The Christchurch pub scene was fundamentally altered by the earthquakes — many of the city's heritage pubs were demolished and the suburban local that anchored a neighbourhood for decades often didn't return. But from that disruption, a new generation of pub operators emerged with better beer, better food, and a clearer sense of what they wanted to be.
The city now has a mix of craft beer houses, restored pub buildings, sports bars with proper rugby culture, and a few genuine local institutions. Here's the state of play.
Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn — Kilmore Street
Pomeroy's is the gold standard Christchurch pub — a proper ale house in a heritage building with an excellent rotating tap list focused on New Zealand independent craft breweries. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, the beer garden is good in summer, and it fills up on Friday evenings with a genuinely mixed crowd. The food menu is pub-appropriate and the service is straightforward. One of the country's better pubs.
The Volstead — CBD
The Volstead is more bar than pub but it occupies a similar social role for the CBD craft beer crowd. The tap list is well-curated with an emphasis on Canterbury breweries, and there's a serious whisky shelf for those who prefer spirits. The atmosphere is comfortable without being a sports bar. Good for a Friday evening that escalates naturally into a late one.
Cassels Brewery Bar — The Tannery
The bar at Cassels Brewery in The Tannery in Woolston is the best brewery tap experience in the city. Drinking the milk stout on tap in the brewery where it's made is a Christchurch experience worth having. The heritage brick building and warm interior make it feel like a proper destination. The food is good too — better than most brewery bars. Worth the short drive from the CBD.
Wunderbar — Lyttelton
Wunderbar in Lyttelton is the most characterful drinking establishment in the Canterbury region. Eclectic decor, a good tap selection, live music most weekends, and a crowd that's genuinely interesting. It's not a traditional pub but it functions as Lyttelton's living room. The harbour town setting adds to the whole experience. Drive or taxi — the tunnel road is no place for a second drink.
Sports Pubs for Rugby
Christchurch is Crusaders country and All Blacks territory — rugby is taken seriously here. Several CBD pubs are dedicated rugby watching venues. The Terrace Bar on Oxford Terrace fills up for Super Rugby games. The Irish pubs in the CBD (Finn MacCool's et al) show all the major sporting events. For big All Blacks tests, most pubs in the city have screens — find your local and commit to it.
Neighbourhood Pubs — Outside the CBD
Suburban Christchurch has a network of neighbourhood pub-restaurants that function as genuine community hubs. The Halswell Tavern, various RSA clubs, and suburban sports bar-restaurants are where local families and sports teams end up on Friday afternoons. These are not flashy but they serve a social function that the CBD venues don't — and the beer is usually cheaper.
Local Tips
- Pomeroy's is the craft beer pub worth making the effort for — it's consistently excellent.
- Canterbury hospitality operates at a pace — don't expect to be rushed to order or leave.
- Rugby season brings crowds to CBD sports bars — arrive early for good seats for big games.
- The Lyttelton pub scene (Wunderbar, Porthole) is worth the tunnel toll for a different atmosphere.
- Most Christchurch pubs serve food until 9pm — a reliable option for a late dinner alongside drinks.
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