5th Street

Walk through the doors of the beautiful 5th Street and one thing is blindingly obvious: this is a place that has been created with a lot of care. Care for the stunning f (formerly a fruit and vegetable warehouse before being transformed by owners Chris Penny, Jonathan Spark, Sam Stewart and Max Perry), for the smiling and proud staff, for the delicious food and drink delivered to each table and finally, care for each visitor who walks through the door – ensuring they feel welcome, comfortable and valued.

With this amount of consideration and care for a dining experience, it’s no wonder 5th Street is an outstanding spot for evening dining and is a favourite among locals and visitors to Christchurch.

The brainchild of the team behind the much loved Sydenham cafe Hello Sunday, 5th Street specialises in memorable evening dining seven days a week, making the “where shall we meet for dinner?” question easy to answer.

The food is made with love and is designed to work for whatever the format of your evening – there are delicious small plates such as smoked brisket wontons, medium plates such as clams with seaweed butter and chilli and stir-fried greens on coconut rice as well as larger plates such as Szechuan deep-fried chicken or pan-fried hapuka with gremolata and borlotti beans. And to finish, a selection of outrageously tasty dishes like banoffee and peanut butter pie and sweet potato pie with vanilla almond cream. These gems are dotted through a generous yet refined menu that is ever-evolving to move with the seasons and what’s on offer locally.

Two of the owners – Sam and Max – are co-head chefs here, adding to that unique 5th Street care factor. Alongside their restaurant menu, 5th Street offers a bar menu brimming with snacks designed to match perfectly with a couple of tipples.

On the drinks front, it will come as no surprise that 5th Street’s offering is nothing short of perfect. Big supporters of Kiwi entrepreneurs, the team has welcomed a number of New Zealand craft breweries to the list as well as an exciting mix of wines sourced locally and internationally. There’s also a great selection of cocktails and spirits on offer and some classy non-alcoholic options.

5th Street is guaranteed to become a favourite for anyone who visits and should be placed very high on the “to visit” list.