Bellbird Bakery

Bellbird is everything you want in a local bakery: beautiful, simple design, cheerful customer service, a thermos of filtered coffee on the countertop that invites you to help yourself, and some of the most delicious traditional pastries and bread that you can find in Christchurch.

While classic pastries like the Almond Croissant rank as one of their best sellers, you can also find the team trying out new recipes and pushing the boundaries with more inventive offerings. Take, for example, a recent Pastry of the Month, a Quince and Chocolate Danish, or their Rye Sourdough, a dense and nutritious loaf made with 100% organic rye flour sourced from North Canterbury. Thanks to an open layout, you can see all the action in the kitchen from the counter, so don’t be shy about striking up a conversation with one of the bakers!

Those who like to travel on two wheels are in luck. As an eco-conscious business, Bellbird Bakery rewards those who travel to them on a bicycle with a special loyalty card. After all, what better way to end a bike ride than with a warm, butter croissant and a hot cuppa?

At Bellbird, a lot of thought goes into what the business can do to limit its impact on Earth's finite resources. The bakery phased out takeaway cups, gets milk in reusable glass bottles, encourages customers to bring back jars and bread bags and strives to avoid plastic packaging. You might spot one of their electric delivery vans in town or see owners Alice and Jeremy ride their cargo bike to run errands.

In addition to their main location at The Tannery, you can find Bellbird Bakery at the Riverside Market, as well as the Christchurch Farmers Market on Saturdays and South Christchurch Farmers Market on Sundays.