Central South Island
Mid Canterbury’s Top Eats
Mid Canterbury boasts a range of eateries well worth getting to know. We’ve gathered some of the best to help you explore the region. Expect everything from traditional Japanese ramen and your classic baked goods, to hearty pub grub and quality coffee.
Formosa Modern Asian Cuisine
One of Ashburton’s latest food destinations, Formosa boasts an Asian fusion cuisine experience. There are plenty of exciting dishes to try here, but we recommend taking your taste buds on a journey with the Garlic Seafood Risotto (think scallops, prawns, mussels and roe) – it’s pure yum!
Cleavers Corner
Cleavers Corner is your classic gastro pub specialising in quality food and drink, and great customer service. Burgers are the go-to, as is the Southern Fried Chicken Burger – a pretzel bun stacked with fried chicken (obvs), streaky bacon, onion rings, cheese, lettuce and chipotle mayo. Get there on a Tuesday for their Burger + Pint deal for $25. Not bad, not bad at all.
Sims Bakery
What started out as a bit of craze has become a staple at Sims – the cronut. These bad boys are made fresh each morning. The dough is folded with butter, deep fried, filled with custard cream and drizzled with white icing. A large cronut will satisfy the biggest of sweet tooths and the small ones are the perfect taster or kid-treat. Yes please.
Blue Pub Methven
A classic stop-over-spot after a day up the mountains, Blue Pub Methven is big on a warm atmosphere, a cold beer and a great pub grub meal. Go for the Chatham Island Blue Cod served with chunky chips, slaw, tartare and lemon – that’ll have you fed and ready for your next adventure.
Triangle Espresso
Triangle Espresso is Ashburton’s newest coffee spot serving Allpress coffee and café food with a twist. Stylish and welcoming, it’s a sure-fire winner for lunch with friends and the fam. Their Triangle Stack is super Insta-friendly, a vegan dish of roasted kumara, pan-fried tomato and mushrooms, wilted spinach and roasted pepper coulis.
Primo E Secundo
Stepping inside Primo E Secundo is like entering a cosy living room or perhaps your auntie’s house. The space is full of knick-knacks, vintage goods and old records that keep the eyes busy. The house special is a Tomato & Silverbeet soup, which has been served here for seventeen years!
Credit: Bill Irwin
The Dubliner
A true Irish pub in the heart of Methven, The Dubliner is a cosy spot for a pint and some serious grub. Go for the Lamb Rack – herb crusted rack with kumara and Irish whiskey mash, wilted spinach and roasted garlic – and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Purple Dragon
The Purple Dragon food truck parks up between 6-8pm every Friday night on Forest Drive in Methven. Check out their traditional Japanese ramen and gyoza (dumplings). Try the spicy Miso ramen to clear those sinuses or play it safe with some pork or vegetarian dumplings.
Staveley Store
Established in 1876, the Staveley Store is nestled under the Mid Canterbury foothills serving delicious home-baked goods, lunches and award-winning coffee. The sweet treats steal the show here – it’s a tough call between the famous carrot cake and the brownie. Why not go for both, you only live once right?
Topp Country Café
It’s not every day you walk into a café and bump into a Dame, but at Topp Country Café you’re in luck. Run by Lynda Topp, one of New Zealand’s loved Topp Twins entertainers, together with wife Donna, here you can sip a cuppa and spot a celebrity in the kitchen. Pies are their crowd pleasers, made exclusively by Canterbury Spitroast. Rumour has it the Pork and Apple Pie is the one to dig your teeth into.
