Welcome to The Lotus-Heart Vegetarian Restaurant where we strive to provide a unique and peace-filled inner-city dining experience.

The Lotus-Heart is independently owned and operated by students of Sri Chinmoy. We aspire to create a small corner of the world that is inundated with the spirituality and philosophy of our meditation teacher and to offer a peaceful oasis to inspire the heart.

The Lotus-Heart is dedicated to conscious living and healthy eating, striving to create a global cuisine naturally. We use the freshest ingredients, locally grown and organic where possible, pure vegetable oils and vegetarian cheese, and avoid the use of microwaves unless specifically requested due to time constraints. We respect and honour the choices and requirements of our customers and in addition to our pure vegetarian fare, we offer options for vegan, gluten-free, onion garlic free and raw food diets and are more than happy to cater for specific allergy needs. Children are most welcome and we have a children's menu and high chairs available. 

Gourmet teas and tisanes, organic fair-trade coffee, authentic Indian Chai, quality herbal coffee alternatives, superfood smoothies, house-made ginger beer, fermented health beverages kefir and kombucha, cold-pressed fresh juices and classic iced chocolate - all these and more can be discovered within The Lotus-Heart's extensive drinks menu. Our passion for original and high quality beverages offers something for everyone. In support of our vegan friends we are delighted to offer fresh house-made almond milk.

The Lotus-Heart mobile Juice Bar can be found at the Christchurch Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9.00am to noon and the Opawa Vegetarian Market on Sundays from 9.00am to noon. 

The Lotus-Heart was first established on 13th February 1996 as a small café at 595 Colombo Street, Christchurch. On 7 January 2008 The Lotus-Heart Restaurant opened in the heart of the city in the historical original Chief Post Office building (built in 1879) in Cathedral Square. Following the closure of both locations after the February 22nd earthquake, our current location opened its doors with gratitude and joy on 27th July 2011 as The Lotus-Heart Restaurant and Tea House at 363 St Asaph Street. Known as The Abode of Peace, The Lotus-Heart Restaurant, Gift Shop, Health Food Store and Gandharva Loka World Music now co-exist behind the temple-like facade of the Sri Chinmoy Centre.

Enter the heart of the lotus, a vegetarian haven where we sincerely hope your meal will not only satisfy your tastebuds, but also nurture your heart and soul.