Cellar Door

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Room with a Long Memory

Cellar Door occupies a space that has been offering warm hospitality since 1979, inside a building with an even longer story. The Gothic Revival structure at 1 Hereford Street was built in 1877 as Christchurch Girls' High School, later became Canterbury College and eventually the Canterbury University School of Art, before being gifted to the people of Christchurch as the Arts Centre in 1978. For 21 years the room was home to Annie's Wine Bar, a local institution, until the 2011 earthquake brought that chapter to a close.

Cellar Door opened in early 2020, bringing the South Quad back to life alongside Lumiere Cinemas and The Observatory Hotel. It quickly became a favourite among Christchurch wine lovers — and its recognition by Wine Spectator with a Best of Award of Excellence in 2024 reflects just how seriously the list is taken.

Wine First, Food to Match

The wine programme is the heart of everything here. A large selection of bottles and glasses spans Canterbury, New Zealand and the wider world, and the tasting flight format — each flight comprising four 40ml pours — is designed to explore differences in grape variety, winemaking style and regionality side by side. On any given day there are over a dozen curated flights on offer.

The food menu is built around the same philosophy: classical European accompaniments to wine, made with fresh, seasonal, local ingredients. It scales comfortably from a single snack to a full sit-down meal, with cheeses and desserts rounding things out. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free diets are all accommodated within the menu.

The Setting

Overlooking the historic South Quad, the bar offers both indoor and outdoor seating — the outside tables are allocated on the day depending on weather, which feels right for a place this grounded in its surroundings. Groups of up to eight can be accommodated, and bookings are strongly advised, particularly on evenings and weekends.

Whether the visit is an hour for a glass and a snack or two and a half hours for a proper dinner, Cellar Door's seasonal European approach and exceptional wine list make it one of the most considered places to drink and eat in Christchurch.