Whether you’re a sweet tooth, a savoury person, or a lover of all food, you’ll surely admit that there’s nothing quite like wandering into a quality local bakery to drool over sumptuous sourdoughs, perfectly baked pastries or mouthwatering pies. Here’s where you can find some of the best bakeries in town to satisfy any craving.
ACT
THREE MILLS BAKERY
Three Mills Bakery has grown from a small modest basement to selling their delicious wares in nearly 40 locations across the ACT, forging themselves as one of the best and most well-known bakeries in the capital. This local bread maker uses quality local ingredients, house-milled flour and traditional long fermentation techniques to create perfect loaves of hand-formed sourdough and decadent laminated pastries. On their menu, you can expect to find an impressive selection of sourdough like cracked rye and ancient grain, as well as potato and basil cream tarts, crunchy sourdough bread chips, decadent pork chilli and confit garlic sausage rolls, and family-sized butter puff pastry pies with exquisite flavours such as slow-cooked beef bourguignon, and chicken, leek and riesling. If one treat isn’t enough, you can order a customisable family box filled with a range of sweet and savoury creations, or opt for a classic brunch box filled with their house-made baker’s granola, sourdough, orange and raisin loaf, croissants and sausage rolls. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, then nothing will!
Photography by Wesual Click
SILO BAKERY & CAFE
Coined ‘part Brooklyn, part wartime Parisian bakery’ by the NY Times, Silo Bakery & Cafe is an award-winning venue known for great coffee and scrumptious baked goods. Expect flaky croissants, perfect cakes and artisan breads including a range of Italian specialties like ciabatta, focaccia, casalinga white loaf and the stirato baguette. This Kingston-based business is one of the capital’s most popular bakeries for good reason, so be sure to head here early in the day to catch the best of what’s on offer.
KNEAD PATISSERIE
If you’re looking for mouthwatering pastries and handcrafted breads, then head to one of the two Knead Patisserie locations – you’ll find them at Campbell and the Belconnen Markets. The bakers at this popular venue use traditional baking techniques and offer a new selection of scrumptious creations each week. Expect sweets like brookies (half brownie, half cookie), cruffins (croissant muffins), danishes, tarts and cakes. If your tooth is a little more savoury, then you’ll love their pies, sausages rolls, pizzas, quiches, gourmet sandwiches and artisan European-style bread.
Photography by Aneta Voborilova
SWEET BONES
Sweet Bones on Braddon’s Lonsdale Street is Canberra’s go-to bakery for all things vegan. Started by Emily and Russell Brindley back in 2011, this plant-based bakery has a focus on organic ingredients and a menu that boasts an impressive range of delicious baked goods including cinnamon buns, cookies, slices, cupcakes and stunning cakes for all occasions. They’ve also got a bumper dine-in menu that boasts tacos, sandwiches, burgers, burritos, smoothies and great coffee, so drop in and enjoy a treat in their rock ‘n’ roll style shop.
FLUTE BAKERY
The long-standing Flute Bakery and Patisserie brings a touch of Parisian flair to the capital. Located in Fyshwick, you’ll find an impressive, well-priced selection of traditional baked goods including breads, tarts, macarons, baked cheesecakes, pastries, cronuts and European-inspired gateaux cakes. There’s also a relaxing outdoor area for those who want to dine in and enjoy a coffee alongside their delectable goodies. Like most good bakeries, be sure to get there early so you don’t miss out – and take note, they are only open on weekdays.
SOUTH COAST
BATEMANS BAY BAKEHOUSE
If you’re looking for mouthwatering baked goods, then jump in the car and head straight to Batemans Bay Bakehouse. Located in the centre of town, this local bakery has a well-priced menu that boasts an impressive range of pastries, slices, lamingtons, tarts and deliciously flaky croissants. If your tooth is a little more savoury, then you’ll love their pies, sausages rolls and sandwiches. There’s a spacious outdoor terrace for those who want to dine in and enjoy coffee and cake, or grab some takeaway and wander to the waterfront only moments away.
CRUMB CAFÉ
Located on Beach Road, Batemans Bay, this newly renovated cafe is the ideal spot for freshly baked treats on the NSW South Coast. Menu highlights include cookies with the most delectable flavours and toppings – think Cadbury Caramilk chocolate chip with pretzels, raspberry with Wagon Wheel marshmallow, and red velvet white chocolate with a red velvet Oreo cookie on top. This great little cafe also makes incredible muffins with flavours like raspberry white chocolate meringue and passionfruit with white chocolate. They also offer loaded brownies with peanut butter, Nutella and Biscoff. And, if one treat isn’t enough, you can even order your very own customisable cookie box or a platter with your favourite cookies and slices. Yum!
Photography by Mae Mu
BATEHAVEN BAKEHOUSE
On the Batehaven Bakehouse menu, you’ll find an impressive selection of cakes, cookies, donuts, bread, quiches, gourmet sandwiches and arguably the best range of hot pies on the NSW South Coast. They also have a great brunch menu and serve delicious Vittoria coffee. With everything baked on the premises, you’re guaranteed to find something fresh, tasty and high quality. This local business is open seven days a week and is one of the area’s most popular bakeries for good reason, so be sure to head there early in the day so you don’t miss out.
AJ’S HOTBAKE
This artisan bakery has been serving the Batemans Bay community for 30 years, forging themselves as one of the best and most well known bakeries in the region. With a menu to suit all tastebuds, expect to find traditional pastries, gourmet pies, handmade bread, as well as decadent cakes for any occasion – think dark mud cakes with strawberries and a rich chocolate ganache and perfectly baked sponges with jam and fresh cream. Plus, don’t miss their award-winning vanilla slice. If that doesn’t make your mouth water then nothing will!
BAKER DAVE
At Baker Dave, you’ll find some of the most delicious and freshly baked treats guaranteed to make your mouth water. Dave is a French-trained baker and pastry chef with over 20 years of experience working in some of the world’s best artisanal bakeries. As a baker, he is committed to “old style” breadmaking techniques that use long cold ferments and traditional slow cooking methods. Expect to find an impressive range of handmade sourdough bread including the famous charcoal style, as well as perfectly baked bagels, cakes, cookies, pastries, cookies and more. Like most good bakeries, be sure to get there early so you don’t miss out. You can also call ahead to reserve your favourite treats, or pre-order and have them delivered to your door.
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