Union Co.

Union Co. café sits at the corner of George and Grey Streets with views across to the Port Chalmers Museum and the Pacific beyond.

Whether you’re on the way to Aramoana or Long Beach, have just disembarked from a cruise or have lived here all your life, Union Co. is an excellent spot for espresso, baked goods and savoury fare.

The team uses locally roasted Common Ground beans for all of their coffee drinks and milk from Holy Cow, a local dairy farm that also calls Port Chalmers home (pop in to meet their Jerseys at 101 Reynoldson Road). Pick from the list of classic drinks like short and long blacks and cappuccinos, as well as mochaccinos and house-made chai lattes. 

If you can’t resist a great coffee paired with a great baked good, you’ve come to the right place. The team whips up an array of homemade treats each day that include chocolate raspberry layer cake, decadent gluten-free brownies, ginger crunch and more. Nearly everything is homemade here, including the flaky pastry.

Union Co. has the savoury side of things sorted as well. They’re the only place where you can get a Beam Me Up bagel (other than Beam Me Up, of course) and they load these carbo delights up with fresh toppings like bacon, lettuce and tomato or cheddar with leafy greens and sundried tomatoes. Other combinations have included salmon cream cheese with house-made green sauce. The halloumi hot burger is another Union Co. hunger buster and features a zingy dash of Sriracha hot sauce. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available.

Owners Pete and Keely have lived in Port Chalmers for over 20 years and have operated Union Co. for almost a decade. It’s a community hub in every sense of the word. From the suppliers, the regulars, the dishes and even the art hanging on the walls (peep the Ralph Hotere original on loan), Union Co. is a celebration of all this waterfront town has to offer.