The Craft Embassy occupies an upstairs position at The Terrace, looking toward the Ōtākaro Avon River from the heart of central Christchurch. The outlook gives it a sense of occasion, but the format remains flexible enough for lunch, an after-work drink or a full dinner. Food is not an afterthought to the bar: the kitchen runs from quick snacks through substantial mains, allowing a visit to grow naturally from one plate into a complete meal. That breadth makes the venue as useful for diners as it is for dedicated beer drinkers.
Thirty constantly changing taps form the centre of the drinks programme, with the selection focused on independent New Zealand breweries. The rotation creates room for crisp lagers and pilsners, hop-driven styles, dark beers and sours without fixing the experience to one house range. Wine, cocktails and alcohol-free options keep mixed groups comfortable when not everyone wants beer. The attraction is less about chasing a single famous pour than discovering how different local styles sit beside the kitchen's salty, smoky and spiced flavours.
Sharing plates cover several directions: mushroom arancini, calamari, fried chicken and lamb tacos can be joined by crispy eggplant, Brazilian cheese bread or vegan nachos. Burgers and salads make straightforward individual meals, while the larger plates show greater ambition. Venison rump, smoked beef short rib and ribeye sit beside Akaroa salmon with saffron-pea risotto, and kūmara gnocchi provides a vegetable-led alternative. With that range, a table can build a casual grazing session or move through courses without leaving the craft-beer setting behind.
Dessert keeps both conventional and plant-based diners in view, with churros and brownie joined by a vegan creme brulee. Groups have a separate option in the Greenhouse, a heated glazed space that can host seated dinners or larger standing events. Set menus, canapes and guided beer tastings fit naturally with the venue's strengths, while audiovisual facilities extend its use to work gatherings. Whether the plan is a tasting flight with snacks or a formal group meal, the food and space are structured to support more than a quick drink.
Address: Level 1, The Terrace, 126 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Been to The Craft Embassy? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visit
