There’s nothing more refreshing than taking a break from the busy Christchurch business day to enjoy a high tea meal in the afternoon. Hosting clients, colleagues, or loved ones over a relaxing afternoon high tea is also a wonderful idea.

High tea is a special afternoon tea that you can choose from a wide range of teas and enjoy alongside a tiered plate of delicious hand-made sweet and savoury treats.

However, bad professional service at some restaurants or serving a non-savory or non-sweet high-tea meal could ruin the moment. To assist you in avoiding such occurrences in 2025, we have collated three top-notch restaurants.

They have good staff who are attentive, humorous, responsive, and provide top-notch services. We also ensure that all the restaurants are wheelchair accessible, cater to diet requirements, and one of them has a dog-friendly spot for your furry companion.

Check out the list!

But before then, if you would also like to know a good shop to get Boba tea, click here.

3 Best Venues for High Tea in Christchurch

#1:- The George

• Location: 50 Park Terrace, Christchurch Central City
• Operating Hours: Noon to 3 pm daily (reservation necessary)

Are you planning to host high-profile clients, impress colleagues, share a special date, or enjoy a bonding moment over high tea in 2025? If yes, head to the George, an award-winning, five-star boutique hotel crowned New Zealand’s Leading Boutique Hotel of 2024. It’s just a 5-minute drive via Colombo Street and Kilmore Street or Hereford Street and Montreal Street from CBD. Or a 10-minute ride from the Christchurch International Airport by corporate cabs or airport shuttles.

At the George, the 50 Bistro restaurant, holder of the 2019 Cusine Good Food Awards, among other awards, is located on the ground floor. Just at the convergence of Park Terrace and Peterborough Street.

The restaurant offers high-quality savoury tea meals made from finely local produce. Two savoury high tea meals you cannot afford to miss are their crumbed prawn with saffron aioli and scones with jam alongside cream. The menu includes vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or other dietary options, but a reservation is necessary 24 hours before visiting the restaurant.

If you are visiting the restaurant in a group of 10 for the high tea meals, you can stay at 50 Bistro (which has a well-designed interior, three interconnected rooms, and outdoor space) or its conservatory for up to 20 people. The Residence/library at the George is also available for up to 20 guests for intimate meetings or special occasions. Business events with over 20 people or celebrations, such as promotions at work and many others, can take place at Parkview.

Aside from high tea which costs between 56 NZD to 79 NZD for adults, and 35 NZD for children, they also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you care for more or will stay at the hotel. The hotel has about 53 rooms in an enviable location opposite the city’s most beloved park, Hagley and close to river Avon and several other fantastic relaxation spots.

Many people who have tasted the high tea at this restaurant claim that the high tea, scones, and other complimentary dishes are sweet and savoury but pricey. Also, they have a complimentary customer parking space, a cool interior and ambience, and a lovely, clean, and tidy environment. However, at least a customer added that there should be more space between the tables, especially in 50 Bistro, and that there should be a table cover and something for them to bring out the tea bag from the pot.

Check out their website.

#2:- Paris for the Weekend

• Location: 57 Charles Street, Kaiapoi
• Operating Hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily (might be unavailable between 11 am – 1.45pm – reservation necessary)

Paris for the weekend is a hidden gem just 20 minutes from Christchurch for all who love high tea, including customers with furry friends. There is even a nearby park for pets. Owners Sheryl and Charlotte Johnson started the restaurant in 2017. The duo has now made it a restaurant with a great and inviting atmosphere and even unarguably one of the best high tea restaurants in North Canterbury.

Many customers who visit this French-themed restaurant love the tea paired with a warm scone. In fact, a customer said they are made to utter perfection. But that’s not all; they still have more to offer, as you can see in their extensive menu.

Fortunately, they also accommodate any dietary requirements, including gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, vegan, and vegetarian options, as well as children’s high teas. However, reservations must be made 24 hours before arrival. Hence, it is a fantastic place to unwind and enjoy a relaxing day with anyone. Children’s high tea costs 15.50 NZD, but that of the adults costs between 28 NZD and 45 NZD.

While sipping your high tea, you have access to their Wi-Fi, plenty of car park space, and a beautiful outdoor dining area where you catch every glimpse of the riverside and the River Queen movement, among other exciting packages. The restaurant is located at the former railway station building in Kaiapol, opposite New World and 50 m away from the Kaiapol River Queen. You can get there from the CBD in your car or shuttle through State Highway 74.

High tea lovers who have visited this spot in the past said the meals are fresh, tasty, and presented well. The amazing atmosphere, elevating ambience, and lovely tableware, including fine bone china, teacups, plates, and teapots, did not also go unnoticed. The restaurant is rated 4.4/5.

This restaurant is not only famous for high tea but also a great location for yummy breakfast in Christchurch.

Check out their website

#3:- Midnight Shanghai

• Location: 96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City
• Operating Hours: 11.30 am to 4 pm Friday to Sunday (reservation necessary)

Many people know Midnight Shanghai as one of the finest yum cha restaurants in  Christchurch. But they are not aware that it also serves great high tea treats. The restaurant is located at the riverside market, and it is, in fact, one to try out in 2025.

The Chinese restaurant owned by Mia Zhao and Andy Shiau offers an extensive list of high tea meals, such as date scones with whipped cream and berry jam. These meals can be shared with colleagues and loved ones or during special celebrations.

They provide vegetarian high tea options, though dairy-free and vegan options are not available at the time of writing.

Apart from using great Chinese flavours for their meals, they take pride in ensuring their customers are well taken care of, including those with allergens. However, people with allergies must disclose their allergies while booking their reservation 24 hours before check-in. The tea costs about 55 NZD.

While the restaurant does not sell high tea during the week and late into the evening, it has other menu items, like Shanghai-style pork belly fried rice or BBQ pork ribs, which you can check out here. These meals, along with their karaoke nights, keep many customers at their place at night, thus reflecting the restaurant’s name.

The restaurant has a vibrant outlook and a welcoming atmosphere, especially the lovely upstairs setting, vaulted ceiling, wide windows, and plush booth seating. There is also an outdoor space for diners. Riding in a car, high tea lovers can get to the spot via Cashel Street within 6 minutes. Many of their customers believe that their high tea is great and tasty and give the restaurant a 4.3/5  rating.

Check out their website.

Conclusion

With any of the three restaurants mentioned, you are in for a quality treat of savoury and sweet high tea meal. They are also spacious enough to host your loved ones, colleagues, and celebrations in 2025. Head to any of them, and kindly share your experience in the comment section.