Sweet Soul Patisserie

Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.

Monday8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Tuesday8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Wednesday8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Thursday8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Friday8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Saturday8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Sunday8:00 am – 8:00 pm.

1/79 Cashel St, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch

03 365 1919

A little slice of Paris in the form of Sweet Soul Patisserie can be found directly opposite Riverside Market on Cashel Mall. Step in through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and you will immediately be greeted with an air of amicable sophistication. The beautifully designed space has been purpose-created for the patisserie by a French architect with a polite nod to the culture at hand.

A cabinet filled with delicate edible art sits centre stage of the ground floor space, and small tables adorned with tiny hand-thrown bud vases line the edges of the room, with appropriate Parisian café-style bentwood chairs adding to the charming atmosphere. Upstairs offers more intimate seating and room for larger parties – not to mention elevated views across to the pedestrian mall; the perfect place to people watch.

Sweet Soul Patisserie is a family-run business of Brazilian-born sisters Taina and Ria Scur. You’ll find Taina leading the front-of-house team, always with a smile on her face and going the extra mile to make customers feel welcome and looked after. Ria works her magic behind the scenes, creating the incredible desserts you can admire and taste in this special store. 

All the cabinet's desserts are made on-site with fresh ingredients daily. The trademark of the patisserie is the ‘Forbidden Fruit’, a cake shaped into a perfect red apple with a mirror-like glossy surface. While it’s hard to go past that intensely beautiful entremet, there is always a varying selection of other just-as-stunning options available, a good number of which are gluten and/or nut free. The sisters are also working on inventing more vegan options to add to the selection.

A family and dog-friendly space, Sweet Soul invites well-behaved k9’s indoors on the ground level and offers baby-changing facilities for young families. In the evenings, or why not during a special day too, you can pair your chosen dessert with a glass of Champagne – the perfect way to finish an evening out. The coffee machine here stays on until closing time as well, making Sweet Soul Patisserie one of the few spots in town that offer that post-dinner caffeine hit later in the evening.

Words by Petra Nyman & Photography by Nancy Zhou

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

1/79 Cashel St, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch

Nearby Places

Smash Palace

Lots of customers seating outside on tables.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Bars key icon.

For the novelty of having your local beer served from the window of a bus, look no further than Smash Palace.

Fluffy Bake Shop

Customers ordering at the counter at Fluffy Bake Shop.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

Christchurch-dwellers or visitors to the garden city with a penchant for pastries, Fluffy Bake Shop needs to be at the top of your must-visit list.

Inati

A hand spoons a garnish onto a dish on a wooden board.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Restaurants key icon.

Prepare to be wowed by the thoughtful and beautifully executed Inati.

Embassy

A man working behind the counter at Embassy where lots of caps are displayed on shelves.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Fashion key icon.

Peruse the likes of Adidas, Vans, Element, and Lower’s latest lines all stocked in store, or choose from more than 50 other international and New Zealand brands.

Similar Places

Lillies

The long green serving counter at Lillies Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

An ethereal green glow emanates from the windows of what looks to be another garage workshop in Christchurch's industrial neighbourhood of Phillipstown.

Cleavers Corner, Ashburton

A fake green wall inside a large restaurant.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Cleavers Corner is the locals' go-to in Ashburton.

The Arts Centre

Inside Wilson & Dorset luxury wool shop at The Arts Centre in Christchurch
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.

A much-loved heritage hub for all things creative and cultural, Christchurch’s Arts Centre is a real jewel in the city’s crown.

Dune Café

Large yellow outdoor umbrellas in front of the asymmetrical, black frontage of Dune Cafe in New Brighton.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

On the corner of Bridge Street and Estuary Road in the heart of South Brighton, you’ll find Dune Café.