Spend Your Next Date Night In Christchurch At These Great Spots

Bessie has all the makings for a romantic evening out; the intimate eatery has warm tones and mood lighting to set the stage. Dine upon an array of beautiful dishes and sip on wines from around the globe. Bessie is the ultimate destination for special occasions, romantic dinners and small gatherings.

Specialising in dry-aged meat, everything is prepared in-house and finished in a charcoal oven; to create its signature flavours. Start the night with an aphrodisiac, share a dozen market oysters and a bottle of bubbles before the main course. Indulge in dry-aged rib eye on the bone or share the Tomahawk between two. It wouldn’t be a lover’s night out without something sweet; the chocolate marquise with raspberries and vanilla ice cream is irresistible. 

Elegance, sophistication and theatre of the kitchen; Inati has it all. The chic eatery will take you on a culinary journey; filled with unforgettable flavours and seasonally inspired tasting plates. Inati is the perfect restaurant for those whose second love is food. The immersive experience will have diners seated at the chef’s table basking in the beauty of creation. 

Excite your palate with tasty delights from the earth, land and sea. Sample the likes of braised leeks, smoked venison tartare and charred octopus. We are completely smitten with the rich and indulgent confit potatoes, served with seaweed, cultured cream and caviar. For those who enjoy an adventure on date night, hand over control to Inati’s team and allow them to prepare a selection of dishes and wine to suit your preferences. 

Curators House Restaurant is the epitome of romance; the iconic 1920s heritage house has a quaint courtyard overlooking the breathtaking botanic gardens. On colder nights, you can curl up by the roaring fire in one of the charming dining rooms as you feast upon the traditional Spanish cuisine. Curators House specialises in tapas which offer little tastes of Spanish gastronomy, perfect for sharing. The tapas tasting selection showcases the best of the best, with chorizo, patata bravas, and chicken and cured ham croquetas.

A signature dish that cannot be missed is the paella de Marisco with prawns, clams, mussels, and calamari cooked with tomatoes, vegetables, saffron and Calasparra rice. Pair dinner with a glass of authentic sangria; the chilled Spanish wine fruit punch is incredible.

Placing high on our list of romantic nights out is ChiChi Kitchen, the casual and quaint eatery pairs red picnic tablecloths with outstanding Italian cuisine. Whisk your loved one away to the warm shores of Italy, where the people are welcoming, and the fare is heavenly. The only thing that can rival our love for our significant other; is our love for pasta.

ChiChi discovers new flavours and techniques to tantalise the taste buds alongside the house-made pasta. A simple yet divine dish is the basil pesto pasta made with fresh fettuccine and homemade basil pesto combining basil, pine nuts, olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano. The pasta is then topped with bacon and mushrooms. Perfection. 

Spice up date night with a tasty, new experience; Amaterrace Teppanyaki offers entertainment and authentic Japanese cuisine. Treat your loved one to a night like none other; it is guaranteed to win you brownie points. Sit front row at the chef’s table and watch the magic unfold. 

The menu reads like a love letter to our stomachs with sushi, gyozas, sashimi, teppanyaki wagyu beef and tiger prawns. You name it, you will find it. The food isn’t the only showstopper; Amaterrace has a delicious range of sake and cocktails that are ridiculously tasty. A few of our favourite cocktails include the plum margarita, yuzu mojito and blue Tokyo.