The Herb Centre; This wonderful place is composed of a cute corner cafe that serves largely vegetarian pleasures (there’s just one meat-eating option on the selection…) in addition to brews the New Zealand Coffee Awards 2009-10 Gold Award winning, New Brighton-based Switch Espresso.
It is also an impressively stocked dispensary/ health retailer that provides a wide range of nutritional supplements, organic body products and every essential oil you can possibly imagine, an outdoor garden plus a facility which offers midwifery services, alternative addiction treatment, and herbal and naturopathic medication. Phew. It really is basically the only one-stop-shop for the granola sect in the complete city (that we are aware of, anyway…in case your organization is one, as well, make sure you e-mail us!). It’s an alternative style cafe Christchurch must be proud of!
The space, located on Kilmore St, is fittingly peaceful, with hardwood flooring, substantial, exposed windows that bathe the place in heavenly light, as well as the tranquil aromas of lavender and patchouli. It’s perfectly quirky (check out the lovable as images of dancing eggs on the chalkboard wall menus!) and the food is fresh and fantastic, try the GF, dairy free Winter season Root Veggie Cake, it turned out a winner around my moderately vegetarian home. Come summer season, I reckon the garden is going to be jam-choked with revellers in search of a comforting spot to de-stress with a mug and a socially mindful slice.
Addington Coffee Co-op; Found on Lincoln Rd, core to Addington village, Addington Coffee Co-op is a quaintly opulent, natural light filled cafe and roastery that spins Blondie, roasts and peddles their own brand of Fair Trade (and DELICIOUS) coffee and appears like your living room (if you’re the sort of person whose living room provides a pitch-perfect volume of delicate kitsch and also the most impacting ambience in your area).
The company, situated inside a sizeable previous mechanics working area, used nine months to make their own and earthquake proof (that is fortuitous!) which is loaded to the top during all hours with an eclectic mix of youthful neo-hipsters, chatty stay-at-home-mums and elegant looking suits seeking a cozy position for a lunch break meeting and a quality, recently crafted slice, pastry or sandwich. Together with their extremely cool and alert using of Fair Trade coffee, and also they offer for sale “organic threads” created by survivors from the sex-trade in Calcutta
Hence, in conclusion: their coffee is fabulous, its decoration is outstanding and their company practices are morally righteous. Need I say more?
Find out about places to go and other things to do in Christchurch at www.neatplaces.co.nz. NEAT places is focused on promoting independent, local businesses within the city. Find that new restaurant, fashion store or cafe Christchurch has produced is located or to find the latest hot spot, take a look!
