Okioki by Great Pastry Co

Great Pastry Co has come a long way since its early days at the Christchurch Farmers’ Market and Arts Centre Mākete in 2017. After opening a petite shop under the stairs at Riverside Market, the mother–daughter duo Rhiannon and Elsie McCulloch – both trained pastry chefs, with the whole family now part of the fold – launched Okioki on Victoria Street in September 2025. Its name means “to rest or pause”, and that’s exactly the kind of moment this spot inspires.

Inside, a rich deep-navy palette wraps the space, complemented by golden mustard curtains, natural materials, leafy plants and velvety lounge seating. There’s a warm glow to it all, helped along by the friendly team beckoning you in from behind the counter. It’s a cocooning, unhurried atmosphere – somewhere to sink into an armchair with a book and coffee, or slide into a polished wooden booth on your lunch break.

As Great Pastry Co’s new kitchen HQ, the larger site gives the team room to stretch their creativity. The savoury menu now spans house-made focaccia sandwiches, hearty pies, soups, salads and their much-loved Korean garlic bread, all sitting alongside the iconic sweets: cookies, brioche scrolls, danishes, tarts and more. Everything is crafted from scratch using real, fresh ingredients, guided by classic European techniques, the family’s Aotearoa–England heritage, and the diverse culinary backgrounds of their chefs, including influences from South Korea and South America.

With coffee and specialty drinks now in the mix, Okioki is very much a destination worth lingering in – a warm, generous space where you can pause, relax, and perhaps order that second cookie.

You can still find Great Pastry Co treats at Christchurch Farmers’ Market every Saturday as well as at their Riverside shop.