Finding the best bakeries in Christchurch means looking past the supermarket loaf to the local bakers who ferment their own sourdough, laminate croissants by hand and bake on site every morning. A good bakery in Christchurch covers everything from a crusty baguette and a Danish rye to a pie for lunch, a box of pastries for the office or a cake for a celebration, and many now take online orders for pick-up or delivery. Bellbird Bakery and Bohemian Bakery are two well-known names among the neighbourhood bakers below.
1Bellbird Bakery
Bellbird Bakery is an artisan bakery specialising in sourdough bread and French pastries, started by Jeremy MacCormack in 2010 with loaves baked in a backyard oven and sold at weekend farmers’ markets. It now runs shops at The Tannery in Woolston, Riverside Market in the central city and Holmwood Road in Merivale, and suits anyone after naturally leavened bread, viennoiserie or a coffee and sandwich.
Services
- Sourdough bread
- Croissants, Danishes and other viennoiserie
- Seasonal and deli items
- Sandwiches and barista-made coffee at the Holmwood shop
- Online shop, gift vouchers and wholesale supply
Highlights
- Started in 2010 by baker Jeremy MacCormack in his hometown
- Three shops: The Tannery, Riverside Market and Holmwood Road
- Weekend stalls at the Christchurch Farmers’ Market at Riccarton House and the South Christchurch Farmers’ Market
- Ingredients sourced from local and organic suppliers where possible
Location & Contact
Name: Bellbird Bakery
Address: Shop 40, The Tannery, 3 Garlands Road, Woolston, Christchurch 8023
Phone: 03 261 9434
Website: bellbirdbakedgoods.co.nz
2Bohemian Bakery
Bohemian Bakery opened in Sumner in June 2016 as a village bakery, with bread, pies and rolls all made on the premises. Its Sumner shop is the sourdough headquarters, where loaves are shaped the day before and cold fermented overnight, and it suits locals wanting fresh bread, a pastry and coffee, or lunch with plenty of vegetarian and plant-based choices.
Services
- Sourdough breads
- Croissants and morning pastries made fresh daily
- Tarts, cakes and desserts
- Pies, sausage rolls, toasties and sandwiches
- Catering boxes and online ordering
Highlights
- Sourdough starters fed twice a day, with a long cold fermentation for the loaves
- Bakers start around 2am to bake the day’s bread at Sumner
- Shops in Sumner, the central city, St Martins, Cashel Street and Merivale
- Many vegetarian and plant-based options
- Open seven days at Sumner
Location & Contact
Name: Bohemian Bakery
Address: 43 Nayland Street, Sumner Mall, Sumner, Christchurch 8081
Phone: 03 326 3357
Website: bohemianbakery.co.nz
3Copenhagen Bakery
Copenhagen Bakery is a Danish and European style bakery and café in Bishopdale, opened in 1987 by John and Donna Thomsen. John trained as a baker and konditor in Denmark, and the bakery suits anyone after long-fermented European breads, Danish pastries, pies or a cake ordered ahead for an occasion.
Services
- Sourdough breads and rolls, including Danish black rye, pretzel, ciabatta and Turkish pide
- Filled rolls, paninis, bagels and sandwiches
- Cakes, pastries and slices
- Celebration cakes, tarts and roulades
- Pies, savouries and sausage rolls
Highlights
- Opened in 1987 by John and Donna Thomsen
- Three golds and a silver for pies at the National NZ Supreme Pie Competition
- Breads naturally fermented over a few days with no preservatives or additives
- Seasonal Easter hot cross buns, Christmas stollen and Danish marzipan
Location & Contact
Name: Copenhagen Bakery
Address: 409 Harewood Road, Bishopdale, Christchurch 8051
Phone: 03 359 0175
Website: copenhagenbakery.co.nz
4Village Bakehouse
Village Bakehouse is a French bakery in Ilam where French-born and trained baker and pastry chef Thierry Didierjean bakes traditional breads and pastries from scratch. Everything is made and sold on the premises, close to the University of Canterbury, and it suits students, families and anyone ordering French cakes for a function or wedding.
Services
- Traditional and speciality breads
- Fine pastries and brioches
- Meat pies, quiches, savouries and filled rolls
- Gluten-free bread, biscuits and gateaux
- Mini pastries for parties, gateaux and traditional French wedding cakes
Highlights
- French-born and trained baker and pastry chef Thierry Didierjean
- No chemical fats, artificial preservatives, colouring, gluten powder or soya flour added to the doughs
- Made-to-order French treats such as Paris-Brest, flans and quiche Lorraine
Location & Contact
Name: Village Bakehouse
Address: 211-B Waimairi Road, Ilam, Christchurch
Phone: 03 358 9020
Website: villagebakehouse.co.nz
5Grizzly Baked Goods
Grizzly Baked Goods is a sourdough and pastry bakery run by Sam and Sara, with its first retail window on Buchan Street opening in September 2018 and a second café at The Welder in the central city. It suits anyone after bagels, sourdough loaves, doughnuts and croissants, or a bread order delivered to the door.
Services
- Sourdough loaves, including country, super seed and midnight sourdough
- Bagels, buns and baps
- Croissants, pain au chocolat, morning buns and doughnuts
- Catering for groups
- Weekday home delivery and online orders for pick-up
Highlights
- Buchan Street shop open seven days, 9am to 2pm
- Grizzly at The Welder, with a Sunrise Window serving pastries and coffee before opening
- Free weekday delivery to select Christchurch postcodes on orders over $40
- No additives in the dough, with locally sourced ingredients
Location & Contact
Name: Grizzly Baked Goods
Address: Buchan Street, Christchurch
Phone: 022 655 6832
Website: grizzlybakedgoods.com
Bakeries in Christchurch at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Bellbird Bakery | Started in 2010 by baker Jeremy MacCormack in his hometown |
| Bohemian Bakery | Sourdough starters fed twice a day, with a long cold fermentation for... |
| Copenhagen Bakery | Opened in 1987 by John and Donna Thomsen |
| Village Bakehouse | French-born and trained baker and pastry chef Thierry Didierjean |
| Grizzly Baked Goods | Buchan Street shop open seven days, 9am to 2pm |
How to Choose the Right Bakery in Christchurch
- Bread style: decide whether you want naturally leavened sourdough, a dense European rye or a soft sandwich loaf, as bakers tend to specialise.
- Baked on site: look for bakeries that make their dough and pastry on the premises rather than finishing frozen product.
- Dietary needs: check for gluten-free, vegetarian or plant-based ranges, and ask how gluten-free items are kept separate.
- Ordering and lead times: long-fermented breads and celebration cakes often need one to two days’ notice, so check cut-off times before you order.
- Location and hours: many bakeries open early and close by mid-afternoon, and popular items sell out, so pick one near your route and go early.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christchurch Bakeries
What makes sourdough different from ordinary bread?
Sourdough is raised with a natural starter rather than commercial yeast, and the dough is usually left to ferment slowly, often overnight in the fridge. That long fermentation gives a more complex flavour, a chewier crust and a loaf that keeps longer.
Can I order bread or pastries online from a bakery in Christchurch?
Yes. Several local bakeries run online shops for pick-up, and some offer home delivery to parts of the city. Most need at least a day or two of notice because the dough is made in advance.
Where can I find a bakery in Christchurch near me?
Local bakers are spread across the city, from Woolston and Sumner in the east to Bishopdale and Ilam in the north-west, with others in Merivale and the central city around Riverside Market. Check each bakery’s own site for its shops and farmers’ market stalls.
Are there gluten-free options at Christchurch bakeries?
Some bakeries make gluten-free bread, biscuits and cakes, but a shared bakery cannot always rule out cross-contact with flour. If you have coeliac disease, ask how items are prepared, and see Coeliac New Zealand’s guide to eating gluten free.
How do I check allergens in bakery products?
Packaged food must carry allergen labelling, and staff at a bakery counter should be able to tell you what is in unpackaged items. New Zealand Food Safety has guidance on food allergies and intolerances.
Can a Christchurch bakery cater for events or make celebration cakes?
Many bakers offer catering boxes, mini pastries and savouries for functions, and some make celebration or wedding cakes to order. Allow plenty of lead time for larger orders.
What time do bakeries in Christchurch open?
Most open early, typically between 7am and 9am, and many close by mid-afternoon. Weekend hours often differ, so check before you visit.
How We Chose the Best Bakeries in Christchurch
Every business in this guide was found by searching for bakeries in Christchurch, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Christchurch, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.