Beach Sumner makes the coast part of every table. The restaurant sits metres from the surf on The Esplanade, looking across Sumner Beach and, on a clear day, toward the Southern Alps. Open seven days for brunch, lunch and dinner, it can serve as a post-walk coffee stop, a relaxed family meal or a destination for the evening. The atmosphere stays deliberately casual, allowing the setting to provide the drama while the kitchen works with seasonal produce from Christchurch and Canterbury.
The menu begins with dishes that suit a table by the sea. Akaroa salmon sashimi pairs ponzu soy with radish and preserved lemon, while poached prawns arrive with avocado mousse and a Thousand Island dressing. Pork bites with lemongrass barbecue sauce and chicken and corn croquettes supply richer alternatives. Beach classics keep seafood close at hand through chowder, house-battered fish and chips and New Zealand mussels in a creamy white-wine and chipotle sauce, giving the restaurant a clear sense of its location without restricting every diner to fish.
Pizza widens the choice in several directions. Prosciutto is matched with apple, goat's cheese and truffle honey; pulled lamb meets kūmara, rosemary, feta and mint sauce; and a seafood bianca carries prawns, salmon and capers. Teriyaki chicken and a vegetable-focused Greek herbivore add further contrast. Dinner mains then move into sirloin with chimichurri, herb-rolled porchetta, gnocchi with braised lamb, seared Akaroa salmon and an 800-gram T-bone designed for sharing, making a full evening meal as natural as a casual pizza.
The drinks list ranges from local and international wine to tap beer, cocktails and thoughtful no-alcohol options. Dessert can finish with brownie trifle, sticky date pudding, baked lemon cheesecake or a simple affogato. Groups can arrange their own area with tailored food and beverage service, and Sunday live music adds another reason to linger. Beach Sumner therefore uses its view as a beginning rather than the entire proposition: seasonal cooking, a flexible bar and genuine occasion-friendly service give the beachfront setting enough depth for repeat visits.
Address: 25 Esplanade, Sumner, Christchurch 8081, New Zealand
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Beach Menu
Option tags, such as Vegan Option (VGO), mean the dish can be made that way on request: ask for that version when you order.
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Brunch
Served 9am till 3pm. Proudly serving local Bellbird Bakery and Butterfly & Scotch Bacon. Dietary legend: v – vegan | vg – vegetarian | gf – gluten free | df – dairy free | n – contains nuts (please advise staff) | 🌶 – spicy | *Dietary option available. Options prepared with care, but traces may remain. Please inform staff if coeliac.
CAVE ROCK BREAKFAST
Streaky bacon, maple & blueberry sausage, house hash, eggs your way, tomato, mushroom, house beans, sourdough | *gf | *df
BEACHED AS BENNY
Sourdough, herb crème, poached eggs, hollandaise, dukkha: either bacon, smoked salmon, mushroom, or avocado | *gf | *df | *n
CRISPY CHICKEN WAFFLES
Cinnamon mascarpone, fried pickles, maple syrup | *df
SWEET WAFFLES
Poached strawberries, pistachio praline, whipped cream, chocolate butter | *df
WAGYU MINCE ON TOAST
Slow braised wagyu mince, poached egg, beetroot mascarpone, pecorino, paprika oil, sourdough | *gf | *df
SUPERFOODS
Broccolini, spinach, kale, balsamic beetroot, avocado, poached eggs, toasted seeds, sourdough | *gf | *v
SMASHED AVO & SALMON
Scrambled eggs, crispy capers, salmon caviar, herb oil, ciabatta | *gf | df
TOMATO & CUMIN SHAKSHOUKA
North African spiced tomato & peppers, baked eggs, sourdough | gf | df | vg
CROQUE MADAME
Ham, spinach, cheese, mornay sauce, fried egg, sourdough
GRANOLA BOWL
Puffed wheat, seeds, coconut yogurt, honey, seasonal fruits | df | v
Brunch – Sides
Hollandaise
House Hash
Mushrooms
Bacon
Smoked Salmon
Two eggs
Spinach
Sausage
Lunch – Small Plates
Served 11am till 3pm. Dietary legend: v – vegan | vg – vegetarian | gf – gluten free | df – dairy free | n – contains nuts (please advise staff) | 🌶 – spicy | *Dietary option available. Options prepared with care, but traces may remain. Please inform staff if coeliac.
FLAT BREAD
Confit garlic, shaved parmesan, rocket | *df | vg
BEACH HUMMUS
Toasted cumin, preserved lemon, crunchy chickpeas, house made pita | df | v
AKAROA SALMON SASHIMI
Ponzu soy sauce, radish, spring onion, preserved lemon mayonnaise | gf | df
POACHED PRAWNS
Thousand island dressing, cos lettuce, avocado, croutons | *gf | df
CHICKEN & CORN CROQUETTES
Mustard mayo, herbs, parmesan | gf
BBQ PORK BITES
Lemongrass bbq sauce, avocado mousse, dukkha | gf | *df | *n
SHITAKE DUMPLINGS
Chilli crunch, spring onion, sesame | df | v | 🌶
Lunch – Classics
BEACH SEAFOOD CHOWDER
Salmon, prawns, mussels, potato, crispy capers, toasted bread | *gf
HOUSE BATTERED MARKET FISH
House slaw, ranch dressing, pepitas, agria fries, tomato sauce | df
STEAMED NZ MUSSELS
Creamy white wine & chipotle sauce, croutons, parmesan, toasted bread | *gf | 🌶
BEACHED BURGER
Beef patty, bacon, red onion, smoked cheddar, onion jam, greens, house secret sauce, milk bun, agria fries | *gf | *df. Vegetarian falafel option available
HOUSE CAESAR SALAD
Cos lettuce, bacon, croutons, parmesan, egg, Caesar dressing | *df / *gf / *vg
WINTER SALAD
Roasted pumpkin, lentils, orange, spinach, paprika pepitas, cinnamon tahini dressing | gf | df | v
CHEF’S CURRY OF THE WEEK
Basmati, naan, chutney. Ask the crew for chef’s creation Price: P.O.A
Lunch – Pizzas
Gluten free bases ($3) and dairy free cheese ($2) options, available on request.
MARGHERITA
Tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil | *gf | *df | vg
SEAFOOD BIANCA
Prawns, salmon, capers, rocket, mozzarella | *gf | *df
PEPPERONI
Pepperoni, tomato, mozzarella | *gf | *df
PROSCIUTTO
Goat’s cheese, prosciutto, apple, truffle honey, rocket, pistachios | *gf | *df | *n
GREEK HERBIVORE
Tomato, olives, feta, pesto, red onion, heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella | *gf | *df | *n | vg
TERIYAKI CHICKEN
Garlic white sauce, spring onion, teriyaki glaze, Japanese mayo, mozzarella, sesame | *gf | *df
KIWI CLASSIC
Pulled lamb, roast kumara, rosemary, feta, mint sauce, mozzarella | *gf | *df
DOUBLE HAWAIIAN
Double ham, double pineapple, tomato, mozzarella | *gf | *df
Lunch – Sides
FRIES, TOM SAUCE
df
#HASHTAG FRIES
Baja seasoning, house secret sauce | df
GREEN SALAD
Mesclun, toasted seeds, vinaigrette | gf | *v
Dessert
CHOCOLATE BROWNIE TRIFLE
Cocoa mascarpone, brownie, berry compote, ice cream, chocolate sauce, crushed Maltesers | *gf
STICKY DATE PUDDING
Dulce de leche, vanilla ice cream
BAKED LEMON CHEESECAKE
Candied lemon, blueberry compote
AFFOGATO
Vanilla bean ice cream, espresso coffee | g
Kid's Menu
The Boss Bento Box
Each box includes, fries, salad & GF chocolate brownie. Choice of Beef Burger patty, cheese, tomato sauce; Tempura Fish tomato sauce; Beach Crispy Chicken tomato sauce; or Falafel Bites sweet chilli sauce.
Pizzas
Available after 11am. Choice of Bacon, Tomato, BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni.
Bacon & Eggs
scrambled, fried or poached, sourdough. Daily 9am–3pm.
Bacon & Cheese Buttie
tomato sauce. Daily 9am–3pm.
Waffles
whipped cream, maple syrup, berry compote. Daily 9am–3pm.
Kids Sundae
chocolate or raspberry
From Happy Menu members
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Christchurch
- Margherita pizza Typical in Christchurch: $26.00 $28.50
- Sticky date pudding Typical in Christchurch: $16.00 $17.00
- Pepperoni pizza Typical in Christchurch: $26.00 $32.00
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