King of Snake

The story

King of Snake Christchurch: Euro-Asian Dining Along the Avon

The kitchen and its flavours

King of Snake in Christchurch earned a Cuisine Good Food Guide Destination award for its Euro-Asian menu and riverside setting. Diners often begin with the Akaroa salmon dressed in organic white miso and finished with salmon caviar. The kitchen balances bright citrus notes with deeper roasted elements across the shared plates. Wild venison carpaccio arrives with nahm dtok and spicy sesame, while the Penang curry of beef cheek rests alongside green beans and fried shallots. This Asian-fusion style approach keeps ingredients prominent rather than hidden behind heavy sauces.

The room and the river views

The dining room sits directly beside the Weeping Willow lined banks of the Avon River. Large windows frame the Bridge of Remembrance and Cashel Mall without blocking the natural light. Guests choose between the full a la carte floor or the open terrace for cooler evenings. The contemporary 5-star interior keeps sightlines clear so the water remains part of every meal.

The bar and evening service

Just inside the entrance lies Monarch Cocktail Bar, where handcrafted drinks pair with the main kitchen’s output. Patrons gather here after six for the Diamondback rye whiskey blend or the coconut rum based Lila Clouds. The beverage program extends into a cellar list that favours New Zealand vintages like Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Black Estate Chardonnay. Evenings shift from quiet conversation to lively clinking glasses as the crew moves through their seven-day service schedule.