Pegasus Arms Restaurant & Bar is a central Christchurch icon on Oxford Terrace, directly opposite the Avon River and housed in a building that dates back to 1852. True to its tagline 'your local in the city', it pairs the character of a historic pub with gastro pub style cooking — classic pub dishes served with an impressive, chef-quality finish.
The kitchen turns out plates like Confit Pork Belly with Crispy Crackling and Duo Canterbury Lamb, alongside sharing-friendly platters of light bites and an Asian-inspired plate. Behind the bar there's an extensive range of beers on tap, including craft beers, plus a great selection of wines, cider and non-alcoholic options.
The vibe is vibrant but flexible: take a quiet table or booth, or join the friendly faces up at the bar. The Pegasus Arms family also hosts functions — from birthdays and work dos to weddings — and has celebrated with events like its German beer festival. Open daily from 11am till late, it's a welcoming stop near the hospital and the river.
Pegasus Arms Restaurant & Bar calls itself “your local in the city”, and the tagline fits. You'll find it on Oxford Terrace in the heart of Christchurch's central city, directly opposite the Avon River and just along from the hospital. The building itself is a genuine piece of local history — originally built in 1852 — and today it houses an iconic, much-loved establishment where gastro pub cooking, an extensive tap line-up and a warm welcome come together under one historic roof. Step inside and it feels like the kind of pub that has always been there: sociable, unpretentious and full of character.
The kitchen's promise is simple: classic pub food served with an impressive, chef-quality finish — “you can't beat it”, as they put it. The Confit Pork Belly with Crispy Crackling arrives with kumara miso mash, stir-fried bok choy, edamame, baby vegetables and a red wine jus. The Duo Canterbury Lamb is a fitting tribute to the region: a three-rib lamb rack cooked medium rare, paired with shredded gravy lamb, a gruyere and rosemary potato gratin, baby vegetables and a lamb jus.
For lighter appetites and shared tables there's plenty on offer too. The Tasty Light Bites platter lines up corn cakes with mango salsa, crunchy chicken tenderloins with chipotle aioli, Thai fish cakes with sweet chili and salmon and cream cheese blinis. An Asian-leaning thread runs through the menu as well — the Asian Plate gathers pork dumplings, spicy samosa bites with riata, sweet and sour pork belly and crunchy Asian vegetables on one board.
As you'd hope from a true city local, the bar pulls its weight. Pegasus Arms pours an extensive range of beers on tap, including craft beers, backed by a great selection of wines, cider and non-alcoholic beverages — a drink for every occasion, whether that's a quiet pint, after-work drinks with colleagues or a glass of wine over dinner. The pub has form with festivals, too: German beer festivals are among the celebrations it has hosted over the years.
Part of the charm is the range of moods one building can hold. Settle into a quiet table or booth for a proper meal, or perch up at the bar among friendly faces and enjoy the hum of the pub. On Friday evenings the room fills with the after-work crowd, and at Christmas the upstairs space gets its own festive dressing. The team — the self-described Pegasus Arms family — are always happy to help, and it's that vibrancy, as much as the food, that keeps regulars coming back.
Pegasus Arms is also a popular pick for functions. The team takes enquiries for all manner of gatherings — birthday parties, engagement parties, weddings, business meetings, baby showers, christenings and private events among them. There's an upstairs space that has played host to festive occasions, adding another string to the bow for larger groups. If you're planning something in the central city, it's worth getting in touch early to talk through options.
You'll find Pegasus Arms at 14 Oxford Terrace, Central City, Christchurch — near the hospital and right opposite the Avon. Doors are open every day from 11am until late, so it works for long lunches, dinners and everything in between. Bookings can be made by phone on 03 366 0600 or by emailing [email protected], and you can keep up with what's on via Facebook (@PegasusArmschch) or Instagram (@pegasus.armschch). Whether you come for the confit pork belly, a craft beer from the taps, or simply a historic corner of the city to call your own local, Pegasus Arms has been quietly earning its tagline for a long time.