Smash Palace is Christchurch's most well-known post-earthquake bar, and it earned that status the hard way. After the 2011 quake forced it out of its original premises, owner Marcus Moller set up in a portable building in a parking lot and created an outdoor drinking space from salvaged car parts, gravel, fairy lights, and a double-decker bus. It should not work as well as it does, but it has a genuinely good time built into its bones.
The bar is on Manchester Street, and the outdoor area is the whole point — a sprawl of mismatched furniture, outdoor heaters for the cold months, food trucks, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that is hard to manufacture. Come on a Friday evening in summer and it will be full; come on a Tuesday and it is still worth it. The beer selection is solid Canterbury craft, the kitchen does honest pub food, and the vibe is unpretentious in a way that matches the spirit of the rebuilt city better than almost any other single venue.