The 4 best bakeries in Darwin

Since 2016, Ruby G’s has been baking and brewing at its cosy café in Coconut Grove, also making regular appearances at the Thursday Mindil Beach Sunset Market and Sunday Parap Village Markets. Their bakery wizards specialise in pastries, doughnuts and sourdough, with cold brew coffee and sparkling iced tea as added perks. You can swing by to pick up custard-filled doughnuts, zesty lemon curd cruffins and buttery almond croissants, or dine in to enjoy fresh sandwiches on house-made Turkish bread or classic smashed avocado on rye sourdough.

Must-try: Corned beef sandwich, Nutella doughnut, stuffed cruffins

Address: 2 Tang St, Coconut Grove

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-2pm, Sat-Sun 7am-2pm

Expect to pay: $9.50 for a croissant with jam and butter

Every Australian neighbourhood typically has two things: a pub and a bakery. Parap Bakery is a local gem for the latter, located in Parap Place near the Sunday Village Markets. You can peep the bakers rolling, stretching and shaping pastries and bread from scratch each morning, which eventually find their way into the pastry cabinet and then into your bellies. Satisfy your sweet tooth with finger buns, jam doughnuts and scones, or win lunch hour with Vegemite scrolls, cheese and bacon pies, and hot jaffles. You can also simply pop by to pick up an artisan Vienna loaf, crusty French baguette or six-pack of soft burger buns. 

Must-try: Vegemite scroll, cinnamon doughnut, finger bun

Address: 38 Parap Rd, Parap

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-3pm, Sat 7am-2pm, Sun 7am-12pm

Expect to pay: $7 for a pie

Every day of the week, Ben’s is bustling with hungry city workers, locals and travellers eager for a feed. These guys are best known for their hearty pies, chock-a-block with chunky steak, ground beef and mashed potato, and even chicken laksa. You can also order rolls stuffed with Hawaiian schnitzel and pesto chicken, and pick up old-school treats, including custard tarts, rocky road, lamingtons and caramel slices. 

Must-try: Pepper steak pie, custard tart, lamington

Address: 2/26 Knuckey St, Darwin City

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am-3pm

Expect to pay: $11 for a ham and cheese croissant