Lillies

Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

MondayClosed.

TuesdayClosed.

Wednesday5:00 – 9:00 pm.

Thursday5:00 – 9:00 pm.

Friday5:00 – 10:00 pm.

Saturday4:00 – 10:00 pm.

SundayClosed.

495 Saint Asaph Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch

An ethereal green glow emanates from the windows of what looks to be another garage workshop in Christchurch's industrial neighbourhood of Phillipstown. And perhaps once upon a time it was – but these days, the only machinery you’ll find at 495 St Asaph Street is a red commercial dough mixer, fermentation barrels and a soft serve machine operated by wine and cider makers Will Bowman and Liam Kelleher. 

Will and Liam, both born and raised in Ōtautahi Christchurch, opened Lillies in the winter of 2024, sending waves of excitement rippling through the city. Afterall, where else could you find an urban cidery, winery and restaurant in the vicinity? Exactly.

Before acquiring the keys to the restaurant, the friends/business partners spent the previous years working on their own independent labels out in North Canterbury, as well as collaborating on a cider project together. They soon began plotting the move to an urban cellar, and today are able to craft, bottle up, and pour all organic drops of Vita Wines, Lele Wines, and Lillies Cider under one inner-city roof.

As well as sharing a passion for fermented grapes and apples, the pair have impressive food experience and are naturally wired to have new recipes and flavour combos constantly whirring around in their heads. It was unquestionable that the kitchen would play a key role at Lillies.

Proof that good things often come from thoughtfully concise menus, the offering is divided into two simple sections: ‘pizza’ and ‘not pizza’. In the kitchen, the brick wood-fired oven ties the menu together, with almost everything cooked over the flames. The pizza bases are thin with puffy, burnished and chewy crusts reminiscent of those on the streets of Napoli, with slightly unorthodox toppings that may offend Nonnas but delight each diner nonetheless. At the time of writing, spicy squid ragu, cavolo nero with sausage and chilli, and garlic, mushrooms and lemon are some of the simple but genius flavour combos. There’s a Mediterranean influence running through the rest of the ‘not pizza’ menu and it’s all best shared. NB: You’d be a fool to leave without a swirl of homemade soft serve.

How Will and Liam have managed to make such a cavernous space feel only convivial and never cold is beyond us. From the bay laurel green to the crackling fireplace and the sheer joy radiating from the kitchen, Lillies is an inviting space for boisterous groups of friends, hot dates, and families with kids running wild and free. Keep an eye out each month as they welcome a chef, winemaker, musician or artist friend to share their space and oven with.

Words by Maggie Worthington & Photography by Nancy Zhou

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

495 Saint Asaph Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch

Nearby Places

Pizza Trap

Customers sitting at high tables.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Restaurants key icon.

Pizza Trap is a collaboration between the person behind Alligator Pizza and Space Academy, serving up neo-neapolitan pizzas with quality ingredients on hand-thrown, sourdough bases.

Smokey T's

Flatlay of BBQ meat and chips on a table.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Expect the softest, juiciest slow cooked meat you’ve ever tasted at Smokey T's.

The Mediterranean Food Company

View of the outdoor dining area and brick courtyard under the shade sail at The Mediterranean Food Company, Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon. Restaurants key icon.

 Down the industrial eastern end of Tuam Street in an old brickery is a secluded slice of Italy.

Cactus Outdoors

Outdoor clothing on racks in a retail store.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Fashion key icon.

For those conquering Everest, tending to farm paddocks, or enjoying a weekend on the chairlift, there’s one name that stands above the rest for its made-to-last gear:...

Similar Places

Westend Stories Café & Eatery

Exterior view of Westend Stories from the other side of the street.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Westend Stories is a green oasis for those looking to temporarily escape the confines of their workplace.

Bohemian Bakery Central City

Brick facade of the Bohemian Bakery.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Goods key icon.

Bohemian Bakery’s second storefront is a cozy enclave filled with the smells and sounds of a traditional bakery, like the ever popular Portuguese tart and crusty loaves.

The Craft Embassy

Man ordering a beer at the bar at Craft Embassy.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Bars key icon.

Great beer, great food, great views. Craft Embassy is the whole package and more.

Pegasus Bay

Deli goodies and wine on the table at Pegasus Bay.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury

Pegasus Bay will blow you away with its beautiful setting and world-class wine.