Scoundrel

A destination on the east side of town, just a stone’s throw away from Te Kaha Christchurch stadium, Scoundrel is one of those spots you wander into once and know instantly that you’ll be returning many times over. A repurposed mechanics workshop turned neighbourhood eatery, there’s a sense of inclusiveness, familiarity and down-to-earth vibes that result in a feeling of complete comfort. 

The vast space has an impressive number of thriving indoor plants, vintage furniture and rugs, plus a huge old rusty Austin car body smack in the centre of it all, ensuring that there’s room to lounge without feeling like you need to move on to make space for the next customers. In the middle of the cafe, a workbench complete with power points serves the at-home workers who need to escape the four walls. Free WIFI keeps things ticking along, as does the excellent coffee brewed to perfection. 

Talking about coffee, it’s hard not to notice the roasting action that takes place behind the glass to the left of the counter. Scoundrel’s in-house roaster, Rad Roasting Co crafts its blends right under this roof, so you can rest assured your coffee is created from the freshest beans around town. Bags of take-home beans are available too, and if you ever happen to have any issues with your home espresso machine, take note that Rad also provides a repair service.

A full cabinet stocked to the brim with cafe goodies awaits hungry punters from early morning and always has options for all dietary needs. Come midday, the taco line fires up. Bite-sized, made-from-scratch corn tacos filled with your choice of toppings are a treat indeed. They’re a perfect lunch or after-work-snack washed down with a glass of wine or beer, both of which there’s a huge selection on tap, by the way.

Bring the kids, the dog, your workmates or the whole whānau – everyone is bound to love this spot, and best of all, there’s space for all.