Hanmer Springs has all the ingredients for a magical escape any time of the year.

We’ve got the buzz on the best luxury hotels around the country, so you can be drinking champagne in a spa pool as soon as physically possible. Start packing those bags.

We’ve rounded up the best of the best costume shops in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and online so you can dive straight into bringing your fantasy (or worst nightmare) to life and take out that costume competition. 

Here we are again, whānau. Cyclone Gabrielle, hot on the tail of the recent floods, has put further strain on our communities. Here are 11 ways you can contribute to the Cyclone Gabrielle relief effort.

New Zealand is renowned for its stunning scenery, natural beauty, wondrous escapes and being one of the best places to look at the Southern Lights.

If you reckon yourself pretty logical, or maybe you’re the team’s creative, or even you’re the one who’ll touch every single thing in sight just to see if something will happen, tag a team together to conquer these Christchurch Escape Rooms.

Ready to get adventuring? Here are the best free camping spots in New Zealand.

Whoever said romance was dead has obviously never visited Christchurch. From delightful pastries and gelato to share to gorgeous accommodation options and everything in between, we’ve done the research and found the most romantic things to do in Christchurch.

For a completely free workout, lace up your running shoes, put in your ear buds and head outside to explore the absolute best running tracks in Christchurch.

After taking Auckland by storm, entertainment masters Funlab have announced they’re opening an Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq AND a Holey Moley right in the heart of Christchurch. Yes and yes. 

A next-level digital exhibition about the godfather of surrealism Salvador Dali is coming to New Zealand this May, direct from electrifying audiences in Florence, Italy.

If you’re looking for something to watch as it gets colder to cosy up in a cinema or at home, the full Doc Edge Festival programme is now live with over 100 feature length and short films to sink your teeth into.

Here in Christchurch, delicious ice cream is not hard to come by in our fine city. Luckily for you, we’ve done our research and put together a list of the Garden City’s best ice cream joints so you can taste your way around the finest in town. 

What if we told you that you had a billion dollars to spend? Well, it’s your lucky day, because you already are a billionaire; of heartbeats, at least. We’re all born with about 2.5 BILLION heartbeats to spend over our lifetime. Surely, we’ve got to invest these heartbeats into something meaningful.

We’ve rounded up the best workouts in the Garden City for you to try out and get hooked on. Why not push yourself to a whole new level by switching up your workout and get that glow going. 

Now you'll be able to have your own Emily In Paris moment as the full-scale, indoor exhibition will be touring stadium-sized venues in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland next year. Yep, get ready to snap up those tickets.

Ben & Jerry's have launched what's potentially the world's largest-ever Easter egg hunt—with 10,000 scoops of free ice cream thrown into the mix, no less—and you're invited. Now if you're wondering what the heck a virtual Easter egg hunt is or more importantly, how you can get involved—here's the scoop.

Get ready to get the drinks and your creative juices flowing at this boozy painting in the park.

No weekend is complete without some market hopping. Christchurch is a city full of quality markets — from street food markets to those selling homemade and second-hand wares. Come satisfy your stall-crawling cravings with the best live music, bargains and goods from local creatives, food producers and musicians. These are the best markets in Christchurch this winter.

One of Christchurch’s most well-loved (and epic) gelato stores is letting you cast your vote for the upcoming elections in the most mouth-watering way possible. Rollickin Gelato’s ‘scoop poll’ lets you over indulge in creamy, organic deliciousness, all in the name of politics. Who knew it could be so fun?

With so many eateries dotted all over Christchurch, it’s hard to know where to start but we’re here to point you in the right direction. From cheap and cheerful to fine dining establishments, here is where to find the best restaurants in Christchurch, as well as a handful just outside the city as well.

Love burgers and ice cream? Who are we kidding, of course you do! Well now you can enjoy the best of both worlds all in one drool-worthy bite thanks to an epic new treat from the legends at Ben & Jerry's.

Check out of work and on to the next available flight with Jetstar’s epic Hello NZ sale. 

Here is a list of great, or potentially not-so-great, films you might not have realised were filmed in god’s zone.

From cheeses to chocolate, coffee to all things carbs, we’ve rounded up the gourmet outlets that are delivering premium goodies across the country during Level 3 and beyond.

We’re all for keeping ourselves safe through social distancing and staying inside, and thankfully plenty of our Christchurch eateries are now offering at-home delivery or quick pick up options.

You’ll need sustenance for the days ahead, so we’ve rounded up the businesses that are working hard to ensure you get what you need for your weekly food shop. Here are the businesses delivering fresh food in Christchurch.

If you’re missing your weekly (or daily, we won’t judge) glass of pinot, we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up a list of Christchurch and Canterbury booze purveyors that are currently offering home delivery. Go on, treat yourself to a bottle or two. 

If you love feasting, dancing and good wine, you’ll want to block out Sunday March 8 in your calendar ASAP and get yourself to New Zealand’s coolest little wine and food festival.

February has shaped up to be quite the crazy, magical and entertaining month here in the Chur because the circus has come to town.

If you’re anything like us here at Urban List, you’ll be all about the epic resurgence that gin has been experiencing of late. Well hold on to your hats gin fans because you’ll soon be able to sip your way through 15 craft gins from local and international brands.

With bright blue skies, scorching temperatures and sultry nights there’s no better way to enjoy the summer than escaping the city for a little while and basking in the glory of Mother Nature. In our beautiful neck of the woods, we have some of the best views in the world—so dig up that old tent, find your best swimmers and stock up on the lollies because we’ve found the best camping spots in Christchurch.  

Sure, the calendar says it’s spring, but the ever-rising mercury has us thinking we might just have scored ourselves another endless summer. Which means it’s the perfect time to enjoy all things alfresco… especially when it comes to the flicks.

We’ve been dying to get our hands on a piping hot bowl of ramen and thankfully, Christchurch has delivered. There's a brand new ramen joint spot in town and it’s quickly becoming everyone’s go-to for hearty goodness.

Whether you fancy a bit of yoga, desire the comfort of some baked goods or are seeking to be a little healthier—look no further than The Welder, the largest Health and Wellbeing complex in the country.

Long time fans of Sumner’s Utopia Ice have had their prayers answered. The delicious artisanal ice cream shop has opened a gorgeous store in the central city on High Street.

For those lucky enough to have travelled to Spain, you’ll be well acquainted with the gastronomic delight that is tapas. Small bites traditionally served with drinks in the early evening before having a larger meal, tapas are ideal for sharing. Up until this point, we haven’t had a go-to for this culinary delight in Christchurch, but thankfully Castro’s Tapas has entered the scene.

Apparently Cantabrians are the biggest Caramilk fans in New Zealand and Cadbury has taken notice. They’ve crowned Christchurch the Caramilk Capital of New Zealand and partnered with the local legends at C1 Espresso. 

The Christchurch brunch scene is constantly evolving, with new eateries opening up on the regular. Here are our all-time favourite spots for dishes that go well beyond the regular eggs benedict and smashed avocado on toast. 

Guess what, Christchurch? There's a brand new gelato and bubble tea spot in town and it's set to become your go-to for delicious desserts. 

Leave it to the pros, these are the best hairdressers in Christchurch…

Christchurch, it’s time to meet your brand new local, Child Sister. 

It’s been a long wait, but those shiny, deep-fried delights Krispy Kreme is famous for will finally be touching down in the South with a pop-up shop not to be missed.

Finding quality second hand clothes that won’t break the bank involves a bit of effort, so we’re here to help you discover the very best thrift and op shops Christchurch has to offer.

Clear out your makeup bag Christchurch, MECCA is opening a new store and you won’t want to miss this one.

Whether you’re looking for that one-off piece or the trendiest, must-have item of the season, we’ve scoured the racks to bring you all the must-visit boutiques in Christchurch.

While Christchurch isn’t exactly a 24-hour city like say, Tokyo or London, we still have plenty of options for evening entertainment. Whether it’s catching a live gig, heading to a local restaurant or something more active, we’ve done the research and discovered the best things to do at night in Christchurch. 

Calling all creatives—Urban List New Zealand, the home of urban culture and everything that’s cool and trending, is on the lookout for new superstars to collaborate with.

The search for binge-worthy shows is never over and as difficult as it is finding fresh new series to watch, we want to make it that little bit easier.

Smartphone brand Oppo have just launched an amazing deal which could score you a free stay in a jaw-dropping glass eco-cabin in the heart of the Waipara Valley. 

July has a stellar line-up of new release movies hitting the big screen which means your weekly date nights are sorted. Throughout the month you can catch hilarious comedies, action-fuelled flicks and childhood favourites.

Cadbury has done it again with the release of another nostalgic twist on two Kiwi classic lollies. 

The bus will be a truly interactive experience that showcases an exclusive selection of products that will be available to swatch, try and play at the custom-built makeups stations.

Geographically-blessed, our city has easy access to the beach and the Port Hills, which means there’s a whole host of free activities at your disposal. So, if you’re strapped for cash or just on the lookout for activities that don’t cost an arm and a leg, don’t despair. For the active to the arty, there are heaps of activities in Christchurch that are completely free and heaps of fun. These are the best free things to do in Christchurch.

Lovers of all things food-related listen up because we have the latest scoop on all the things you need to know. New products, new menus and new openings are in plenty this week and there are some seriously exciting things to check out. 

We love you, Christchurch. We constantly complain about your lack of public transport while parked in a bike lane, but being so close to the Southern Alps and the beach has its perks. There’s nothing better than skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon,

We are big on all things food related, especially the constant new products, new menus and new openings that come our way. This week the line-up is stacked–we are talking doughnut burgers and salted caramel peanut butter. 

Ah June, winter has now fully emerged. The days are getting shorter and the nights are colder. If you’re looking for an excuse to get out of the house, we’ve got a full calendar of events to keep you busy. Whether you’re an arts lover, a budding filmmaker, foodie or sports fanatic, you’ll find something to get excited about this month. We might even call it the best month yet but we’ll let you decide, so get planning for a spectacular month ahead!

From today, we’re going all in, with a commitment to help you find more of what you love, and truly live your best life—whether that life is based North or South.

Rug up and settle in for a good week of viewing because there is a stellar line-up of fresh new release shows hitting your screens this week.

Who doesn’t love a round of mini-golf with friends? It’s a hole different way to enjoy the city (get it?) and Christchurch has plenty of options for a fun afternoon or evening out on the green.

New Zealand is renowned for its stunning scenery, natural beauty, wondrous escapes and being one of the best places to look at the Southern Lights.

A week ago we revealed one of the most magically epic experiences in the world—sleeping in an inflatable bubble in the middle of the Icelandic wilderness.