Story

Story is a small restaurant with a big heart, tucked into the historic New Regent Quarter. The kitchen works away on the ground floor, while the dining room sits upstairs, where up to 22 guests settle in among dark walls and ceiling, olive-green bench seating and Scandi-style timber chairs. Nab a window seat and watch the tram roll past the street’s pastel facades.

The kitchen brings together chefs from a range of culinary backgrounds, and the menu changes with the seasons every few months, so there’s always something new to discover. Expect full, bold dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world, made with Canterbury produce wherever possible. Combinations you won’t have come across before are sure to appear, yet there’s nothing intimidating about dining here – the food is accessible, and every mouthful is an adventure. Save room for dessert, too – the sweet finishes are a point of pride.

That local focus extends right down to the tableware, with dishes served on handmade ceramic plates by Ceramics by Fiona, based in nearby Rangiora.

Wine is predominantly organic, from vineyards across Aotearoa, and cocktails are mixed with foraged ingredients and house-made syrups. Groups of six or more can opt for the four-course Chef’s Tasting Menu.

With so few seats, bookings are essential. Dietary requirements can be catered for with notice.