Restart Mall
Browse the stores of the Re:START Mall to discover shoes and garments from top international brands as well as unique, locally made arts and crafts. Relax with a coffee at one of the pleasant cafés or buy exquisite jewellery and leather goods at the market.
Opened in 2011, the mall was the first retail project to be built in Christchurch following the earthquake that devastated the city a year earlier. Intended as a temporary setup, the entire centre is constructed from brightly painted shipping containers, creating a warm and welcoming environment to enjoy some shopping and browsing.
Explore more than 50 shops and look for your favourite labels. Check out shoes and shirts from local designer Trelise Cooper and stroll around a world of luxury housewares and electronic goods at Ballantynes Department Store. You’ll also find an information centre, book store and several banks.
Stop to enjoy a barista-made coffee at a café on a second-floor container and gaze out over the crowds as they bustle around beneath you. If you get hungry you’ll find a range of restaurants selling everything from stone-baked pizzas to sushi and burgers.
Visit the mall on the weekend when high-quality craft goods are offered at the market. From Friday through Sunday, many artisans from around the city come here to display paintings, wooden sculptures and jewellery. Hand-woven clothes and fine leather products are also often available at great prices.
Before you leave, head to Quake City. This multimedia exhibit features displays that examine the science behind earthquakes and tell the story of the disaster in 2010 from the point of view of city residents who experienced it firsthand.
Re:START Mall is a short walk from the middle of Christchurch. Visit the mall any day of the week from morning to late afternoon. While entry to the open-air market is free, Quake City has an admission fee.