Fill Your Picnic Basket with Sydenham's Finest Artisan Food & Drinks

For many Christchurch locals, Grizzly Baked Goods needs no introduction. They are the masters of carbs, and stopping by their hole-in-the-wall shop in Sydenham is always a fun experience. Eyeing you up as you approach the window to order are loaves of sourdough, rows of buns, baps and bagels and a cabinet laden with sweet pastries, donuts and cookies. It is pretty much guaranteed that you will leave with more than what you initially popped by for… no bad thing at all!

Make sure you set aside a little extra time when visiting J Friend & Co., as the experience is not to be rushed. This local honey business started by couple Sharyn and Jeremy shines a spotlight on raw pure honey. They celebrate what they harvest from their urban apiaries in Canterbury plus the hives of a select group of beekeepers New Zealand-wide. In their Coleridge Street store, you can sample the different jars and gain an appreciation for the art and craft of producing such fine honey, all whilst learning about the minimal-intervention approach J Friend & Co. supports.

Looking for a full-bodied Bordeaux or a crisp, light rose from Provence? Decant is proud to be home to the South Island’s largest selection of European wines. Even the most specific of wine tastes can be accommodated here. They also specialise in stocking hard-to-find spirits, liqueurs and aperitifs plus beer and cheese, so if you’re really wanting to amplify that picnic or dinner party, Decant should absolutely be one of your shopping stops.

No picnic basket, platter arrangement or dinner party is complete without a sweet treat or two featuring. The Sweet Société found inside The Colombo has you covered when it comes to choosing a delicate dessert option. Stockists of the famed colourful and flavourful macarons from J’aime Les Macarons and She Universe Chocolate, they also have their own range of sourdough donuts and other incredible French-inspired baked goods. The hardest thing about going to Sweet Société is resisting leaving without buying one of every treat on offer!

The Beer Library is a craft beer lover’s heaven! This family-run shop has an incredible bottle selection and has over 300 different varieties of craft beer, wine and specialty spirits in stock. And for those aficionados who have their own growlers (defined as a glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bottle used to transport draft beer), the folk at the Beer Library have you covered with their very own draft station. Perfect if you are heading out for a picnic - only one vessel (perhaps multiple!) to keep cool in the chilly bin.

If you are after locally roasted coffee beans, it is difficult to go past Prima. Beginning life in 1995, the roastery has evolved into one of the leading coffee brands in the city, with a strong focus on sustainability and supplying incredible coffee. On offer is a wide variety of options, from blends that have been carefully crafted and produced year after year, to single-origin varieties that surprise and delight.

The team welcomes you to bring in your own containers from home, or your coffee will come in a compostable bag that you can bring back, and they will take care of the composting. Whilst you're picking up your coffee, why not also check out the food cabinet and pick up some tasty bites - the famous Fairlie Bakehouse pies are stocked here… just saying.

This local brewery prides itself on producing an extensive range of core and seasonal craft beers. They use locally sourced malts and NZ hops and welcome their customers to take a sneak peek at their brewers at work in their Sydenham location. Two Thumb’s beers cater to a variety of palettes, from a light and low alcohol pale ale, all the way through to a deep dark stout. So no matter what your picnic pals or dinner guests prefer, there’s bound to be something in the Two Thumb collection that will appeal.

This vegan deli and bistro is a must-visit when it comes to assembling a drool-worthy table spread. Grater Goods has an incredible range of vegan meats and cheeses, plus a wide variety of platter accompaniments and specialty pantry items. And what might be the best thing about a visit here is whilst you peruse the deli, you can do so with a glass of wine in hand, now that’s a win-win!