Circa Coffee & Wares

Circa's inviting atmosphere makes it a perfect spot to catch up with dear friend or to have a quiet coffee and treat over a favorite book or magazine. Circa is located just off the beaten path from the city centre on Colombo Street, north of Bealey Ave. Owner Esther Gray has run the shop for the last two of its four year operation. She maintains focus on quality made coffees, but notes the popularity of the savory cheese and bacon muffins and lolly cake among her regular customers. Circa also carries a selection of gifts and wares that are hand-picked by Esther, including lovely greeting cards, crafty fabric covered badges, fair trade scarfs, and antique glass-ware.

Circa Coffee and Wares
926 Colombo Street, St Albans, Christchurch

Harakeke - Flowers & Chocolates

Harakeke is a boutique florist shop in Poplar Lane, and a great shop to pop in when browsing or shopping in the Poplar Lane/High Street area. Owner, Laura McGuire, specializes in contemporary floral arrangements, and was recently awarded as New Zealand's top florist of the year for 2009. Beyond gorgeous flowers and floral arrangements, Harakeke carries locally made gourmet chocolates and NZ-made soy-based candles.

After three years in its Poplar Lane location, Harakeke is soon to move around the corner to High Street, in order to gain more shop space. So pop through their existing or new location, and when you do be sure pick up one of the chocolate covered nougat or bounty bars. These are two of their most popular chocolates, and totally melt-in-your-mouth delish!

Harakeke
16 Poplar Street, Christchurch, NZ

Antique Shop Full of Discoveries

Exploring an antique shop is a fantastic way to spend an cloudy afternoon. It's fun to discover local treasures and gets the creative juices flowing.

The Blue Kiwi Antiques and Curios is chock full of new discoveries at every turn. I don't know much about the history of the shop or owners, but I just love all the pieces they've collected, and the prices seem reasonable. This shop will be my first stop next time I'm in the market for a piece of decor or something unique. This local find is a real gem.

The Blue Kiwi Antiques and Curios
180 Tuam Street, Christchurch

Mediterranean Food Co & Pizza Cafe

This is a one-stop shop for all of your Mediterranean food desires and needs. The Mediterranean Food Co carries a variety of European style cheeses, salami style cold cuts, gourmet olives, Italian olive oil and vinegar, spices, tomato products and the most comprehensive collection of pasta than I have ever seen. There is also a cafe on site that specializes in traditional Italian style pizzas.

Mediterranean Food Co
322 Tuam Street, Christchurch

NG - Boutique Cafe Gallery Space

NG is a boutique, cafe, and gallery space, located near High Street and Poplar Lane on Madras Street. The boutique features fashions from top designers, many of which are European. I stopped by through recently and scored a gorgeous pair of slip on shoes by UK based designer Meher Kakalia. The cafe is nice spot to relax with a coffee and magazine with it's high ceilings, big arched windows, and comfy designer furniture.

NG
212 Madras Street. Christchurch

Vintage Clothing & Furniture Shop Opens in Lyttleton

I happened to stumble across another hip little shop to have just opened up (yesterday) in Lyttelton.

Valiant carries modernist furniture and American Vintage Clothing. Located above Lyttelton Lounge on Oxford Street, it has the feeling of an attic filled with long lost retro finds just waiting to be uncovered. The shop carries both men's and women's vintage clothing and shoes, mod-looking chairs and other select pieces of furniture, as well as some cute clothing and toys for the wee ones. Valiant's owner, Georgina, sources the shop's clothing and furniture from overseas, which means you'll find pieces at Valient you can't get anywhere else in New Zealand.

Valiant
17 Oxford Street, Lyttelton (Above Lyttelton Lounge)

Old-fashioned Grocers: The Last of Its Kind

Johnson's Grocers in Colombo Street is a fantastic exploration of treats and delicacies from New Zealand and around the globe. Being used to tiny, intimate shops from life in New York, I am partial to the small scale of this shop, the sense of discovery at every turn, and the feeling of a by-gone era.

The front window beckons you in with old-school tins and boxes of quintessential N.Z. candies, biscuits, and the sort. Inside the shop, every inch of the walls and table tops are covered with goodies to entice the senses. On one wall, you'll find hundreds of jars of different kinds of chutneys, jams, relishes, and sauces. Turn around, and quite literally you are faced with piles of fine Belgian chocolates, marzipan, biscuits, and even more preserves. From gourmet cheeses, oat cakes, and escargot, right down to chocolate Christmas oranges, Maltesers and Milky Bar Buttons - this shop has it all! During lunch times you'll find the shop packed with ladies picking up goodies for dinner parties and chatting away with owner Colin Johnson. Colin has worked at the shop for 53 years, experience that is revealed as he provides a recommendation and is able to locate that perfect product for his customers amongst the floor to ceiling selection of foods.

Johnson's Grocers is the last of six or more small grocers that existed along Colombo Street between Peterborough Street and Cathedral Square. It may possibly be the last remaining grocery shop of its kind in New Zealand. So next time you're looking for something to impress dinner guests or a little gift for your foodie friends or, stop in Johnson's Grocers. You're sure to leave pleased.

Johnson's Grocers
787 Colombo Street, Christchurch