Cityscape checks in with what’s new in the inner city, from retail meccas boasting everything from boutiques to High Street fashion, and hospitality venues ideal for everything from an intimate date night to places where the party is guaranteed.
Riverside Market
This seven-day-a-week market space by the Bridge of Remembrance has been inundated since opening with keen shoppers wanting to get their hands on the multitude of goodies on offer. Stop by and you’ll discover plenty of banging eateries, artisan suppliers and boutique retailers – you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can bop along as you shop, too – there’s an awesome sound system that was put in by Craig Shaw and the team at Harvey Norman. Among the 30 independent food outlets and 40 market stalls are city favourites Pedro’s Kitchen, where you can pick up some delectable tapas; Argentine BBQ bosses El Quincho; Bohemian Bakery, serving up their fresh baked goods; Cured NZ by the team from Cashmere Cuisine, with their delicious deli fare; and Fritz’s Wieners, where you’ll find the best bratwurst around. You can also brush up on your cooking skills or learn about a specific cuisine with Riverside Kitchen, where the friendly, knowledgeable team can turn you into a MasterChef in no time! Be sure to head up, too, where you can quench your thirst and soak in some sunshine as you check out some of the laxed rooftop bars that overlook the Avon River.
Lumière
Think The Great Gatsby meets boutique luxury cinema and that’s what you’ll find at the state-of-the-art Lumière, set in the stunning Arts Centre. Helmed by Christchurch cinema legend Nick Paris, Lumière is helping to pave the way for a bright future for cinema in Christchurch and at the same time offering a series of gentle nods to the past, such as the two theatres named after screen legends Brigitte Bardot and Sarah Bernhardt. The Art Deco bar is the star of the complex and the perfect place to enjoy a pre-movie drink – Bijou, which is French for ‘little gem’, offers pure decadence and sophistication. You can soak in the atmosphere as you relax in the emerald velvet chairs and sip on a signature cocktail, craft beer or wine. When it comes time for your screening, you’ll experience state-of-the-art digital projection (some crystal-clear viewing!), indulge in a delicious cheeseboard and recline back into the ever-so-comfortable chairs that will have you feeling as though you are floating on a cloud. If you’re looking for a movie experience like no other, Lumière has the goods.
Ballantynes – Lichfield Street
It’s been two years in the making but Ballantynes have reopened their Lichfield Street entrance and the stunning spot will have you wowing with excitement. The new homewares department boasts exclusive concept store Pottery Barn, the first New Zealand store for the iconic US chain, which will up the ante for design gurus around town. You’ll be stoked to find Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and a florist alongside mouth-wateringly rich and decadent sweets served up by the good folks at Chocolate Library. If you’re a foodie, The Pantry is the perfect place to stock up on all your tasty needs – they’ve got you covered from bold red wines to botanical gins, spreads to meringues, take-home hand-crafted meals and everything in between. The lux Lichfield Street offerings are rounded out by Kin, an elegant café and wine bar that will tickle your senses with some of the incredible treats on their menu (be sure to try the weekend brunch!). The best way to experience Kin is to share a meal, relax over a coffee and maybe indulge in a cheeky rosé or two.
The Crossing
At The Crossing you’ll discover a shopping mecca full of swag that offers a wonderful web of wicked finds. Hidden laneways and stylish air bridges dominate this style maven’s heaven and you’re sure to find some banging culinary destinations inconspicuously tucked away, too. If it’s stylish looks you’re after, you won’t be disappointed with killer stores Witchery, Country Road, Sunglass Hut and Barkers. If you’re on the lookout for a little something for someone special, The Gift Shop is the go-to and have some beautiful treasures including clothes, soaps, candles, skincare and ceramics – some are locally handmade and others are from all around the world. Don’t forget to treat yourself to something, too! Pick up a coffee from the team at Coffee Culture, and if you’re feeling a bit peckish, Cookai Japanese Restaurant serve up some of the best eats in town – they have a sushi train with more than 80 options plus a menu to choose from, so there’s something for everyone! The swanky shopping hub has a too-cool-for-school aesthetic and is a fab spot to get those gram-worthy pics, too. Park in The Crossing car park and your first two hours are just $2.
Dining lanes
The city is bursting with so many delicious dining choices, but where do you go when you can’t decide what to eat, or there’s conflicting opinions on where to go? Don’t battle it out and end up hangry, just head to one of the many dining hotspots – all of them are unique in their own right and offer a little something for everyone. Eats on Oxford is the city’s newest dining lane and will have your mouth watering as you walk through the door. Situated on the beautiful Avon River, you can grab takeaways and enjoy the view or chow down in the chilled atmosphere. Eats has got you covered from Malaysian to Mexican and everything in between. EntX is conveniently located in the middle of town and offers some diverse eateries. The space is huge and has a little of everything, with sweet, savoury, hot and cold dishes served up from more than 12 stalls. The Yard is a super-styly hospitality hotspot that shares its space with offices and retail spaces. It’s in the SALT District, so you know the food on offer will deliver the goods. There’s French crêpes, Korean pancakes and Otto Delicatessen, a hole-in-the-wall sandwich bar, to choose from among many others. Speaking of the SALT District, be sure to check out Little High, which is in the heart of it. Always full of hustle and bustle, the eight eateries here will satisfy your hunger and leave you wanting more. So there you have it – all your food problems, solved!
The Welder
This space in the centre of the city is leading the way by offering shoppers a mix of artisan retail, hospitality and wellbeing businesses. They’re taking wellbeing to the next level by expanding further than just healthy eating, with physical wellbeing, mindfulness and sociability all accounted for. Situated on the funky and bustling Welles Street, The Welder’s ethos is an inspiring one – wanting to make people’s lives better by producing healthy products and services, and creating enjoyable and memorable experiences. In the ever-so-trendy building (which was created from six buildings dating as far back as 1880), discover some of the best baked goodies you’ll ever try at Grizzly Baked Goods, get your zen on with some yoga and meditation at O-Studios, ditch your plastic and fill your pantry at GoodFor, or try some tender, traditional Wagyu beef at Bar Yoku.
Childcare
With businesses heading back to the inner city and the hustle and bustle building around town, there’s a growing need for childcare facilities. Heeding the call, Millie’s House Early Learning Centre has given a new lease of life to an old courthouse building right in the heart of the city. The early learning centre, which influences the children to be artistic and inquisitive, boasts eight play areas and two large communal areas packed full of activities. Situated in the ever-so-swanky The Crossing, you will find The Crossing Preschool. They have some of the best views in town, with a 360-degree outlook on the city, and have everything covered with low teacher-to-child ratios and quizzical learning. Grow Active Daycare is on the south side of town and is located on the hip and happening Welles Street. They have a focus on sustainability and active early learners. The environment they have created fosters curiosity and creativity. These are just a few of the childcare centres that are going up within the Four Avenues, which is exciting for the city and parents alike.
Dotting around
There’s so many cool stores popping up around town. If you go for a meander, High Street is the one to wander down. This busy street will take you where you want to be – from award-winning sourdough and sweet and savoury pastries at Bohemian Bakery to chic, intimate wine bar Not Without You. If fashion is your passion, Infinite Definite will take care of you and have you looking très chic! Head just west of High Street and you’ll find premium menswear store Cutler & Co and on-trend fashionistas Hunters and Collectors. Just a short stroll and you’ll end up in Nutron where you can release your inner tech head – these guys have you covered with home automation, e-scooters and audio, plus they’re an authorised Apple reseller and service provider. Getting hungry? Head to New Regent Street and check out the exquisite culinary fare at Story, which blends Indian flavours and local ingredients. For breakfast
and lunch with a bit of a twist, head to Miro. If you’re looking for a little fun, pop to St Asaph Street, just south-west of High Street, where you can have a laugh with the team at CodeBreakers – these guys are the masters of escape rooms and will have you immersed in a world of puzzling fun.
Riding in style
What better way to explore the hotspots of our resurgent city than in a zippy and oh-so-styley BMW 1 Series. Cityscape took to the streets in the latest model one afternoon, courtesy of Christchurch BMW, and found city traffic a lot easier to cope with when cossetted in leather luxury and that inimitable new-car aroma. The suspension smoothed out those rough road surfaces we still come across occasionally, and keeping within that 30 kph inner-city speed limit was a lot easier with the heads-up display. Lots of room in the back for those bags of shopping as well. Know what was extra cool? You could search for an address by writing with your finger on the top of the navigation touch pad – get the first few letters out and ‘search’ will do the rest. Now that’s a step up from fumbling with a keyboard!
Riverside rhythms
On one of your visits to the new Riverside Market, you may have noticed some funky tunes coming out of a banging sound system – if not, be sure to listen out next time you pop in. You can thank Harvey Norman Commercial’s Craig Shaw (pictured) for this multi-zoned audio system, which sounds fabulous! Opening day featured Dr Sanchez playing live flamenco guitar pumped out of the system and by all accounts it sounded great. The setup was a big job, taking the team around four weeks to pull together, but it was certainly worth it. The beats coming out of the system are courtesy of Shawsy too – these were created under Shaw Consulting and provide a real vibe throughout the market. Different music plays throughout the day – in the mornings you’ll find a more chilled acoustic vocal sound, while later in the day the tempo picks up. The top-notch music and sound system make for a great atmosphere both inside and out, and really gives the space some soul. Keep an ear out next time you’re at Riverside and feel free to sing along. Talk to Craig Shaw on 03 363 5910.