The Old Vicarage, Halswell

The Old Vicarage is a busy place, especially since other dining facilites in central Christchurch have been closed because of earthquake damage.

The original house was built in 1898, but it was renovated as a cafe and restaurant in 2004. The owners have been careful to design the renovations to keep the style and character of the old villa.

I often meet friends there, my favourite places to chat are in the sunroom, with its dark wood panelling, or out on the deck in a garden setting. For a more formal meal I like in the library (on the right in this photo), which is complete with bookcases and some interesting books to browse.