Make it an occasion
There’s something about this time of year that makes us want to get together, and Christchurch has no shortage of places to make it memorable. Here are some of the city’s best venues for gathering, celebrating, and enjoying good times.
CHRISTCHURCH CASINO
While gaming remains at its heart, Christchurch Casino has quietly grown into something much broader: an entertainment destination where dinner can turn into drinks, drinks can turn into live music, and a quick catch-up can easily become a whole evening. Eat, drink, watch, listen, celebrate, connect.
For those who haven’t visited in a while, the variety may come as a surprise. Alongside gaming, Christchurch Casino now offers three distinct food and beverage spaces, live local music every Friday and Saturday, major sporting fixtures on the big screen, quiz nights, promotions, and regular events – each offering a different reason to stay a little longer.
The Café keeps things relaxed, serving everything from Kiwi classics to Asian-inspired dishes, whether you’re after a casual lunch or a pre-show dinner. Over at Monza Sports Bar, the atmosphere ramps up with live sport, a 167-inch high-definition screen and plenty of food and drink to keep the crowd fuelled, from pizzas and burgers to ribs, beer, wine, and spirits. It’s also becoming a destination for charity quiz nights during the week.
The Casino’s more stylish, entertainment-led offering, Skylark Bar & Lounge, is designed to feel social and welcoming. Bathed in natural light from its glass-roofed atrium, Skylark challenges the traditional idea of what a casino bar looks like. It’s a space for cocktails, conversation, music, and a sense of occasion, with a live music programme that puts local talent centre stage and gives Christchurch audiences another reason to discover something new.
That sense of shared experience is at the heart of the Casino’s evolution. Whether it’s discovering a local band, watching a major sporting moment unfold with a crowd, settling in for dinner, or raising a glass with friends, entertainment is no longer an add-on – it’s central to the experience.
And that’s where Christchurch Casino is placing its next bet: not on changing what it is, but on showing people more of what it can be. A place to eat, drink, listen, watch, celebrate, and connect – and perhaps stay a little longer than planned.
CHRISTCHURCH TRAM
Looking for a memorable setting for your end-of-year function or next celebration? Step aboard the Christchurch Tram for an experience that combines warm hospitality, heritage charm, and a fresh perspective of the central city.
Whether you’re thanking your team after a busy year, entertaining valued clients, or celebrating a special occasion with friends and family, a private drinks and canapés hour aboard a beautifully restored heritage tram offers something genuinely unique.
Your century-old tram travels at an easy pace through the heart of Christchurch, passing iconic city landmarks while you enjoy delicious food, beverages, and attentive service. With boarding and departure available from any of the 18 tram stops, it’s also an ideal choice for pre-dinner drinks before continuing to one of the many restaurants along the tram route.
For smaller groups, the 36-seat Tramway Restaurant offers another memorable way to experience the city. As New Zealand’s only dining tramcar, it features a carefully crafted seasonal menu showcasing premium local cuisine and beverages, paired with attentive service from professional wait staff as Christchurch unfolds outside your window.
Choose to hire one of the two seating sections or the entire tramcar, depending on your group size and style of celebration.
With pre-Christmas availability already becoming limited, early bookings are recommended. Contact the team at info@christchurchattractions.nz to discover how you can give your next event or celebration a distinctly Christchurch touch – a memorable experience your guests will be talking about long after.
CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY
There are few venues as dramatic as the award-winning Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.
From intimate gatherings to large-scale occasions, the Gallery offers one of the city’s most iconic settings for all kinds of events, with its award-winning architecture providing a memorable backdrop for corporate functions, cocktail events, fundraisers, seated dinners, product launches, lectures, seminars, and private celebrations.
Situated conveniently in the heart of the city, along Montreal Street, a range of venue hire options caters to events of all sizes, from intimate gatherings on a private balcony to impressive occasions in the soaring foyer. The Gallery also features a state-of-the-art, 178-seat auditorium, while private exhibition viewings offer the opportunity to create something particularly memorable for guests.
Catering can be taken care of too, with the events team connecting organisers with the right caterer to suit the occasion. Audio-visual requirements can also be easily incorporated, making it possible to tailor the space and experience to each event.
The experience is designed to be seamless. From the initial enquiry to the departure of the final guest, a dedicated event contact works with you to make sure your needs are met.
Whether you’re planning an elegant dinner, a lively cocktail evening, or an important corporate occasion, the Gallery’s distinctive spaces provide the perfect setting to make it one to remember.
MANU
There’s something about spring in Christchurch that makes us want to get together. The days stretch a little longer, the city comes back to life, and suddenly the calendar begins filling with reasons to celebrate. Cup Week is on the horizon, Christmas isn’t far behind, and end-of-year gatherings are beginning to take shape.
For those looking for somewhere to mark the occasion, Manu brings together the ingredients of a memorable celebration: exceptional food, attentive service, and an elegant setting in the heart of the city – all with Pacific, Māori, and Asian flair.
Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a corporate function, a Christmas party, or a larger celebration, the experience can be shaped around the occasion. More importantly, the details are taken care of, leaving hosts free to actually enjoy their own event.
It’s something previous guests have appreciated. “Nothing was ever too much trouble,” says Sam Toner. “Everything was top-notch, from the service standard to the food itself.”
And, of course, food is central to any great gathering. After celebrating at Manu with overseas guests, Duane and Karen Fyfe were equally impressed. “The food was delicious, the staff attentive, and our overseas guests were very impressed.”
With a warm atmosphere, thoughtful service, and a menu designed to bring people together, Manu makes hosting feel effortless. Whether you’re gathering colleagues, welcoming visitors from overseas, or simply bringing friends and family together, it’s a place where good food and great company naturally take centre stage.
MELTON ESTATE
Just 20 minutes from Christchurch, in the heart of the Canterbury plains, Melton Estate is a little wine oasis where good wine, great food, and relaxed summer days come together. Beyond the cellar door, explore the vines, gardens, and expansive lawns, or settle in for a game of pétanque beside the Chardonnay vines.
Home to a modern winery, restaurant, and event venue, Melton Estate offers nine beautiful wines to discover, including its acclaimed Summer Love Sparkling and the new Melton Méthode, made in the traditional méthode traditionnelle style. There’s something to suit every palate and every occasion.
Melton Estate is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, wine, and platters, and offers a selection of bookable experiences, including a Champagne Breakfast, Summer Love Picnic in the Vines, Pétanque, Pinot & Platter, and Dessert & Wine.
Melton Estate is also a beautiful setting for weddings, corporate events, and family celebrations. From an intimate lunch with close family to a big celebration with everyone you know, Melton Estate is designed for making memories. The restaurant and outdoor pavilion offer flexible spaces to suit gatherings of all sizes, while the vineyard and gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for photos and outdoor fun.
With plenty of space to settle in, beautiful surroundings to explore, and something delicious always close at hand, it’s an easy place to spend a few hours.
Whether you’re planning a long lunch, a special occasion, or simply looking for somewhere to slow down and savour summer, Melton Estate is the perfect escape – right on the city’s doorstep.
THE HILLTOP
Avenues sits down with Sam Schwartfeger and Chris Penny, the duo behind 5th Street and The Hilltop, to talk about good service, great parties and the art of making guests feel looked after.
Before The Hilltop × 5th Street, where had hospitality taken you both?
Chris: I started washing dishes as a teenager at Le Café, then moved through a few Christchurch venues before heading to Vancouver. When I came back to Christchurch, I created and opened Hello Sunday. From there came the itch to create something more elevated for the evening – and 5th Street was born. The Hilltop now gives us the chance to lean into a more intimate side of hospitality.
Sam: I worked in a handful of restaurants and cafés before joining Rollickin Gelato in 2017, where I realised how much I loved hospitality and getting to know regulars. At 5th Street, Chris introduced me to table service and the importance of connection and warmth. I then spent time at Melbourne’s Supernormal, where I really developed as an event manager, looking after everything from birthdays to weddings. When Chris asked me to come home and join The Hilltop, it felt like a perfect fit.
If The Hilltop were a guest at a party, why would you want to sit next to her?
Chris: It’s really pretty! Shallow, I know.
Sam: She’d be gorgeous, elegant, and chic, but with old-school charm. She’d know everyone by name, ask after your parents, and have a cheeky sense of humour. That’s someone I’d want to sit next to.
How do you know when someone needs you to take the weight off their shoulders, while making sure the experience still feels completely theirs?
Chris: Service. People think about the food, flowers, and music, but not always about what it feels like to be really looked after. We meet every couple, get a feel for what they want, then adapt everything around them. We take care of the setup, ceremony, timelines, staffing, catering, bar, and packdown. Sometimes, couples worry it’s all been too easy, and they must have forgotten something. I tell them, “The boxes are ticked. You can relax.” The best feedback is when people mention our crew and how much they added to the day. Our team genuinely loves what they do, and I think guests feel that.
