Sweet As Waffles

Suffusing New Brighton Mall’s northern arcade with the irresistible aroma of Belgian goodness, Sweet As Waffles is the go-to for any serious sweet tooth spending their day by the sea. Since 2021, young entrepreneur Brad Stokes Cassidy has delivered exactly what the shop’s name suggests, hot-pressing his way from second-hand trailer, weekend side hustle, to sought-after purveyor of the perennial morning favourite.

His wee waffle house nestles neatly in the heart of the mall strip. Use your nose as a guide, and you’ll soon be standing outside a quaint, playful shopfront with purple-backlit neon signwriting and colourful outdoor seating. These accents are channelled through to a simple, functional setup, anchored by a hand-painted mural that perfectly emulates the revitalised suburb's breezy vibe.

Sweet As Waffles offers a stripped-back take on what is typically highly processed. The signature, perhaps even secret, recipe was developed over six months and favours simple, locally sourced ingredients. The waffles are served fluffy and crisp beneath one of three decadent topping options, a deconstructed take on Snickers, Oreo, or raspberry, all smothered with whipped cream and finished with icing sugar. With word now well and truly out, these signature waffles can also be found in select cafes and hotels throughout the city.

Come summertime, the deliciousness continues just a short walk away. Across the road from Brighton Pier, the seasonally operating Sweet As Dessert Bar is one of the only spots in Christchurch serving Appleby Farms ice cream. The award-winning flavours out of Nelson are handed over in hearty scoops or incorporated in ‘freak shakes’. Either choice, alongside a selection of cold drinks, makes the dessert bar a perfect pit-stop on a sunny day.

Both established morsels in what is an increasingly delicious suburb, it’s only a matter of time until there’s a line from one Sweet As spot to the other, then all the way to the sand.