Kaiser Brew Garden sits above Riverside Market as a brew bar, restaurant and all-weather garden in one. Open since 2019, the locally owned venue draws on the beer-house hospitality of Leonhard and Paula Kaiser in Bavaria while using New Zealand ingredients and a contemporary Christchurch setting. Living greenery, an onsite microbrewery and the bustle of the market below give it a character distinct from a conventional pub. The food and drink are arranged for people to settle in, order across the table and stay for another round.
The kitchen prepares its food from scratch and favours shareable plates with strong contrasts. Agria fries carry a signature seasoning, kumara fries add maple and chilli, and fried cauliflower is paired with mango ambala, miso mayonnaise, sumac and pomegranate. Pork belly comes with a maple-chilli glaze and pickled apple, while kumara and bacon croquettes are matched with blue cheese sauce. Calamari, fried chicken and a broad antipasto board extend the range from quick snacks to a fuller communal spread.
Hand-stretched pizzas form the other main pillar. The flammkuchen combines crème fraîche, bacon jam, pulled pork and thyme, and a Bavarian-leaning pizza uses bratwurst, chorizo, jalapeño and pickled onion. Spiced lamb with harissa and mint yoghurt, chicken with cranberry and brie, pepperoni with hot honey, and mushroom with salsa verde move the list through very different flavours. Salads with fried halloumi, prosciutto and apple, or smoked salmon offer a lighter route, and gluten-free bases widen the choices.
Beer remains central to the visit. Kaiser Bros lagers, pale ales, IPAs and changing small-batch brews are made onsite or at the brewery nearby, and a six-beer tasting paddle provides a useful way into the range. New Zealand wines, speciality gin and tonics, cocktails, mocktails and low- or no-alcohol drinks make the bar broader than its brewery focus suggests. For groups, the mezzanine, larger event areas and full-venue options carry the same pizzas, small plates, fries and antipasto into a function format.
Address: Level 1, Riverside Market, 96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
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