Cafe 165 is the public cafe and bar inside BreakFree on Cashel, offering a relaxed dining option in the middle of Christchurch's central city. The room serves several purposes across the day, shifting from hotel breakfast to a casual place for lunch, dinner or a drink. Its approach is modern and approachable rather than formal, with lighter dishes and bar snacks sitting comfortably beside full plates. That flexibility suits hotel guests, nearby workers and city visitors who want a straightforward meal without leaving Cashel Street.
Small plates give the menu more range than a standard hotel cafe counter. Crispy calamari comes with saffron aioli and grilled lemon, while southern fried buttermilk chicken is finished with maple-chipotle glaze and pickled vegetables. Soup of the day can be paired with garlic ciabatta, and fries or seasoned wedges cover the familiar snack end of the selection. These dishes can begin a longer dinner, but they also make the bar practical for a quick, informal bite.
Larger plates move between salads, seafood, pasta and hearty comfort food. The Cafe 165 Caesar combines cos lettuce, poached egg, bacon, polenta croutons, parmesan and anchovies, while a summer salad layers roasted Mediterranean vegetables with walnuts, feta and yuzu dressing. A beef brisket burger brings smoky cheese and beetroot jam, beer-battered gurnard is served with Asian slaw and mango salsa, and tiger-prawn linguine adds garlic cream, spinach and roasted capsicum to the mix.
Dessert keeps the same unfussy tone: warm chocolate brownie arrives with vanilla-bean ice cream and raspberry, an ice-cream sundae adds doughnuts and caramel, and a three-cheese platter offers a savoury finish. Breakfast service gives the venue an earlier identity, while cocktails and wine support the bar later in the day. Children's, vegetarian and gluten-free choices broaden its usefulness for mixed groups, making Cafe 165 a convenient all-rounder rather than a restaurant reserved only for hotel guests.
Address: BreakFree on Cashel, 165 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
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