Our 9 Favourite Lunch Spots
Where to eat? Here are our go-to places to have lunch during the work day.
Our list includes vibrant lunch-date spots, cosy nooks to recharge your battery, and fancy establishments for formal business meetings.
They’re all within walking distance of Manzana, and all accept BYO takeaway containers. Grab a lunchbox from the Manzana kitchen if you’ve forgotten your own!
Le Chef
13 O'Connell Street
Summary: A favourite local is Le Chef, an authentic French owner-operated bistro in what’s arguably the most European street in the city.
Food: No nonsense French cuisine and the menu includes such traditional staples as Croque Monsieur, as well as contemporary vegetarian dishes such as the charred broccoli with cauliflower rice. They also serve up a pretty decent croissant.
Ambiance: No cars can drive down O'connell St because it’s so narrow, it therefore has a great ambience and airflow for the al fresco dining. Perfect for a lunch meeting.
Chuffed
43 High Street
Summary: Probably the best cafe-style restaurant in our vicinity. Chuffed has friendly staff, an all day breakfast, relaxed outdoor seating, and sparkling on tap.
Food: The menu offers a full range of brunch options, a cosy lunch menu, and serves high quality barista coffee alongside a range of pre-made sandwiches and baked goods.
Ambiance: The hidden balcony is framed by tropical trees and brightly coloured murals, a surprise sunny break from the streetside, great for a casual yet filling meal.
The Don
47 High St (literally opposite Manzana)
Summary: Sooo popular that queues form at certain times throughout the day. Hearty portions, decent prices, the Don is preferred take-away when hunger strikes.
Food: Their fantastic lunch offer is only $11.90 and changes each day of the week, including Chicken Nanban, Shoga (Ginger Pork), and Karaage Don. Their yum miso soup is offered with each meal.
Ambiance: They are happy to serve your lunch in your own tupperware so you can enjoy your lunch in Freyberg Place, instead of using a disposable take-away box, and they have a dine in option too which is enjoyed at dinner time for a “could be any city in the world” vibe. The staff are so so lovely and always helpful.
Pink Neon Sign
35 High Street
Summary: PNS is a wāhine Māori owned and operated cafe, and it really feels like you’ve been invited into a space with a buzz. Also - PNS is also a partner of Mugly, so you can take a mug back to Manzana to replace a reusable cup.
Food: They don’t have food but they are happy for you to bring your own in… just make sure you order a coffee or tea from PNS to have with your meal. Also, our memberships include coffee from PNS so get in there!
Ambience: WE LOVE IT! Bright high ceilings, upbeat great tunes, it just feels cool. It’s the perfect spot for an early morning meeting over a flat white, tea time planning session, an after lunch espresso, or a sneaky cold brew to take back to Manzana to help you keep going.
Scarecrow
33 Victoria Street East
Summary: Cafe with a selection of healthy lunch options, deli goods, fancy grocery items, take-home meals, and other curiously covetable gifty objects.
Food: Home-style healthy cafe dishes such as bagels with haloumi, and sourdough sandwiches with jackfruit sit beside a pie oven which is often empty due to popularity.
Ambience: Busy interior with a European air. Vintage wooden chairs and tables, flowers, and cute objects stacked on high industrial shelves backed with mirrors and framed by deco orb light fixtures. Good for a meeting or a lunch for one.
Yoshizawa
9C Victoria Street East
Summary: Authentic hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery, which caters to foodies, students, and locals.
Delicious huge portions and a range of dishes.
Food: Yummy, cosy, Japanese favourites such as Donburi, Katsu Curry, and Udon. High quality sides, upgrades (pork miso) and deserts.
Ambience: In-and-out dining. Order at the counter at the back from an extensive menu or the listings on the walls and door. Find a seat along the wall of the narrow interior and enjoy the food with a friend or alone.
Mezze Bar
Durham Street East (upstairs)
Summary: An establishment with a nostalgic air. The food, like the interior, is inspired by the cultures that serve mezze, namely Turkish, Greek, and Middle Eastern.
Food: Mezze literally means “a selection of hot and cold dishes, typically served as an hors d'oeuvre” so it’s great to select some things from the menu and share with a small group.
Ambiance: Got to say this is almost better for a drink, it’s like a get-together place. A sprawling interior with middle eastern furnishings, indoor plants, and Victorian era factory windows that overlook Queen Street.
Sushi Pac
43 High Street
Summary: It’s a sushi bar. BYO tupperware. Fresh, huge range. Choose your items quickly because this is a fast-paced in and out style place.
Food: Let’s not beat around the bush. It’s a favourite because sushi is a convenient novelty from the cafe or home style cooking. It’s quick, easy, and cheap. I can’t say anything about the fish being sustainability or ethically sourced.
Ambiance: OK, let’s talk about the ambiance of Freyberg Place because that is GREAT! I don’t know how popular sushi will be in winter when you can’t enjoy it outside but Sushi Pac is still a go to.
Pavilion Kitchen
48 Shortland Street
Summary: High-quality café in the lobby of a CBD high rise. They’re hard to find, tucked away inside what seems like a business building. Though they claim that coffee is their main event, Pavilion also serves a full menu, cabinet food and a rotating salad bar.
Food: Café-style cabinet food on the more upmarket side. Breakfast and lunch menus have all the highlights you’d expect. The daily rotating salad bar, however, is the real gem!
Ambience: Huge glass walls, nice furnishings and beautiful artworks. It’s the perfect mix of culture and business. A great place to take meet a potential client for coffee or lunch.
