Caffe Roma - Governors Bay

An absolutely beautiful space in the impeccably restored Midland Building. Miro overlooks the Avon River and serves up delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch (complete with Allpress coffee and breakfast cocktails). The perfect spot for a cosy meal by the roaring fire.

Went for Sunday lunch and we ordered the Wagyu beef burger with chips and eggs benedict with salmon. All food delicious and cooked perfectly. The service was also excellent.

After living abroad for 20 years and returning to Christchurch after the earthquake, and having sampled most of Christchurch’s cafe offerings. This is surely the best. A wonderful little place. Really splendid.

The Short Story: Contemporary delicious food, terrific friendly service and, ohhhh, the wonderful ambience! The Borig Bit Of The Longer Story: Lets start with the elephant in the room... I was nervous when coming here today that this review would be haunted by the ghosts of Cafe Roma. Pre quake the former Cafe Roma which occupied this space was a personal favourite of mine, of my wife, and well... of locals too by many accounts it was almost an institution in the pre quake cafe scene and stood out when many cafes were still the old style tea rooms offering vinegary salmon sandwiches and lamingtons that you served yourself on wooden trays! It was mourned as a great loss post quake by many 'foodies '. Since that time many newcomers have arrived and the cafe scene has come of age with Christchurch closely following overseas trends on what makes a contemporary cafe. Miro now occupies this space and, presumably due to the heritage nature of the original building, looks remarkably similar/familiar. I am more than pleased to report however that Miro, while being in the Roma space, makes more than enough of a terrific impression that any 'ghosts ' of Cafe Roma are well and truly left where they belong... nostalgia and memories. The More Interesting Bit Of The Longer Story: Cafe Miro is located in central Christchurch adjacent to the soothing Avon River and close to numerous attractions. A variety of parking options are close by. Upon entering this newly restored building you will be struck by just how lovely the interior is. I mentioned attractions in the previous sentence and I suspect the old fashioned elevator in the entry will once again become an attraction in its own right! Entering the cafe area with breath held it was delightful to see the wooden paneling and flooring, the fireplaces, the old fashioned radiators etc... the ambiance is fantastic. Cosy, soothing and comfortable... as is the furniture incidentally sturdy tables and nicely padded seats! The menu is contemporary, sophisticated, exciting and whats more, there 's no set times for the menus to kick in you can have a lunch dish for brekkie if you so choose fantastic! Yay for all day menus eh! Service was prompt, friendly and attentive. Clearly the owners have selected staff who match the aesthetic. I observed a few dishes being delivered nearby and they looked gorgeous. My own dish arrived and (refer picture my senses were excited upon first sight. Presentation is superb and flavours and textures matched! Coffee is by 'Allpress ' which is a great blend/roast. On this cool rainy day it was bliss to sit at a table location we often had... right by window and warmed by a radiator and opposite a (real! fireplace. It was both a personal memorial to times gone by at Cafe Roma and an excited taste of new memories to be formed here at Cafe Miro. Well done to the building owners for the restoration and well done to the Miro owners for creating a lovely new cafe that I will be sure to come back to!

The place was busy and I would recommend a reservation. All the food was very good. Had the lamb bacon pasta and my partner had the heirloom tomato eggs Benedict. Would visit here again just to try the other things on the menu.