The Junction

Sitting cute on the corner of Hargest Crescent and Richardson Street, The Junction is a takeaway cafe located just a couple of blocks from Dunedin's St Clair Beach.

More than just the link between two roads, owners Makenzi and Damon wanted The Junction to be a meeting point for great coffee, fresh kai and community. Since opening in early 2023, this coffee shop has become an essential pit stop for those pushing prams, navigating school and kindergarten drop-offs, or heading for the sandy shores with happy dogs in tow.

Open from 7.30am on weekdays, The Junction helps the neighbourhood wake up with smooth brews using coffee from Common Ground Espresso, a small batch coffee roastery located in the heart of Ōtepoti Dunedin. In the cabinet, you’ll find plenty of delicious treats to complement your caffeine hit, from buttery cheese scones and flaky pastries to iconic slices (including the elite peanut crunch recipe from Mak’s great grandmother) and gingerbread people dipped in sprinkles for a fun school treat. Fresh sandwiches are a key member of the cabinet, using bread from Dunedin’s Body of the Year Bakery filled with classic combos. The egg and chive is always the first to go, and there’s a vegan option available too. When winter descends on the neighbourhood, The Junction bites back with hot Sanga’s pies. Heroic stuff, really.

For Makenzi and Damon, designing a calming space was just as important as great coffee and food. As the team behind D Tiling Dunedin, they were equipped with the expertise to see their design vision come to life. The exterior features beautiful sandy tiles, and the interior is coated in a fresh, neutral colour palette complemented by natural materials. Arnold Circus stools in shades of green offer a place to perch by the window while you wait for your coffee, but on a “Dunner Stunner”, the takeaway window is wide open and the corner hums with life.

Operating on a takeaway-only model, The Junction team encourages BYO coffee cups and food containers. There’s even a small shelf in the corner filled with reusable cups, next to fresh loaves of bread and jars of Bay Rd Peanut Butter.