Modern Italian · The Crossing, Christchurch

Italian soul,
vibrant dining,
private events in Christchurch

Delicious Italian food, curated cocktails and seamless hospitality across two vibrant levels in the heart of the city.

Reserve a table Discover the venue
Friends laughing over Negronis, spritzes and antipasti at Bar Franco, Christchurch

Open daily

Bar 4pm ·
kitchen 5pm

An intimate marble bistro table set for two at Bar Franco Green risotto with chilli and basil at Bar Franco Aperol spritz and cocktails on a tray at Bar Franco

About Bar Franco

Christchurch's spot for Italian food, fresh pasta, aperitivo, cocktails & private events

Bar Franco serves delicious Italian food, curated cocktails and seamless hospitality across two vibrant levels in the heart of Christchurch.

Book in for dinner, let us host your next function, or join us for a drink — it's all here.

View our menu

The venue

Two levels, one very good night

A Negroni bar downstairs, an open-kitchen restaurant upstairs — Italian in spirit, without the clichés.

Cocktail service at the Bar Franco Negroni Bar

Level 1

The Negroni Bar

A low-lit room built around the bar — Negronis stirred to order, spritzes by the tray and the easy hum of a good crowd.

120
Standing
75
Seated
The restaurant dining room at Bar Franco — velvet banquette, bentwood chairs and set tables

Level 2

The Restaurant

An open-kitchen dining room where the pasta is rolled in view and the long table comes into its own. The heart of any celebration.

120
Standing
90
Seated

Private events & venue hire

Made for the moments worth gathering for

With spaces for private dining, cocktail functions or full venue hire, Bar Franco brings big flavour and even bigger hospitality to every celebration in central Christchurch.

  • No venue hire fee
  • Up to 240 across both levels
  • Pricing on application
Enquire now
A long candlelit table set for a private event at Bar Franco

Moments at Bar Franco

A taste of the room

Plates, pours and full tables — a glimpse of an evening at Franco.

Chefs at work in the open kitchen of the Bar Franco restaurant Burrata, olives and antipasti on a marble table at Bar Franco Chicken parmigiana and cacio e pepe at Bar Franco A candlelit private event filling the dining room at Bar Franco, Christchurch Guests dressed up and celebrating at a Bar Franco event A guest enjoying pasta and red wine at Bar Franco Friends sharing plates over wine at Bar Franco
Reserve a table Event enquiry

Get in touch

Come say
ciao.

Book a table, plan a function, or just drop in for a Negroni. We're open daily — bar from 4pm, kitchen from 5pm, both till late — in the heart of the city.

Where we are

The Crossing
166 Cashel Street
Christchurch Central 8011

Opening hours

Bar from 4pm · kitchen from 5pm
Daily, till late

Reservations

ciao@barfranco.nz 03 925 9208

Events

anamaria@barfranco.nz 021 083 75416

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