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Riverside Market, Christchurch
Compared to Copenhagen’s Torvehallerne and Madrid’s Mercado San Miguel, Christchurch’s Riverside Market like most things Kiwi, is just right. While many famous food markets lean heavily into tourism (and tourist prices), Riverside feels refreshingly local. Prices are sensible and welcoming: a glass of wine for about US$6, a beautifully made gin and tonic for US$8, or half a dozen fresh oysters for US$12.
I like to start my day here with a cup of Americano from the Japanese-owned Espresso Studio, followed by delicious pastries from Bellbird. If I’m really hungry, it’s either a sumptuous full breakfast from Bobby’s Brunch or an award-winning meat pie from The Butcher’s Pie Shop.
Lunch options are just as tempting: locally sourced blue cod fish and chips, salmon sashimi, or my personal favorite Pacific oysters from Little Fish Co. Sometimes I’ll sit at the bar with Adam at Mischief and pair the food with a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from his own winery. Another excellent stop is to try Curiosity gin, a small local gin maker, for the perfect gin and tonic served by an amazing sweet and knowledgeable bartender at The Spirits Workshop. I like the #23 gin which was the 23rd attempt to create the perfect gin.
Sadly, we’re only here for two days, so these are just a few of the many places I managed to sample before my stomach gave up. With great food, endless choices, and prices that keep both your belly and wallet happy, Riverside Market is an absolute must when in Christchurch.