When Did Ashburton Get So Cool?
This was originally published on Neatplaces.co.nz and has been republished with permission.
Just over an hour south of Ōtautahi Christchurch sits the rural township of Hakatere Ashburton. Servicing a greater area of Mid Canterbury, this is where the coast, the mountains, the rivers and the rural landscape meet.
For many Cantabrians, this is a town you pass through along journeys north or south, but scratch the surface, and you’ll find much more to Ashburton than you see along the highway.
A new innovative development just east of the main road invites people to discover Ashburton’s fresh and unseen face. The Triangle Precinct is a historic collection of shops that was once a vibrant and inviting town centre.
Over the years, as Ashburton expanded, it fell forgotten until local developer Justin Skilling decided to tackle the tidying up task – one by one, the buildings began to take on a new lease in life with a lick of black paint, curated tenants and stylish fit-outs.
Now, The Triangle Precinct is a destination filled with quality eateries, butchers, cafes and hairdressers and Justin’s signwriting and design business, Juice Signs. The area is easy to spot – just watch for the cluster of black exteriors, and you’ve come to the right place.
To make your rediscovery of this Ashburton Precinct easier, we’ve guided you in the right direction, and on top of The Triangle, we’ve added a few more new and notable establishments to hit while in town.
Triangle Espresso
Drop into Triangle Espresso for quality coffee crafted from Allpress beans and an impressive variety of cafe food. A friendly local coffee shop, this is the heart of The Triangle Precinct and where you’ll see locals catching up on a daily basis. Fill up on gorgeous food, made on site of course, which caters to most dietary needs. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating to suit your needs, and on hot summer days, the windows open right up, and customers spill out on the footpath, creating a vibe fitting for a bigger town.
Smoke Restaurant
A slice of USA in the heart of Ashburton, Smoke Restaurant & Butchery is all about low and slow barbeque. A cornerstone of the restaurant scene of The Triangle Precinct, the restored barn-turned-restaurant with a steampunk-inspired bar is sure to transport you to the roots of the style of cooking heroed here. Smoke’s expansive outdoor courtyard is positioned perfectly for afternoon and early evening sun, ideal for a pint and a bite to eat on a summer’s day.
The Rabbit
The Rabbit sits neatly on the corner of Victoria and Cass Streets, offering a playfully luxurious spot for daytime coffee and ready-to-grab sushi or nighttime cocktails and dessert, bringing a new after-dark experience to town. This spot caters to various occasions and is filled with little details to discover, cosy nooks and large tables fit for big groups. Whether you need a lunch-on-the-run or a quiet spot for out-of-the-office-work during the daylight hours or somewhere special to enjoy a drink or two after dark, the Rabbit should be your destination.
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