Isabel Cant

No matter where you live in Australia, we take our baked goods very seriously. Between our sourdough-centred meals, we all need a little sweet treat (trust us, you deserve one). Luckily for us, Australian bakers are giving Parisian pâtissières a run for their money, creating their own takes on classic baked goods to create one-of-a-kind products.  You’ve undoubtedly heard of the big players (hello Lune Croissanterie), but there are plenty of neighbourhood gems to spend your hard-earned dough. While we wish we could shower love on every flaky, buttery layer of pastry, we’ve narrowed it down to a few of our favourite bakeries in Australia. RECOMMENDED: These are the best pies in Australia.

Not to toot our own horn, but Australia’s coffee scene is unbeatable. Our laid-back culture is underpinned by vast caffeine consumption, with nine in ten of us saying we enjoy a cup of Joe. Our thriving industry of roasters and baristas earns international acclaim year after year, and Sydney and Melbourne have been named among the top ten cities for coffee worldwide.  We have curated this list of Australian roasters who excel in every part of the process: from sourcing and roasting beans to ultimately brewing them expertly. Check out the best coffee roasters in Australia. Prefer the hard stuff? Get your liquid fix at the best bars in Australia.

Bam Bam Bakehouse captures the maximalist, fun-loving nature of the Gold Coast in the form of baked goods. Sitting a block back from the crashing waves of Mermaid Beach, the popular bakery and café is all about rich flavours in fun vessels, like their popular, positively oozing Nutella cruffins. Traditionalists won’t be disappointed here, though, with to-die-for almond croissants that they also sell in bake-at-home form. Don’t leave without ordering their luxurious salted caramel eclair, which you can order at the counter, or pre-order for a giant eclair that feeds six people.

This popular bakery has been around since 1910, but its offerings are anything but stuck in the past. Jenny’s has built up a cult following from their innovative treats. These days, the family-owned bakery excels in riffs on bakery classics, like black sesame croissants, pistachio maritozzi (cream-filled brioche buns), and tooth-breaking toffee apple bombolone (filled doughnuts). They were one of the first bakeries to bring the international craze, the crookie, to Australian shores, too. Jenny’s is also carrying Adelaide’s focaccia game, with beautifully open-crumbed focaccia supporting their seasonal Italian sandwich menu. 

If sourdough bakery Pigeon Whole ever closed down, there would be a gaping (perhaps pigeon-shaped) hole in Tasmania’s bakery scene. What started in 2011 by Jay Patey is now a 60-employee, three-store operation, baking the best bread and pastries in Tassie. Nothing beats visiting the grand, Art Deco flagship store in the heart of Hobart, though. There’s a wide range of loaves and treats on offer, with highlights including the ruby wheat loaf made from Tasmanian heritage wheat. Those visiting from the mainland who are feeling inspired should pick up a jar of their sourdough starter to take home.

Coffee lovers in Western Australia can gloat over having Micrology all to themselves. A key player in Perth’s coffee scene since 2013, the staff at Micrology’s passion for coffee is infectious. With a tight, well-rounded lineup of beans to order from, Micrology is all about keeping things as local as possible. They source and roast beans from microlots around the world, with Perth locals’ tastes at the forefront. You can even stock up big-time with their two-litre cold brew cask.