10 Christchurch Cafés Worth Checking Out

I’m all about a quality café. Having worked remotely for much of my career, I’m constantly on the hunt for cafés that fit the following criteria:

The coffee needs to be good.
There needs to be a decent food offering.
They need to be okay with me staying a while (and likely taking a photo or two…)
If there’s wifi, even better. 

Not so hard, is it? Fortunately, Christchurch has had an influx of new cafés as of late. There are cafés to suit all aesthetics, whether you like something cosy and intimate or spacious and light-filled, I’ve got your back. Read on and I’ll cover my top 10 cafés worth visiting.

Miro
176 Oxford Terrace, The Midland Building
I won’t go into too much detail about Miro because you can read my first impressions here. Let’s just say it fits all the above criteria and it’s in a prime location in the beautiful Midland Building. 

Photo by Nancy Zhou

Photo by Sophie Isabella 

The Origin
95 Westminster Street, St. Albans
If you’re after a space that’s a bit more open and light-filled, head to The Origin in St. Albans. This mostly plant-based, vegetarian café has free wifi (score) and excellent coffee. The space itself is stunning, mostly white with lots of plants and the comfiest chairs.

West End Stories
93 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch Central
Another beautiful café in the central city, West End Stories has a delicious menu and free wifi to boot. In particular, I’m in love with their pumpkin fritters and poached eggs.

Uncommon
262 Tuam St, Christchurch Central
Uncommon Café on Tuam Street has one of the best menus in the city. Their coffee is C4 and their dishes are always changing. I’m a fan of their hotcakes, which are big enough to feed two, but I usually devour on my own. I also like how close it is to our flat — super convenient for Sunday morning brekkie. 

The Anchorage
4 Walker Street, Christchurch Central 
Another spot for free wifi and quality brews, The Anchorage is a roastery, café and communal workspace. The coffee menu is the key focus here and it’s ever-changing. They also have simple menu made up of local suppliers, Cakes by Anna, Bellbird and Grizzly Bagel.

Grain
19 Southwark Street, Christchurch Central
Again, I’ve written about Grain in the past, but it’s one of my favourite cafés for many reasons including its expertly poured Allpress coffee, its minimalist interior and healthy menu. The grain bowls are my lunchtime go-to and I highly recommend trying their warm vegan bowl.

Mediterranean Food Company
322 Tuam Street, Christchurch Central
Part grocery store, part café, part restaurant, Mediterranean Food Co. may not exactly quality as a café, but they do serve coffee and the best Mediterranean food in the city. The pizzas are divine, Aperol Spritzes (which originate in Italy) are impeccable and you can have a cappuccino or gelato to top it all off. Oh, and they have instagrammable marble tables, perfect to fit that Instagram aesthetic you’re after.

Ten27
1027 Ferry Road, Ferrymead
Located a bit further afield is Ten27, another spacious café with an extensive breakfast and lunch menu. I haven’t tried very much off their menu, but loved the honeycomb pancakes pictured below. They were absolutely divine. Oh, and there’s free wifi.

Coffee Embassy
107 Fitzgerald Ave, Christchurch Central
Previously Lumes, Coffee Embassy is my local. It’s only about three blocks from my flat and I love sitting outside while sipping my morning coffee. The café and roastery has a surprisingly delicious menu as well, not relying solely on excellent brews. I recommend the avocado toast.

Park Ranger
114 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton, Christchurch
Last but certainly not least, Park Ranger is my favourite café in Riccarton. It’s constantly teeming on the weekends, filled with locals and those leaving the Christchurch Farmers Market in need of an extra hit of coffee. The açai bowl is a refreshing option or try the Goodness Bowl, filled with all those healthy greens and balanced with halloumi and a poached egg for good measure.

Are you a frequent café-goer, too? If so, let me know your favourite spots in the comments below.