A lighthouse of flavour: El Faro shines a light on South American cuisine in Christchurch

Wednesday, 20 May 2026

El Faro owner Mariolis Rojos Malivuk is bringing tastes of South America, the Mediterranean and Europe to Ferrymead.

Cyclists, beachgoers and brunch lovers are finding a taste of South America alongside the usual Kiwi brunch fare at a seaside Christchurch cafe.

El Faro cafe in Ferrymead still serves favourites such as eggs benedict and smashed avo on toast, but they share the menu with Spanish-inspired cuisine including huevos rancheros, poached eggs on corn chips and black beans, and empanadas, a common baked or fried Spanish pie.

The mix of cultures stems from El Faro three owners: Chilean head chef Jonathan Leviqueo, pastry chef Mariolis Malivuk, also from Chile, and her husband, Nash Malivuk, a Kiwi Serbian.

The menu features items like empanadas, Spanish eggs, and huevos rancheros alongside classic Kiwi classics like eggs benedict and muffins.

The group bought the eatery, originally Cafe Metro, two years ago, taking on a decade worth of customers used to Kiwi fare, so instead of a sudden shake up of the menu, Mariolis Malivuk said she did a gradual transition, introducing flavours from across the globe.

One year after settling in, Metro Cafe was dumped and El Faro was born.

The meaning of El Faro - the lighthouse in Spanish - is “pretty cool”, she said. It was chosen because the cafe is “close to the ocean and I find calm next to the water, it’s a nice place you want to go”.

Photos of customers’ dogs which are welcome at El Faro Cafe in Ferrymead.

She left Chile and her job in hospitality 10 years ago to satisfy her curiosity of what it would be like “in another country … to see how the food is”.

Malivuk started in Wellington at an Italian restaurant, then moved to Christchurch three years ago as a pastry chef at a patisserie, keen to show her culture and food. When Metro Cafe became available, it was the “perfect place … I loved it,” she said.

Cyclists, locals and dogs (welcome in the courtyard) have been finding their calm at the cafe, while Latin Americans are enjoying a slice of home thanks to “tiny details” in the decor and familiar flavours.

Cyclists, beachgoers and locals are finding calm, coffee and tapas (on Friday nights) at the seaside cafe.

The customers invigorate her, Malivuk said, giving her reason to travel from Belfast every day.

“For them just to be happy, it’s everything.”

A recent change has seen El Faro open on Friday evenings from 5pm to 9pm to serve tapas accompanied by live Latin American music.

The blueberry and cream cheese muffins are a holdover from the venue’s previous cafe, Metro Cafe.

The Mediterranean, Italian and South American-inspired options include arancini, mini empanadas, prawns with chorizo, and the classic Italian cocktail Aperol spritz.

But it’s the daily blueberry cream cheese muffins that are proving the most popular bite.

Malivuk said they were a staple at the cafe before she took over, so she “made them better”.

“Customers really love it.”