Our Venue

Fat Eddie’s is New Zealand’s favourite live music venue, a local icon with a mighty proud history.

We’re located in the central city area of Christchurch, in the heart of our city’s nightlife district, with an outdoor area allowing magnificent views over the Avon River.

With its roots in Christchurch CBD’s Sol Square before the tremors, Fat Eddie’s now sits bigger and better on the Avon riverside. It’s still a legend and still the place to hear Christchurch’s best tunes.

Our Story So Far

Fat Eddie’s has been a Christchurch icon for more than two decades.

Originally located in the heart of SOL Square in the Christchurch Central City, a lively hub of bars and restaurants, Fat Eddie’s has for years been the city’s most popular jazz bar.

Fat Eddie’s was damaged beyond repair in the tremors of 2011. Knowing how important the venue was to Christchurch and what a loss it had been, six years later, the decision was made to relocate it. It found a home in a new building on the banks of the Avon River in the exciting Terrace precinct.

Fat Eddie’s was reborn, bigger and better than ever.

Fat Eddie’s return was celebrated by Cantabrians who understood the importance of a venue showcasing great local jazz and other musical styles.

With the venue’s re-opening in 2017 came the return of a legendary character: Fat Eddie himself. With Fat Eddie’s physical move came a gentle re-branding, done carefully and thoughtfully, as Eddie’s brand was much-loved by a generation of Cantabrians.The persona of Eddie, which was not well-known in the original venue, was now more strongly highlighted: Eddie was a jazzman from New Orleans who now featured on a new logo based on the iconic neon sign of the original bar. That’s the bolder, louder and unmistakeable Eddie we see today!

Fat Eddie’s new home was part of a much-anticipated new development on The Terraces, a riverside complex of bars, courtyards, restaurants which serves as a replacement for The Strip, which was largely destroyed after the 2011 quakes.

It’s an exciting precinct and we’re proud to be neighbours in the same building with 1930s-themed cocktail bar Kong and upscale Italian restaurant Original Sin.

All three businesses were owned by The Oxford Group before being acquired by Australian Venue Co (AVC) in 2025.

Music, Eats & Good Times

Fat Eddie’s is a one-stop for musical treats, delicious eats and a wide range of sumptuous sips.

We feature musical acts seven nights a week and there’s a dance floor area, a lounge area and a balcony to enjoy the tunes and the vibe.

We’ve hosted some great acts over the years. Cityscape magazine noted that “Fat Eddie’s has become a mainstay on the Christchurch nightlife scene with a banging band and various performers churning out top-notch tunes every weekend – seriously, if you haven’t checked out Fat Eddie’s on a Saturday, get there stat.” That means immediately – if not sooner!

With our extensive food menu and beverage list, Fat Eddie’s is the place to be for an exciting catch-up whether it’s post‑work drinks, catching a great band or a relaxed “grab some food and a cocktail” nights.

Fat Eddies offers American (Southern) style eating with fried chicken, ribs and tortillas on the menu along with a selection of pizzas.

Try our crowd-pleasing Fried boneless chicken, our “Dirty fries” – loaded fries with cheese & bacon – or our Jalapeño poppers, a spicy share-plate style snack.

We have a great list of burgers for all tastes, whether it’s beef burgers, spiced chicken burgers or even battered cauliflower burgers.

If it’s pizza you’re after we’ve got you covered. Try our American-style, or pepperoni and smoked brisket options.

We also have share platters (for groups) including sliders, rib dogs, and corn dogs.

We have an extensive beverage list. Settle in with an ice-cold beer or a specialty cocktail. And we offer all the classics: cosmopolitans, espresso martinis and mojitos.

Our Community

We are located at The Terrace, in central Christchurch, the city’s premier nightlife and dining precinct. The Terrace is a riverside development that is the social heart of the post-earthquake Christchurch.

It’s a vibrant stretch along Oxford Terrace beside the Avon River, roughly between Hereford and Cashel Streets.

The Terrace is a relaxed riverside destination for lunch, coffee, or boutique shopping; families and tourists stroll the boardwalks or sit by the water. At night it transforms into Christchurch’s nightlife hub – live bands, rooftop bars, cocktail lounges, and late-night venues.

It’s a mix of professionals for after-work drinks, university students on weekends, and visitors staying in central hotels.