Top Plant-Based Brunches in Christchurch

While no one will stop you from gorging yourself on crumpets or toast and preserves, we recommend something more substantial at Little Poms. Their steel cut porridge features star anise poached plums, banana, rhubarb, cardamom custard, and chocolate caramel crumble, a fun twist on a classic. For something more veggie heavy, try the ‘Zany Zeus Halloumi’ (for vegetarians) featuring smashed peas, broccolini, snow peas, and poached eggs on toasted multigrain with smoked almonds.

With a menu dedicated to vegans, it’s hard to go wrong at a place like Miro. Their mushroom benedict features a vegan hollandaise sauce, mushrooms, spinach, and potato and leek cakes sprinkled with yuzu salt, while their ‘Mavacado on Toast’ delights with pickled tomato, avocado, and vegan aioli sprinkled on homemade sourdough. Plus, their dazzling array of breakfast cocktails (Bloody Mary, anyone?) and smoothies are sure to be a hit with vegans and meat-eaters alike.

A true delight, Under the Red Verandah sits in a tiny Linwood home, tucked into a quaint neighbourhood. Their ‘Posh Beans’ stand out as a vegan favourite, mixed with spiced tomato and crumbled with homemade nut cheese, topped on toasted focaccia. For the hungry, they offer a ‘Vegan Big Breakfast’, which features roast potatoes, mushrooms, tomato, wilted spinach, vegan cheese, and hummus served with toast. All enjoyed under a red verandah and with delicious coffee - what more could you ask for?

Among plant-based favourites such as porridge and granola, Unknown Chapter rises above with their ‘Scrambled Tofu’. This dish offers an exciting alternative to scrambled eggs, featuring turmeric tofu, smashed avocado, baby spinach, beetroot hummus, roast mushrooms, and mixed seeds atop toasted sourdough. If you’re looking for something sweeter, try the brioche french toast with a mixed berry compote, vanilla mascarpone (opt out for vegans), banana, fresh berries, and maple syrup.

Nestled in The Welder, Barefoot Eatery has roots in clean eating. For breakfast, pop into their bright space for a matcha bowl - mixed with banana, organic greens, and mint, topped with house made sprouted organic granola, coconut, banana, kiwi, and local organic blackcurrants. Or try their buckwheat waffles made with organic crushed almonds and gluten free flours, served with banana, coconut yogurt, house made nutella, berry chia jam, and caramelized buckinis. Top it all off with an organic smoothie or cold pressed juice and enjoy! 

Tucked into the suburbs in St Albans, The Origin is a cute little cafe with fresh, delightful brunch options. An entirely vegetarian menu means you’re safe to order anything, and they even offer a High Tea menu for those looking for something extra special. Top it off with a New Zealand grown organic tea and you’ll be feeling fresh and ready for your day.

Known for their fresh baked breads, Grizzly Baked Goods brings the goods for brunch. Now with more seating and a new menu in their delightful The Welder location, you won’t want to pass by without ordering a bagel with whipped schmear or topped with avo. All their cheese is from market favourite Emilio’s, so be sure if you’re vegetarian to try their grilled cheese - you can thank us later.

For those that like to bend the rules at brunch, head over to Grater Goods for something more lunch than breakfast. With plenty of vegan twists on meaty classics, Grater Goods offers up some curiosity to the tastebuds. Try the reuben, plant pastrami with sauerkraut, pickles, cheese, and russian dressing on toasted sourdough or go all out with the antipasti platter.

In the seaside suburb of Sumner, you will find the one hundred precent plant-based cuisine destination, Bonobo.

On the menu, there is something for everyone, from a healthy and light Gratitude Bowl to a Big Love Breakfast, glazed mushrooms, herbed potato hash, cherry tomato and chipotle smoky beans, pea avocado chilli and mint mash, tofu scramble on grain toast. If you are more of a sweet tooth, you want to go for their popular Friends Toast, crispy spiced ciabatta, grilled banana, berry compote, and cookie butter and candied walnuts.

It’s all about spreading kindness at Bonobo, and you are sure to leave with a warm heart and a smile on your face.