Reviews of Sign of the Takahe. (Coffee Shop) in Christchurch (Canterbury).
Sign of the Takahe
200 Hackthorne Road, Cashmere, Christchurch 8022, New Zealand
Description
Information of Sign of the Takahe, Coffee shop in Christchurch (Canterbury)
Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.
This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!
Map
Open hours of Sign of the Takahe
Sunday
9:30am–3pm
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
9:30am–3pm
Thursday
9:30am–3pm
Friday
9:30am–3pm
Saturday
9:30am–3pm
Popular times
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Friday
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Saturday
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Reviews of Sign of the Takahe
S.I attended a work function, we were a large booking. The entrance looks bland but once you open the door and walk in it feels like a structure from Harry Potter. The decor is very periodic, and feels like being in a piece of history. We ordered mains, there is quite a large variety of food and something fits everyone's budget. I had a steak sandwich with GF bread. This was served with a good sized portion of chips. The other meals were also presented well and enjoyed. I can't wait to take my daughter and her friends for scones and cream after some dress up in the medieval costumes/clothing 🙂
C.I organised a group booking for my staff at the SIgn of the Takahe which included coffee on arrival, morning tea and lunch. I cannot speak highly enough of the staff who were welcoming, friendly and efficient. The food was superb and plentiful. The surroundings are amazing - I can imagine that it's hard to feel at home and cosy in a castle but this is an exception. The views and garden area made for a very special day - thanks Andy and Kaye and staff.
k.Staff were amazing, our waiter had a great sense of humor. VEIW WAS AMAZING TO if you are to go make a good point to go for a walk thru the garden and reserve after on a nice day.
We went for lunch and I had the Beer Batted Fish and chips. Divine. Later went for dessert after nipping around to Dimond harbor for the avo, and had the Rose Water Cheesecake ❤. Sadly I only got a photo of the Fish and Chips as the Cheesecake was tooo good to let sit.
N.We visited recently on a Saturday evening to celebrate a friends birthday. If I had to score on service and location I would give five stars. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the location is awesome given the building itself and the views!
However, we came for dinner and that's where we were let down. Me and my partner ordered burgers, but these don't come with chips, you have to order them as a side. However, a lamb sarnie does come with chips as part of the meal? The burgers weren't that great to be sat on a big plate all on their own, were pretty bland and not great value for money. I had the lemon meringue pie for pudding and it was huge, so in comparison to the burger, great value for money. Others in our party were also disappointed with their mains. Such as shame as it's a stunning location.
C.Comfortable and quiet place for a meal or drinks. Beautiful setting too! Little bit expensive for the dinner food but understandable given the unique ambience of the place.
N.Never been here before. Awesome building, nice views and yummy food. Friendly staff too will definitely be back again.
G.Very pleasant to dine in and joyful for the food! Gr8 services as well, I do like the design of the construction. When you have a sit near the window, could even get a pretty scenery of almost chch. Luv it will go again next time ;)
f.This historic building with lots of amazing features and good quality drinks. Would recommend even just for a takeaway coffee and a look around is great.
J.It's a very nice place to have brunch or coffee with friends or alone and relax. I enjoyed a my lunch beside the bar with a lovely window view of the garden and the western edge of Christchurch. Food are nice and staff is friendly too. There is also a lookout within a walking distance just beside the castle to see the lanscape of Christchurch.
O.Well what a spectacular place to stop for a coffee! An incredible castle to explore, great food and coffee, and we loved the walk with views right across the city just beside it. The cafe manager went out of her way for us and we were so grateful for the experience. Thank you and we will be back!
S.Staff were really friendly, helpful and accommodating, can't fault them. The only slight disappointment was that we were expecting gateau cakes in the cabinet which we've had there previously. What we had was very nice though, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit!
a.I have always wanted to go to this restaurant but felt a little intimated. Not any more! I was there for a 21st and it was magical.
The food was perfect. The staff were friendly, helpful, kind and quick. The surroundings were exquisite and there was alot to admire.
Whether you want a table for 2 or 20 this will be a memorable experience.
G.A lovely place and company to spend a significant birthday with!
Staff were amazing, atmosphere was superb and the food well……. Just perfect for a birthday brekkie!
Coffee was so goooood💕
P.Just a note to sat thank you to the team. Valentines
dinner was really excellent and more importantly other half was super impressed :).
Compliments to the chef as food was absolutely top notch.
J.Really beautiful setting, helpful waitress, yummy food. We really enjoyed the bread and dip entrée and the cauliflower salad. They had the highchair already set up for us which was great too!
L.So impressed with the delicious meal we had here tonight. It was very reasonably priced too and the staff were spot on. Such a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere and so easy to hear each other. Thoroughly recommend and can't wait to return.
T.Lovely place and nice view all around. We tried pan fried fish and kumara fries which was really yummy 😋 as well as very testy Coffee. Friendly staff.
R.It tastes mediocre, but it's definitely a must-come coffee shop, and the building is absolutely beautiful
w.A really lovely dinning experience that was definitely worth a visit, the old school castle stone build walls and stone archways are pretty impressive! Great food great service ❤😁
C.Lovely view and a nice building but the price of the food is far too high for the quality. The food was extremely bland and not much better than you get at a pub for half the price.
M.Stopped in for brunch after doing the Harry Ell walk... had an absolutely delicious Eggs Benedict and cappuccino... great friendly service and lovely atmosphere. Perfect brunch... thanks guys!
B.The food, service, and atmosphere are all amazing! Highly recommend this place. When they first re-opened after the earthquake repairs the service and food were very disappointing. If you had the same experience and didn’t want to come back, rest assured those issues have been ironed out.
K.Thank you Sign Of The Takahe for the cake and I coffee I won in your competition. The cake was delicious.
I always have a great experience at your cafe. Yummy food, beautiful building, and nice view overlooking Christchurch.
N.Fantastic location, highly unique castle setting to eat lunch. Food was really well done, slightly pricier than say, Coffee Club, but delicious enough to warrant it. Really enjoyed our time here. Not sure if there's wheelchair access however, we carried our baby stroller up two flights of stairs.
E.Lovely setting very nice food. My grandson ordered an ice chocolate but was 90% ice. Made a comment to the waitress but she wasn't really helpful. I asked that my tea came with my meal as I like to drink after I have eaten. My tea came a good 20 mins before my meal so was luke warm when I drank it. Service was slow
A.Absolutely delicious desserts (we had the coffee creme brulee and the lemon meringue pie) and the staff were really lovely.
j.My husband and I found this place by googling on a recent visit to Christchurch and were intrigued so decided to stop by for breakfast..
What a gem of a find! Very friendly staff (Kellie) who told us a bit about the history while leading us to a table. Excellent coffee! Tick of approval from fussy hubby .. House made waffles (the best I have ever tried) and my husband had a hash Benedict which both of us thoroughly enjoyed! Worth the small wait for food (time is soaked up exploring and the views anyway) when it’s very obviously made fresh from scratch!
With our move down to Christchurch this will be our new fave! Looking forward to seeing sign of the takahe in the evening for dinner :)
A.beautiful castle and awesome food
L.With being open just 7 weeks the serving of cabinet meals could have been better but as its early days, hoping in improves. I got my order well before my friend did, (a filled bap) about 20 to 30 mins ahead of hers,(a sausage roll) and it was awkward as it was my birthday lunch. However, staff are friendly, the castle looks amazing, loved its ambience and so nice to see it all repaired.
R.Small group birthday celebration. Excellent service, food, drinks selection and setting. Will return.
L.What a treat it was for me to bring a group of 18 to your restaurant yesterday. As asked for, we received a wonderful piece of historical knowledge from Andy about the magnificent building, a great look around followed by afternoon tea at our table for 18. The staff were friendly, efficient and attentive. Nothing was a bother. Thank you all for making all of us feel so welcome. We wish you an enjoyable and successful future in this wonderful place, full of Canterbury history.
T.The building itself it's a tremendous piece of history, with such a great vibe inside. Overall the food and drinks great, but the service wasn't, not all the staff seems to be pleased to serve customers and this place in my opinion need it.
H.It was a plus treat for our road to get into Sign of the Takahe, the well-known landmark in Christchurch and is highly significant architecturally constructed.
Sign of the Takahe offers a beautiful gardens to walk through with an adjacent viewing platform that looks out over Christchurch city, offering great opportunities to take photographs.
The interior of the Sign of the Takahe is full of heraldic symbols: coats of arms of Canterbury settler families, governors-general and prime ministers grace the walls alongside English shields, while the dining room contains a fireplace that is an exact replica of one in historic Haddon Hall in Derbyshire.
E.Amazing food and service, great atmosphere. Thanks for a special Mother’s Day Lunch
C.We had the most wonderful brunch. The service was top notch, the food was delicious and the venue is always the best. Totally recommend this place.
S.Highly recommended for dinner. The atmosphere, food and service were fantastic and the prices were very reasonable. Will absolutely be going back.
J.Beautiful meals, Beautiful place. And a fantastic view on a small 2 min walk right out the door!
h.We felt a bit disappointed by an unfriendly female staff, but a male staff was great! 😊Thanks to him, we had a great time at the Sign of the Takahe.
R.Food was good. Service was good. Wine reasonably priced. great location
D.Friendly staff, cosy, affordable food for everyone and great views. Kids thought their Halloween theme was awesome!!
j.Except that the serving speed is too slow and the waiter's service is not patient enough, everything else is perfect
j.My husband and I found this place by googling on a recent visit to Christchurch and were intrigued so decided to stop by for breakfast.. …
f.This historic building with lots of amazing features and good quality drinks. Would recommend even just for a takeaway coffee and a look around is great.
F.Great to have it back again. Medieval vibe and deco. Nice food and coffee. Friendly staff.
R.Delightful find, will be bringing our visitors back for sure.
D.Excellent cafe and dinner spot. Prices are very reasonable. Excellent service. One of the best atmosphere and views in Christchurch.
M.An absolutely brilliant lunch. The food is to die for. An absolute must when your in Christchurch. Everything was absolutely spectacular. The views are to die for. The service was some of the best I've ever had including in Australia.
E.Good view good coffee and good ice cream. Make sure you go for a drive on summit hill road or take a trek whilst there. Also, do make sure it's a nice day when visiting
S.Beautiful building with amazing views. Lovely dinner, the food was well presented and tasted beautiful. The waiting staff were pleasant, but their standard of dress and grooming could be improved. Dirty dishes were left on tables after diners had left and an empty glass tray from the kitchen dishwasher was left on the table next to us. We would definitely go back to support local, but with some refinement could have so much more potential.
D.Fantastic to see the place open and all its heritage. Great food too will be back for sure
M.What a little gem. Fabulous historical building, beautifully restored. Great staff, Donna was incredibly helpful and friendly.
F.Great to have it back again. Medieval vibe and deco. Nice food and coffee. Friendly staff.
J.Nice food and a cool setting overlooking Christchurch. Excellent gardens, cabinet food too
R.Great place for brunch! Awesome eggs Benedict, poached eggs were great (not over cooked like some places). Beautiful view and garden
F.One of my favourite Christchurch cafes. I really enjoy coming here. It's definitely a unique and charming building, lovely garden too when it's fine. Great food too! We had some platters at an event recently that were absolutely smashing, so delish. And we've also had a few great breakfasts and lunches here.
E.Excellent service every-time!
My friends and I have enjoyed gathering for a meal multiple times now.The food has every-time has been great and fairly priced.The setting is amazing and great for photos.But what keeps us coming back is the lovely staff who make us feel comfortable
D.I l
Played in the grounds of the Takahe as a kid so it's so great to be back to this amazing place. Congratulations to the new owners for their brave vision for the future of the Takahe
.
T.Fabulous dinner venue for an anniversary. So glad we chose somewhere we hadn't been before. The atmosphere, meals and staff were all exceptional. Will absolutely be back ❤
M.An absolutely brilliant lunch. The food is to die for. An absolute must when your in Christchurch. Everything was absolutely spectacular. The views are to die for. The service was some of the best I've ever had including in Australia.
R.Good food, friendly staff, great atmosphere.
E.A fantastic meal as always. Such a special place. My partner had steak like usual and loved the slaw that came with it. The beetroot salad looked really tasty and the vegan burger was delicious. The staff were very attentive and made us feel so welcome. 10/10
A.Lovely brunch for 3. Great friendly service ( Thanks, Skyla) best salad I've ever tasted . Everyone found the food faultless. Also had a cocktail which was perfectly balanced. Will definitely recommend, and will be going back for an evening meal soon. 👍
j.Except that the serving speed is too slow and the waiter's service is not patient enough, everything else is perfect
l.Great location, beautiful building, fantastic views. lovely outdoor area. Good menu options. My meal on the day was average, as was service. Friendly staff, but they seemed to be rushed and made you feel forgotten. Table not clean despite us having a reservation, and once one round of drinks ordered was hard work getting more. wouldn't go back for meal, but maybe a drink to take in the views
K.We all had a fantastic meal and the building is just so cool, it feels like a castle and has been really well fitted out. My mum who is keto easily found a yummy main that worked for her diet too. It also feels really cosy and comfortable and the staff were friendly and relaxed. Thank you :)
K.Attended an event here for Unchatter (a connection experience), what a gorgeous space! The architecture mixed with the interior decorating truly makes it feel like a homey castle. It was beyond delightful to have such a great view of the sunset as the evening went on. We had some platters throughout the event that were fantastic. As a guest, I felt like the space was able to be well utilised and will definitely come again for a meal.
S.Great location, amazing views, a lot of potential. Staff is constantly trying their best but completely overworked once the house is nearly full. At this moment they don't know any more where to start and also want to empty the table even though you are not finished. Having breakfast in such a surrounding is fantastic, but I am disappointed by their dinner. The beef burger was dry, cooked far way too long, the cheese burned, and nothing special. Too expensive for an average dinner! I was also looking forward to their Christmas decorations as their Halloween decorations were great. Unfortunately, my hopes were not fulfilled as there were hardly any decorations except for 2 Christmas trees. The surrounding is perfect to create an amazing Christmas feeling but they didn't take this opportunity.
M.We had a lovely High Tea yesterday; beautifully presented and served in an amazing building. There are lovely gardens and there would normally be great views of the city and the sea. However the weather (even in summer!) was certainly against us, we couldn't see a thing for very low cloud and drizzle. Thank you to Agg and Simon who gave us the gift for a special birthday; we will certainly be back and perhaps bring them with us when they are next down from Auckland.
S.Great atmosphere both inside and out! I’ve been here for a post-walk coffee and sweet treat with a friend. We sat in the beautiful dog-friendly garden which has both sunny and shady spots.
Also had a great night inside for a friends 40th, the castle style interior giving that special classy feeling so we could dress in our best. Savoury and sweet platters were a nice mix and appreciated the variety of non alcoholic tasty drinks too.
S.Lovely garden, dog-friendly (including free doggie treats thank you!) delicious smoothie, iced coffee and flat white. Kudos for having reuseable straws now just need to get rid of the little plastic tubs of butter.
S.Enjoyed a lovely night out at this beautiful restaurant. Had the open steak sandwich which was absolutely delicious. Friendly staff. Highly recommend and we'll definitely be back again soon.
G.It's a wonderful building of course - I'd love to investigate the heraldry more - and very comfortable, with friendly staff. Not the fastest service, but food well worth waiting for: tasty, plentiful and wonderfully presented with clever twists on even very common dishes. Great coffee.
l.We surprised my father with a 60th Birthday dinner here, there were 13 guests ranging from 3 years old to 61 years young.
Nothing at all was a problem for the team and they were accommodating with us taking a cake in, we arrived early to decorate the table and our waitress (Samara?) was fantastic, nothing was a problem and she was always there if we wanted more drinks.
Everyone was delighted with the food and not one person had food envy, the food arrived quickly which surprised us with how busy the establishment was.
We will definitely be back
A.Wow!! Really the nicest environment in a restaurant / bar in Christchurch. Recommend
C.Wonderful view, beautifully decorated, amazing food, service and drinks selection fantastic too.
S.Went here for our sons 21st birthday meal. Lovely staff.. felt really comfortable and relaxed. We didn't feel rushed out.. and got to even hold a sord and shield for photos. Recommend... A++++
N.Such a beautiful setting inside and out. The staff a friendly and provide a great service. The first I went, I had the pasta of the day which is all made onsite - it was delicious. This time, I had the seafood chowder and oh soooooo yummmmmmy!!! The kumara fries were good and so was the coffee.....but all I can think about is the chowder and it’s inspired me to find a recipe to create something similar for home.
S.We can't speak highly enough of the venue, staff and food at "The Sign of the Takahe", our recent lunch with family and friends to celebrate a 60th birthday was just lovely. Table setting, catering, bar service - everything was first class, nothing was a problem.
We particularly liked how we were greeted by Kat (Restaurant Manager) on arrival and having a dedicated waitress for meals and drinks (the lovely Yasmine), we felt very special - and when the Business owner Andy swung by and discreetly placed some medieval swords and body armour on the table, well, it just got better and better.
Not having been in The Sign of the Takahe for many years, it was a pleasant surprise - beautifully restored and oozing history with awesome views, this building is an asset to Christchurch.
We happily recommend "The Castle" to all - it is the quintessential Restaurant, Bar & Café that will offer something for everyone. The staff certainly know how to look after people.
R.Food was good. Service was good. Wine reasonably priced. great location
J.Great level 2.5 service for brunch and tasty coffee. Excited to try the new menu for dinner
B.We had a work dinner here with about 20 people and it was great. Food was awesome, staff were great and we had a great night. The surroundings are great so if you want something a little different and unique this is for you. We will definitely be back.
T.Great place, great food, amazing service. Thanks Kelly and the team. From the golf group.
K.Fabulous brunch, great food & lovely staff in this beautiful building! Best of all our wee dog was welcomed! So appreciated, I do hope more places in Chch & the rest of our lovely country follow your lead! 🐶😊
D.We absolutely love the Sign of the Takahe for several reasons. Firstly the ambiance of this fantastic building and the comfy chairs and tables. Secondly the staff are lovely and have become like old friends. They chat away and make you feel welcome and at home. Thirdly the coffee and scones are dangerously good. Last, but not least, you can take your dog in there (as long as it's on a leash) and all the staff (and owners) are real dog people and Ellie gets a fuss made of her. Even if you don't feel like a coffee you've got to go inside and have a wee look because it is a really lovely building and we, the ratepayers, own it!
Dave, Barb and Ellie
H.Lovely building and location - we were lucky to sit by the fire, in brilliant sunlight with the view. Lunch salads were great as well as the sausage roll. Lower rating due to staff attitude on return of a questionable food item.
S.Whats not to like! Wonderful views, beautiful building, great atmosphere. Service was great (would like to mention Donna as she always had a smile and time no matter how rushed, but all the staff were very helpful and attentive). Very busy, recommend booking if going for lunch or dinner. So good to see the Takahe again and looking so amazing. A must for visitors. Nice walks close by to walk off the good food. A very special place.
If you are planning to take an elderly or physically challenged person, be aware that the toilets are down two flights of stairs. However, the staff assured us that there is help on hand any time it is needed.
A.We had a wonderful time at the Sign of the Takahe today. We celebrated our daughter's birthday with High Tea. The food was delicious and the staff were wonderful. A very enjoyable and relaxing experience and of course the fact that it was in the wonderful building made it even more special.
L.A wonderful experience for 3 generations celebrating birthdays. The setting was magical, especially for the kids, the food delicious and the staff could not have been more engaging and helpful. Thank you so much from us all.
C.Good food - nice views -easy parking - some friendly staff
M.Amazing location, grand old building, fantastic views, enjoyable food.
A.The food is really good and the setting is one of the best in Christchurch.
J.Beautiful setting for our daughters wedding today. The photographs are stunning. Big thank you to Andy and his team. The food and wine was outstanding. Considering we only asked Andy if he could host a wedding 6 days ago made no difference at all. Everything went like clockwork, level 3 and all. Above and beyond Takahe team.
M.Beautiful views and well made coffee! However we order a plate of fried chicken $15 and were rather surprised that it only had 3 (full sized) wings on it. Tasty, but we wouldn't spend the money on it again as it made it difficult to share.
B.My fiancé and I both held our pre-wedding events here. I had a beautiful high tea, and he a dinner, both in the armoury room. Kay went above and beyond to ensure that both our events were very special. The Sign of the Takahe was the perfect venue for our events. Would highly recommend.
M.Lovely historic place. The owner has beautifully themed the whole place with colours of the Takahe. Their hot chocolate and mochaccino are really nice as they use real NZ Whitaker's chocolate in them. Their slices are really nice also and rich in flavour. Definitely recommend!
J.Went to The Sign of the Takahe for gin and chocolate night. It was a fantastic evening and the food was amazing! The staff couldn’t have been more thoughtful and courteous. We are booking our group in for dinner again. We highly recommend the Sign if the Takahe
M.Great setting with fantastic views and mix of relaxed outdoor and stunningly dramatic indoor areas to sit and eat / drink. Was busy and yet there was plenty of space to enjoy our delicious snacks, hard wasn’t after a walk up from the bottom of the hill. The fried chicken was super and the kids wanted more!
B.A great cafe with an amazing setting and views. Very good coffee. The staff are friendly and and very welcoming. Even dogs are welcome on a leash and may be lucky enough to get a treat.
S.We had an awesome dinner. I was expecting a pub like meal but was surprised at the refined food experience. I had a ribeye steak cooked to perfection and a jus sauce which was packed full of flavour, baby carrots and gratin potatoes which were perfect. Dessert was bombed Alaska which was out of this world. Totally recommend for dinner.
M.What a fantastic find! Always driven by but decided to pop in for the Quiz night last week and returned for a second time. Alot of effort put into the quiz, so thank you.The quiz menu is great but we'll be back to try a meal or brunch with this friendly bunch!
M.I love this place. We have been for coffee a few times, and then for breakfast which was so good. We decided to take our staff here for our Christmas work dinner and I must say we were super impressed with the food, the black gin 🤣 and your staff were fantastic and so friendly. Highly recommend this place for all age groups and this building is just outstanding too. Thank you for having us. 💙💚
G.I was taken here for mothers day for brunch, had a very nice meal. Lovely old place and pleased to see it was restored after the earthquakes. 👍👌
M.Amazing place! I visited it with my wife last week and the food was delicious. It’s the second time we’ve been there and both times we had a great moment with a friendly staff, good cider, and awesome food. I will definitely return.
J.Good friendly service, nice reasonably priced mains and yummy dessert. The building is absolutely beautiful.
J.A group of us dine out every month at different restaurants and score if we would go back to dine and the answer at the takahe is a definite YES from everyone. Beautiful venue, easy parking, great views and service. And the food was all rated delicious by everyone too. Will definitely be back.
J.Fabulous night out, amazing tasty chowder... full of treats. Considering we've just gone into level 2 the organisation was safe but unobtrusive. The singalong atmosphere was genuinely happy, so nice to see a bunch of people having such simple fun. Thank you so much!
A.First time visit since it reopened and we were well received, our small dog was no problem to them which was fantastic and means we will definitely return. Nice coffee in very nice relaxed cosy environment with lovely distant views of the snowcapped mountains. Will try a nice beer and food next time!
a.The best place to visit in Christchurch. It's amazing heritage, awesome staff, good food and cafe and lots of history behind.
Do visit if you are in Christchurch, trust me this is a gem waiting to be explored.
L.Amazing place to eat! Delicious food (have to try the burgers) really nice staff and owner! We had a wonderful birthday. Oh and so kind towards me breastfeeding.
A.Amazing view and excellent food, we attended a private function and the staff were all very accommodating.
L.Great food, friendly service, good communication with Kelly
D.My new personal fave in Christchurch! The place, comfy chairs, coffee and pizza are an absolute treat!
Thank you Andy and our crazy cosplay worked out well and we got the full experience! 😁 It was a pleasure to meet you too!
K.Great cocktails, nice food- loved the plum bomb Alaska so delish!. Lovely relaxed atmosphere and stylish decor. Definitely returning!
K.Probably one of the most iconic places you can take someone visiting Christchurch. Some great menu options, lovely slices and one of the best Hot chocolates in town. Grounds, views, building are all special. Easy to recommend.
G.I took my 80 year old sister to the Takahe for lunch today. We found the staff led by Douglas to be friendly and attentive and the food excellent. She is very fussy about her fish and chips, and declared yours better than anything we have at Sumner or Lyttelton. I tried the porridge, and it was divine. Our only criticism (on a cloudy day) was that the interior was rather dark and gloomy. Perhaps a few LED spots to show off the marvellous timber ceilings would brighten the interior?
A.We held a midwinter drinks event at the Sign of the Takahe and it was a fantastic choice of venue. The staff set aside the fireside bar area for us, with plenty of bar leaners and space to stand around the cosy fire. Bar service was quick and friendly, we loved the mulled wine! There was a bar snack & pizza menu available too. It was the perfect warm & cosy venue for a cold winter's night. We will definitely be back! Thanks Kat & team
J.Great to see the Takahe reopened. The stone work is gorgeous. The toilets look like they are still the same ones from the 80's. Didn't try any food, it looked really good. Coffee was good. Quite busy for a Thursday morning
B.Great meal out with friends last night. Fantastic food and great service along with an awesome atmosphere made for a very memorable evening. Would certainly recommend be it a meal or just a quiet drink. Will certainly be back!!
m.Beautiful view and nice place for couples.
Y.Loved our meal here in this awesome building. Reasonably priced and thoroughly enjoyed!!! Staff very hospitable. 11 out of 10 !!
G.A touch of class with awesome service. Super comfortable style.
K.Great food and great service, thank you
K.Had an amazing dinner here last night. Really friendly knowledgeable staff in a beautiful historic building. Food was delicious, couldnt help but order dessert. Yum yum yum! And i noticed lots of keto options in the cabinet. Will definitely be back! 😊
R.21st celebration. Special setting for a special sons 21st. Regal paraphernalia around the "Armoury" table, no noise from other tables due to layout, good food, friendly staff. Recommend you go (support a local business keen to cater for your needs).
A.Pretty historical building that's currently closed. Great walks and views around it though.
G.Stunning place visited for the soft open and couldn't believe in interior! Took me back to my days of rummaging around to Scottish castles.
Look forward to spending many hours dining there.
L.Came here with a mate for brunch to celebrate my 40th
Impressive looking building and a unique place to dine.
We were a bit confused on where to sit as firstly on walking into one of the rooms with tables and chairs we were told we couldn't go in there so we then sat down on a different table which looked ok to sit at as other people were around the nearby tables,
but when we sat here we were told we were taking all the chairs so we told the guy we will be sitting outside anyway and we are just looking at the menu to order.
It actually turned out we couldn't eat outside either as it's to far for the waitress to walk.
I understand that though its confusing when there are tables and chairs outside.
The guy wasn't rude as such but it was a bit confusing and unwelcoming.
We first ordered the twix bar which we enjoyed and they had a good selection of treats.
My mate ordered the vege stack and I the chicken burger.
When the waitress came over with our food we both noticed right away his vege stack was tiny, seemed like an April's fool joke accept it wasn't April's fools.
We were both quite shocked. It was literally just a small handful of veges and for $21-$22.
My chips were ok but the burger wasn't pleasant to eat at all. It was made with thigh meat which seems unusual to me for a burger. It was oily and fatty tasting and that taste took over the burger with little other flavour going on.
The buns were dry and overheated right through which gave them a stale taste and I struggled to eat it.
We were both very disappointed and my mate decided to have a chat to them.
They were very receptive of our complaints and appreciated the feedback and we came to a resolution we were happy with hence the 3 stars.
I understand they haven't been open very long and are still ironing things out but when you pay good money for food you do expect good food and enough to eat.
We both appreciate the willingness on there part to come to a resolution with us. Cheers team.
A lengthy review but I wanted to give my full honest account.
C.went in today and it was great, got a nice hot drink, slice of brownie. was really nice and warm everything looked totally awesome, the manager told the group i was with a bit of the history it was cool, id defiantly go again if i get the chance :)
P.Beautiful entrance.
Greeted to a busy bustling Café / restaurant that has a load of charm very rare in New Zealand. Very clean and warm after being out in a cold wind.
Plenty of staff with friendly faces, keeping the place immaculate and running smoothly considering the amount of custom.
Everyone was very polite and knowledgeable about the bar, coffee, tea, cabinet and menu offerings.
The cabinet food of blue berry macron and raspberry friand hit the spot and the tea ordered came prompt as ordered was very nice.
Sitting by the kitchen it appeared to be running very efficiently with staff in and out of the swinging doors frequently. Toilets very clean.
R.Delightful find, will be bringing our visitors back for sure.
M.It's so wonderful to be able to visit the Sign of the Takehe again. The garden is a delight - such a peaceful place to enjoy coffee and a sweet bite. Love the atmosphere of this historic building.
J.Lovely to be back there. Amazing building with lots of history. Starting point for walks on our amazing Port Hills. One of the first tea houses.
Need to made better scones🙄
J.Awwwesome building!
The closest thing to a castle in Christchurch!
The refurb was excellent, very classy place, great cabinet food.
Nice outdoor section also.
Love the decor (suits of armour, shields etc)
j.Great service and delicious food, we'll be back. People next to us even had their boxer 🐕 under the table and a highlander coach and ex All Black moved so our family could sit together well done mr brown.
B.A wonderful and unique setting. The food and service was first class. We will be back. Thank you to Andy and the staff for a delightful evening .
We highly recommend this restaurant.
S.The food and drink were terrific. The place is warm and great to be in. The people were engaging and helpful A definite place to take the trouble and strife to.
R.Great coffee and cheese scones, awesome staff, cool building
H.Such a beautiful building and a very nice place to have lunch.
G.Impressive building built between1918 and 1948, in the style of an English Manor House. There is a lovely garden. It has a restaurant, bar and cafe.
C.Sunday morning coffee with friends. I had forgotten how beautiful this place is and the views! Lovely atmosphere. We enjoyed excellent coffee, muffins and great service.
A.Worth a visit such a lovely venue and under advertised. Food was great and craft beer good. Also a beautiful garden area when weather permits
R.Great food. Fresh salad. Cheerful service. Flavoursome tea. Clean and with a wonderfully olde world feel. And the view over Canterbury Plains is magnificent ♥️♥️♥️
G.Good food and people. Enjoyed our time.
K.I love the big outdoor space, they were quite happy for us to bring our kubb set n have a game. Not very wheelchair or pram friendly. . . Steps everywhere
A.One of Christchurch's heritage treasures. A lovely place to relax and take in the city and hillside views. Friendly staff, great coffee and food.
D.A great historical place for having a meal or just few drinks. Superb view of Christchurch from above, very friendly staff, good service, definitely we'll go again.
C.Beautiful building lovely coffee
L.Lovely building, great views. Lunch service slow and waitress quite rude when i asked about it.
C.A great castle and gardens in the middle of the port hills but need someone to open a cafe /bar / function centre for it to be open to the public for.more than just viewing days. Amazing decor inside if you are lucky enough to get the chance.
L.Great view, service and food, o and did I mention the view!
S.Such a beautiful building, it is a must go cafe if you are in Christchurch
G.Awesome cafe. Friendly staff and the owner deserves to be praised for making sure everyone has a good time in the cafe 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 christchurch must do..
H.Great food, beautiful interior and views, took a while to get out food and waitress seemed to be having a bad day, but overall would go again.
J.Great staff, awesome venue, enjoyed the food.
J.Excellent Vegetable Stack! I'm always looking for unique and special food and today I found it. Beautiful cafe too! Highly recommend.
G.A beautiful building, friendly staff and fantastic food!
M.It's nice but the coffee and menu are pretty basic, I wouldn't go back for anything other than walking the grounds or for a beer, overall the place is nice but the food and coffee aren't.
S.Great eggs benedict and coffee. The views outside and inside the building make for a great dining experience.
D.A must go to place.
Everything was great.
P.Pleasant casual ambiance. Warm and cozy on a wet evening. An amazing building displaying the stonemason's art. Excellent desserts.
C.Really lovely place for a family get together with coffee and treats. Very friendly staff looked after us well and it is a beautiful spot above Christchurch
s.Food was freshly cooked and yummy
J.Very beautiful historic building. The food and coffee is great as well as the prices being quite reasonable. I recommend it.
J.Great to have this as our closest cafe. Ambience and views are the best. Outside tables are a great place for a summer afternoon.
C.Beautiful stone house, Victoria classic.
C.Surrounded by some pretty marvelous architecture. Good food, and good portion sizes. Maybe some room for improvement in the variety of the dinner menu?
L.Great coffee. Can even take your dog in if they are well behaved and they get a treat!! Lovely place
G.Yasmine & David are wonderful staff to deal with at the Takahe and a very pleasurable experience.
C.We went after our walk around the sugarloaf scenic reserve. We loved it, nice place, nice staff and good fish and chips and coffees. :)
R.Beautiful building an amazing little castle.
Best Eggs Benedict I have ever had.
Gr8 service.
S.Loved the ambiance. Restoration magnificent. Prices very reasonable. Very helpful staff. Don't think disabled people can get in.
C.Nice old building, tasteful renovations. Had the steak sandwich for lunch, very good.
F.Beautiful building. Stopped here for a coffee after the dog park with our doggos and sat outside. Dog friendly and good coffee!
C.Well what can you say - just great the food, ambiance and service - Wonderful !
B.Fantastic venue for a group event . Great team who were super friendly and terrific food.
C.Great restoration work. Detailed history background, plus food is top notch. One of best place for overseas visitors.
R.Bit chaotic with the ordering and serving but a great place to sit and enjoy the surrounding.
T.Dog friendly, amazing food, happy staff, beautiful grounds. All round awesome place to go.
A.Lunch was dissapointing Eggs Benedict were hard and warm w tinned salmon I felt. Chicken Burger Chicken tasted fatty.
R.Beautiful food and nice prompt service. Staff were very obliging and helpful
Thanks
R.SO great to see this place open again.Had a beaut beer/wine here after a walk at Vic Park.Also some very yummy snack food.Also on offer is full meal or coffee and cabinet food.Beautifully repaired.Enjoy
P.Pleasant Valentine dinner :-)
J.Lovely place, Food and desert was really good, compliments to the chef.
G.Hi, Great meal wonderful atmosphere, really enjoyed our lunch.
Will be back.
B.Very nice meal and good service. Had the Summer Salad.
G.This is The coolest place to eat in Christchurch, Douglas was a great host. Highly Recommend 👌
S.Beautiful and charming place. We enjoyed brunch and the porridge had a thoughful presentation.
D.Great atmosphere and staff. Allows dogs inside and they get treats 😍. Delicious iced chocolate.
J.Great food, great ambiance, friendly service and good prices!
K.Stunning old building. Worth a look even if you don't want to buy anything. Coffee was excellent
L.Lovely venue with a great atmosphere. Place will need a good clean soon, there was alot of dust on the chairs.
R.Love, love, LOVE this place. We went for dinner, the food and service was excellent and the venue is gorgeous!
L.Very friendly staff with awesome food
L.Beautiful trecks around this area for walking or running. Highly recommended if you just need to get away from the busy city and explore nature's fresh air
T.Really cool place. Definitely stop off if you are in the area or even make an excursion to visit. Definitely worth it.
G.Thoroughly enjoyed our experience with one young and one old staff member excellent service and very friendly indeed loved it 2 oldies THANKYOU ROSS
K.Best view if the city. Take the hop on hop off bus discover tour to get there and have some great commentary along the way
y.A great castle but it was closed. One of the best place to overlook Christchurch. Stunning view!!!
F.Medieval looking place, good food at reasonable price. Must try it out. It is beautiful place..
J.Beautiful building. Great service!
R.Fantastic veiw with all the fresh snow on the southern alps and clear blue sky. We were lucky to have the perfect day.
M.Totally love the experience. Really one of Christchurch's hidden gems
s.wonderful to have the beauty of the stones and craftmanship uncovered again. the years of grime (maybe. )how exciting it must have been when finished all those years ago. now another start.
S.Lovely food, great service, beautiful building. Thanks team 😊
M.Beautiful manor house and one of the best spot (you need to go up the path) to overview the whole Christchurch.
T.Noble setting deserves a touch of elitism. No doubt it will be a great place once the service is polished up.
R.Great atmosphere and awesome staff. A bar and restaurant in a castle!!??
T.Must try the Makikihi fries! Awesome, great service too, plus unbeatable views at the top of Dyers Pass!
M.Beautiful place. Great food and good for families and friends
N.Interesting~
G.Cool breezes in a stone building on a hot NW day. Great place for a coffee and views
S.Beautiful warm cosy place with a nice atmosphere,great food and staff
R.Best breakfast I have had in New Zealand. Lovely views and awesome ambience.
D.Great food, relaxing service, great location.
G.One of the older buildings on cashmere hill, can check out the building while having a coffee and something to eat.
A.Great ambiance. Seafood chowder excellent. Friendly staff
M.Wonderful history about why it was built to attract tourists when tram was installed and it needed customers.
J.Great coffee and good place to start walking Victoria Park from.
A.Great food and atmosphere, we will be back 😊
C.Amazing decoration! 1st floor is a must visit spot!
A.Excellent service dinner was amazing location atmosphere priceless
R.Great great great. Service amazing food great coffee great venue simply stunning
m.Great atmosphere, good beer, and ice cream as well!
B.Manager is working on getting better staff.
A.Really nice period decor. Only had a quick snack but nice
J.Absolutely delicious service was fast and friendly. Will be back for sure
S.Beautiful place, good food and atmosphere. Highly recommended.
S.Fabulous building and really tasty food, pleasant staff.
m.Sitting restored but unleased this building stands as a monument to harry ell and how he envisioned the port hills to be a recreation area for christhurch
S.Best place to have coffee/food. Service was excellent.
S.Wonderful buffet lunch. View over city spectacular.
J.Good food, coffee, great building and views.
G.Atmosphere of early Christchurch, quiet ambience for easy fining conversation.
R.This place has so much history about the place on the walls and the service was very pleasurable as well
A.Great coffee, good service, lovely setting.
d.Excellent coffee, excellent service, amazing surroundings.
S.Magical venue, totally takes you back in time. You just have to go inside an see the ceilings.
M.Nice place for a walk, great views and lots of active people running, biking, walking to help motivate you :-)
C.Beautiful building and great grounds to look out at the city from.
C.Grwat venue and they had some Keto options. What's not to like?
S.Great food great service in a fabulous setting
L.What a great place, fantastic seafood chowder, great staff
J.Need to improve their Iced Chocolate drink. More like a cold milk with no ice cream
L.Gorgeous castle, love the historical features of this place
D.Very nice food and an amazing view.
M.Awesome outdoor area and beautiful heritage building.
K.Nice location. Nice food. Great staff.
M.Visited for a wedding, nicely themed, will definitely visit again!
B.Amazing. Amazing. Amazing little cafe for a cute cup of coffee
P.Great food and service at reasonable prices
J.The view sitting by the window and looking out the window is great!
l.Lovely brunch with my friends today.
T.Great service, great food and coffee
C.Great coffee time in a fantastic old castle.
C.Closed to the public but nice walk around the grounds.
G.A must see for tourist and excellent place to relax.
L.such a beautiful Heritage building and wonderful service
K.It's closed. A construction fence is erected around it. Not sure till when. (Date 6 Sept 2017)
A.Great after run nibbles and drinks
A.Friendly staff and great food!
A.Great venue & the staff are friendly.
G.Fantastic views...scones...coffee and service
L.Beautiful place and wonderful breakfasts!
K.Best views of the city ever. Especially at night
D.Great historic landmark to have a coffee in.
L.Great spot for coffee and friendly service
R.Restored since Christchurch Earthquake historic building
S.Most enjoyable meal & interesting surrounding
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