The Best Greek Restaurants in Christchurch Serving up a True Taste of Greece
David Harris
| Last Updated: April 2025 I once had a disappointing encounter at a so-called Greek restaurant that left me utterly unimpressed. The food was bland, portions were meagre, and the service was terrible.
But I refused to give up on my quest for authentic Greek cuisine in Christchurch. Armed with determination and an empty stomach, I explored the city to find restaurants worth leaving the house for.
After several taste tests, I’ve finally found the top Greek restaurants in Christchurch that’ll make you feel like you’re dining right by the Aegean! Check them all out here!
How much does it cost to eat Greek food in Christchurch, NZ?
1. Costas Taverna Greek Restaurant and Ouzo Bar
Costas Taverna is a bustling Greek eatery where the atmosphere is lively, and the aroma of grilled meats and herbs fills the air. Their menu includes classic Greek dishes like souvlaki (grilled meat) platters and a nice selection of appetisers.
I started with the Flaming Saganaki (cheese fried in brandy). The server flambés the cheese tableside, so the whole room gets a whiff of brandy. The melted edges of the cheese were definitely the best part.
The Costas Calamari, though, was the real winner for me. The calamari was super tender, not rubbery like some places I’ve been, and the homemade crumb coating was perfectly crispy. The sun-dried tomato mayo was also a tasty twist on the usual aioli.
To wash it all down, I had a glass of Ouzo 12 (a signature Greek drink). I liked that it wasn’t a harshly licorice-flavoured ouzo. It was smooth, with a hint of sweetness and a subtle anise flavour.
My only gripe was that the first waitress that served me. She took a bit too long to jot down my order and seemed to get distracted a lot.
Customer Reviews
Love Mamma’s Moussaka…. i have every time
“So pleased to see the sharing platter back on the menu. Totally worth it!! I’d say it feeds 2 people comfortably, but your having the shared breads as a starter as well. The platter would feed 3 people….. and my dad thought he could eat all by himself!! Lol 😂
Love Mamma’s Moussaka…. i have every time!! ❤. Love the food and the atmosphere.”
The food was great
“The food was great. We ordered the mega souvlaki chicken for 2 people which you get 4 breads, vegetables, 4 sauces, delicious potatoes that are fluffy and 2 large chicken skewers. It is a new build so lacks an authentic feel. The waitress was helpful, polite and even asked if any of us had any food allergies. Which is a first for any restaurant we’ve been to. It has a selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
Vegetarian options and children’s menu. Will be back for sure.”
2. Spartan Greek Cafe & Restaurant
Spartan Greek Cafe & Restaurant is a family-friendly restaurant serving Greek food from breakfast to dinner. They even have a kids’ menu for families.
My go-to breakfast here is their Egg Saganaki. The eggs are perfectly poached and swimming in a spicy tomato and capsicum sauce. I like scooping the sauce up with the sourdough and feta.
For dinner, the options seem endless, but I do have to say that I like the way they do their Skarra here. It’s a char-grilled lamb dish that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The tzatziki sauce is a perfect match for the lamb too.
I also usually have a glass of Avarino Nestor Red, a Greek red wine. It’s not for all wine drinkers, but if you like dry and herbal, give it a try.
Just a note: the portions are on the smaller side, especially considering the price.
Customer Reviews
The service was so friendly and helpful and the food was soooo tasty
“Stopped by for some lunch today and has such a delicious meal. We had the pita with three dips (you HAVE to try the skordalia, it’s a potato dip and it was incredible), dolmades and we had the Mizithiropita (a delicious cheese filo drizzled in honey). I drank a very lovely blood orange soda which I recommend if you aren’t drinking alcohol with your meal, not too sweet and great flavour. The service was so friendly and helpful and the food was soooo tasty. I think I’ll be dreaming about the skordalia for a while… We will be back for dinner and with friends because we want to try everything!”
Everything we ate was delicious and fresh
‘Such wonderful and delicious food. Everything we ate was delicious and fresh. I could not fault a single dish and I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant. We even had a chance to speak to the owners who both have vast knowledge in culinary cuisines from working all over the world. This truly reflects on the quality and taste of the food. The owners were so hospitable and kind. I think we have found our new favourite restaurant. This place is a beautiful gem.”
3. It’s All Greek to Me
It’s All Greek to Me is my go-to spot for a quick and tasty Greek lunch in Christchurch.
Their large beef souvlaki is tender and flavorful, and it comes with fresh salad and perfectly grilled pita bread. I always get it with a side of their spanakopita, a flaky pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese.
And for dessert? Their kourabiedes are a must-try. These light, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies are coated in icing sugar and worth indulging in.
Don’t get me wrong, the food is tasty, the service is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. Just don’t expect a huge menu to choose from. If you’re not in the mood for souvlaki, your options are a bit slim.
Customer Reviews
Great amount of meat and felefal in there. All ingredients are fresh
“Beautiful atmosphere, stuff are just lovely. I ordered a regular mix-chicken and felefal souvilaki Both cooked perfectly. Chicken was juicy and both had lots of flavor. Great amount of meat and felefal in there. All ingredients are fresh. The souvilaki is a pocket bread not an actual souvi bread “wrap”. DIY sweet chilli or hot sauce. Hot sauce is gooood. There are a few parking spaces available for here. Overall will definitely go back. (For a large)
Cheers”
Good wholesome, tasty food made and served with care
“Penny and her staff are always so welcoming. I love coming here for good wholesome, tasty food made and served with care. Vegan and vegetarian options. This visit I tried the vegan Moussaka and it was amazing, so many great flavour layers. My partner had the Greek meatballs and raved about them too. Both had nice salads with and were big enough I could save a little of each for my elderly neighbour to try. Triple win!”
4. The Athena Yacht Club
The Athens Yacht Club’s black walls, black and white frames of yacht photos, and warm hospitality immediately set the tone for a classy dining experience.
Their Mama’s Moussaka, a classic Greek dish, was a resounding hit. The tender eggplant and well-seasoned ragu were complemented by a smooth béchamel. The sprinkle of salty feta and nutty parmesan added the perfect finishing touch.
For dessert, I couldn’t resist the Loukoumades. These were Greek doughnuts served with salted caramel sauce, caramel ice cream, and pistachios.
What truly sets the Athens Yacht Club apart is its commitment to authenticity. Even the plating made me feel like I was dining at a 5-star restaurant in Greece.
But the service, while friendly, was a bit slow at times. The prices might also be a bit steep for some.
Customer Reviews
The staff were very friendly and welcoming
“We went here for my partners birthday this week. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu, letting us know the new dishes on the menu since the last time we were here and she also recommended the prawns which were exceptional. The food was delicious, as always. The timing of our dishes coming out gave us enough time to enjoy our meal and have a chat. Parking is a convenient short walk away. We look forward to coming again!”
Food was spectacular
“Fabulous night at Athens Yacht Club. The service was impeccable, polite and not intrusive. Atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Food was spectacular. We shared dishes of Baked Eggplant, Kotopoulo Sto Fourno (roast chicken), Broccolini & Green Beans, and Greek Roasted Potatoes (similar to duck fat potatoes and super yum!) between three of us and had more than ample. Will definitely be again when back in Christchurch – thank you for wonderful night.”
5. Dimitri’s Greek Food Riverside
Dimitri’s Greek Food is my go-to for a quick, healthy bite in the Riverside Market. The prices are very reasonable, and the staff is quite friendly.
I’ve been here more times than I can count, and their souvlaki never disappoints. The pork is always perfectly seasoned and grilled, and the pita is warm and fluffy.
Their combo platter is also pretty good, especially if you get the beef and falafel. The beef is juicy, the falafel is crispy, and the Greek salad is a refreshing side.
The only downside is that there’s no place to sit down and enjoy your meal. But hey, that’s a small price to pay for a quick and easy lunch.
Customer Reviews
The portions are incredibly generous.
“If there were more than 5 stars I would happily give them to Dimitris. This is probably the most tastiest
thing I’ve eaten in Christchurch. Highly recommend this if you’re hungry and looking… The portions are incredibly generous. The meat is plentiful and seasoned to delicious perfection. They’ve been around for 35 years for good reason and know how to keep customers coming back for more. Great, traditional Greek street food. Will be my lunch stop when I visit Chch from now onwards!”
Easily the best souvlaki I’ve ever had
“Easily the best souvlaki I’ve ever had. I was actually planning on going somewhere else but saw the huge queue so decided to try it out. The pita bread was soft, warm and chewy like it was freshly baked, the lamb was juicy and tender, the lettuce and tomato were fresh and crispy, and the tzatziki and tomato sauce tied it together perfectly. The portion size was huge too – I got the smallest size and it still made me full. Now I understand why the queue was so long!”
