With student town pushing in from the west, neighbouring Fendalton to the north and industrial-themed Middleton and Addington filling in the southern border, this neighbourhood is the original melting pot of Ōtautahi: a hot and delicious mess of ethnic foods, shopping centres and hidden treasures.
The streets surrounding Westfield Riccarton are awash with fantastic businesses where you can do it all: experiential dining to shopping sprees and errand-running. Grab dinner or a cocktail, get your fave shoes repaired while you browse the latest fashion, or pick up some fresh fish to take home to an eager family. Everybody from students looking for cheap eats to posh Fendalton mums meeting friends for brunch has a home here; if people-pleasing were a suburb, Riccarton would be it.
Put away your passports and travel instead to the west side of Hagley Park, because Riccarton’s foodie offerings encompass just about every kind of cuisine you could possibly want. Lovers of Asian food know Windmill Centre on the corner of Clarence Street is a semi-secret hub of excellent Eastern eateries, as is Church Corner at the far end of Riccarton Road. Wander the main road to find restaurants serving Greek, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Persian, Mexican, African and Cambodian food. Cafés come in all shapes, sizes and vibes here too, from the uber-trendy to the relaxed, student-friendly local; hidden gems to high-class historic spots.
Over at Riccarton Racecourse, the Riccarton Market has been a Sunday morning destination in Christchurch since 1995. Extensive and buzzing, you’re likely to find everything you need and a few things you didn’t know you needed among the 200+ stalls, and there’s always live music and entertainment adding to the atmosphere. The Christchurch Farmers’ Market in the idyllic grounds of Riccarton House is also a great Saturday morning activity.
Fresh air and greenery come in five-star form at Riccarton’s lower border: Hagley Park, with its many options for walking, biking, golfing, duck-feeding, tennis-playing and even barbecueing, is just waiting to be explored. Riccarton Bush is Christchurch’s only area of podocarp forest and has a couple of lovely shady walks through the native bush, while a stroll through the beautiful manicured gardens of Mona Vale is the perfect preface to an elegant high tea in the historic homestead.