The Best Vegan Cafés in Christchurch – Great Food and Coffee

This bustling community café has a separate vegan brunch menu with all the classic breakfast eats. With creamy mushrooms, smashed avo toast, berry pancakes and more, you’re sure to leave full and satisfied. In addition to being a place where you can get your next coffee fix (using delicious and sustainable Common Good Coffee beans), there is also a small store at the front of the building called The Addington Store. Here they sell ethically made eco goods made by locals and people in struggling communities all over the world.

While the brunch is tasty and reliable, we also love Addington Coffee Co-op for its strong ethical values. It’s focus is on helping others and the environment through conscious consumerism and the community support network turns it into more than a café. Definitely make sure you visit, and don’t be afraid to have a chat with the regulars!

Café Located on Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch.

Barefoot Eatery is an organic, whole-food café serving 100% plant-based and gluten-free products. They are a part of The Welder, an urban community hub based in the city. Filled with indoor plants and communal hang-out spaces, this complex attracts all types of people. Barefoot Eatery fits right in!

This eatery produces raw, organic food and juices in a sustainable way that’s conscious of both health and the environment. Nearly everything is homemade and ethically sourced, including their wide range of alternative milk such as oat, soya, coconut, cashew, and even macadamia! A great spot if you’re after a healthy and organic breakfast.

Café Located on Welles St, Christchurch Central City.

With a few locations throughout the city, Bohemian Bakery is well-known for it’s vegan pastries and fresh, delicious house-made breads. However, you’ve got to get in quick! The bakeries are so popular on the weekends that the cabinet is usually sold out by the end of lunch.

And while they aren’t entirely plant-based, they do have plenty of vegan options to choose from. They have the best vegan pan au chocolat in town, as well as (dairy-free) cheesy pizza bread and hot vegetable pies! If you can beat the rush, the food is worth it.

Café Located on Nayland St, St Asaph St, or Riverside Market, Christchurch.

Out on the Sumner coast, Bonobo is the perfect place to go and sit in the sun for a tasty vegan brunch. What makes it even better is that you can hear the waves of the ocean coming from up the street! The owners have a huge passion for environmentalism and animals, to the extent that the café is used to fundraise for an animal sanctuary. How cool!

As an eco-friendly and completely plant-based café, you can’t feel guilty about what you’re eating. Plus, there’s something for everyone. From bagels to scrambled tofu, pancakes, and even burger options.

Café Located on Marriner St, Sumner, Christchurch.

Hidden down the end of St Asaph Street, Good Habit is a quaint little café using an old building that used to be part of a convent. Part of the appeal is the cozy, historical feel of the café. Christchurch is well known for reusing old spaces.

Pasta salads and raw slices decorate the cabinet, while big breakfasts and tofu salad bowls can be ordered off the menu for brunch. Be mindful that this is not a vegan café, so you WILL have to specify your dietary requirements. We’ve had no issues with this and are always given a beautiful meal. There is also both indoor and outdoor seating area, making it a charming space to visit whatever the season.

Café Located on St Asaph St, Christchurch Central City.

Starting with Portershed, one of the most popular vegan cafés in Christchurch. Being a fully vegan café and store, they have a huge selection of cabinet food and a menu for hot food and smoothies. As far as a vegan brunch goes, their breakfast burger is perfect if you’re after a big feed. However, if you’re just after a snack or something to take away, their cabinet sweets and scrolls are sure to hit the spot. They also use eco-friendly packaging for their cabinet foods and takeaways!

As well as being a cool and hipster café, they have shelves filled with all the vegan and wholefood goods your heart could desire. From artisan sweets to ethically made shampoos, Portershed has it all!

Café Located on Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch.

A groovy vegetarian and vegan café out of the city. If you want to escape the commotion of Christchurch CBD, and don’t mind a short road trip, head out to Lyttleton’s quirky little spot for your vegan brunch cravings.

Shroom Room provides funky vibes as well as yum kai and your classic Havana coffee. However this time we’re drinking a little mushroom magic! Their specialty mushroom lattes come with interesting ingredients like cordyceps, astragalus, and chaga. Try one when you visit and see if it really does open up your third eye!

Café Located on London St, Lyttelton.

Vegan Friends is where you will find the best homemade Latin American food in Christchurch. This café has a fully plant-based menu, selling hot empanadas in all their cheesy goodness! They also have daily deals from Tues-Sat with essential combinations, like $12 for an empanada and brownie, or $10 for coffee and a muffin. Perfect for when you’re on the go.

Being just a small fully vegan café in Christchurch with only a couple of tables, Vegan Friends provides a comfort that only authentic, homemade food can give. Not to mention being run by a welcoming Latin couple, who always remember your face!

Café Located on Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch. (Update Vegan Friends is now closed)