Life’s too short for dud danishes, so we’ve rounded up a list of Sydney’s best bakeries.
What’s better than sliced bread? Trick question, nothing is better than sliced bread. Freshly baked sourdough, still warm enough to make your butter melt like an ice cube in the summer sun, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. And then there are croissants, those perfectly puffed, flaky, bundles of joy. Nothing says self-care like indulging in an almond croissant on a Sunday morning. However, not all bread and pastries are made equal, so we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the best bakeries in Sydney.
Brickfields Bakery, Chippendale
Situated on a leafy corner in Chippendale, Brickfields has been serving up delicious European bread, cakes and pastry since their humble beginnings in 2012. They utilise the entire grain in their baking techniques which results in a silkier dough and a heavier loaf. On the weekend you can expect a hefty line of hungry locals queuing for their baked goods. Be assured that ‘Brickies’ (as the locals call it) maintain their high standards with their coffee, making it a great spot to sit in.
Be sure to try the bacon sandwich, with manchego, pickles, lemon aioli and streaky bacon layered between a seeded ciabatta roll, and grab a sourdough baguette to take home with you. The mushroom sandwich is another of our go-to’s; simply divine.
Find Brickfields at 206 Cleveland St, Chippendale
Sonoma Bakery, various locations
This list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Sydney’s beloved, Sonoma. After serving Sydney-siders its iconic sourdough for 22 years, Sonoma takes the cake as one of Sydney’s best-known artisan bakeries. In fact, you’ll find their flagship stores dotted across NSW and the ACT, including bakeries in Glebe, Alexandria and Bondi and a regular presence at weekend markets including Carriageworks and Glebe Markets.
Bread-lovers travel near and far to get their mittens on Sonoma’s famous Miche sourdough – a must try. For the newcomers here, the miche is a hefty 1.9kg round loaf, making it perfect to share with flatmates or neighbours, but keep in mind you can also ask the staff for just a half or quarter loaf. For a true Sydneysider experience, lather a slice in Pepe Saya butter and for extra indulgence sprinkle a dash of salt on top (trust me).
See the list of Sonoma locations and opening hours here.
Bourke Street Bakery, various locations
Starting as a rustic corner store bakery back in 2004, Bourke Street Bakery has since grown to become one of Sydney’s most loved spots to fill their bellies with delectable bread and baked goods. With several locations all across Sydney, chances are there’s one near you. Bourke St Bakery makes all their goods by hand and prides themselves on using the best possible ingredients, so you can eat well and feel good about it. You must try their meringue tart and oh-so-flaky classic croissants, just two of the many reasons Bourke Street Bakery is one of the best bakeries in Sydney.
Surry Hills store: 633 Bourke St, Surry Hills. For a list of other locations see here.
Iggy’s Bread Of The World, Bronte
To Bronte locals ‘Iggy’s’ isn’t just a bakery, it’s more of a religion, or perhaps a cult is a more accurate description. You see, once you go Iggy’s, there’s no going back. The flagship on Macpherson Street keeps it minimal with their interiors and instead keep the focus on what’s most important, the bread.
So what makes this bakery so special? Love and passion are what owner Igor Ivanovic believes is his secret ingredient. The must-try is anything from the sourdough range but make sure you get in early to avoid disappointment as these baked goods are renowned to sell-out in the early hours of the morning. And expect a hefty wait time. But trust us, it’s worth it.
Find Iggys at 131 Macpherson St, Bronte
Flour and Stone, Woolloomooloo
Flour and Stone’s range of artisan cakes really challenges the casual grab-and-go stereotype that we typically associate with a ’bakery’. In fact, each cake at Flour and Stone is plated and displayed with a sense of ceremony and care, each a delicate work of art. This once petite inner-city bakery has now extended its size to have both a ‘salon’ side for dining-in and an ‘annex’ for take-away. The must-try? Their pannacotta lamington, lemon dream cake, and sausage roll. As one of the best bakeries in Sydney for cakes, it’s no wonder Flour and Stone made it on our best desserts in Sydney list.
Salon: 53 Riley St, Woolloomooloo, Annexe: 43 Riley St, Woolloomooloo
Black Star Pastry, Newtown, Roseberry, CBD, Moore Park
With their original store nestled on Australia St in Newtown, Black Star Pastry could also go by the name ‘House of the famous Strawberry Watermelon Cake’. If you haven’t heard of Black Star Pastry’s Strawberry Watermelon Cake, it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s layered with almond dacquoise, rose-scented cream, and a real slice of watermelon, topped with strawberries, pistachios, and dried rose petals. Over one million slices of this prized cake are served from their store each year. So it’s safe to say this single item alone has earned Black Star Pastry a dedicated following. But, if we’re honest, anything from their cake range is worth a try when you make your pilgrimage here.
1/325 King Street Find your nearest store here.
Infinity Bakery – Paddington, Manly, Darlinghurst
Infinity Bakery were pioneers in the organic Sydney bakery scene, being the first organic sourdough bakery to open in Sydney back in 1997. Owners Will and Sophie are still just as dedicated to using local produce and sustainable practices in their organic sourdough baking. When the team decide to introduce a new product to their range, the test is simple: it’s just got to taste ‘bloody good’. Now that’s our kind of rule book. Our fave pick? Their almond croissant and the chunky beef pie.
Paddington store: 178 Oxford Street, Paddington
Miss Lilly’s Bakery Cafe– Newtown
You’ll find Miss Lilly’s Bakery Cafe situated on the Southside of King Street in Newtown. And this is a spot you won’t be able to miss, marked by bright yellow interiors. But the real reason you’ll remember this Sydney bakery is for its kale and feta roll. Opening back in 2018 by owner and chef, Stuart, Miss Lilly’s is a new player in Sydney’s bakery scene. The spot originally made its name in Sydney’s weekend market scene, giving Miss Lilly’s a dedicated following from their regular Bondi Beach and Warriewood market stall long before they opened their first bricks and mortar shopfront.
571 King St, Sydney
A.P Bakery, Surry Hills and Newtown
The rooftop oasis atop Paramount House Hotel in Surry Hills is home to none other than A.P Bakery. Trust us, the pastries here are next level; from the elevated ham and cheese croissant to petite caneles and freshly baked cookies, we recommend taking friends so you can sample a few of their delicious treats. Equally, it is a great spot to perch up with a good book and enjoy the sunshine and a fresh croissant solo. They also appear at Carriageworks Markets on Saturday mornings, so you can enjoy a pastry while you stock up on fresh produce.
Rollers Bakehouse – Manly
Grab your friends and take a seat at Rollers, the croissant bakehouse serving up inventive pasties and delicious coffee. Known for their creative takes on the humble croissant, there are so many reasons that Rollers feature as one of the best bakeries in Sydney. The sun-drenched spot features a spacious courtyard and is ideal for a post-walk treat. And you have to try the Monkey Bread! Read our full review here.
Humble Bakery – Surry Hills, CBD and Newtown
Finger buns, lamingtons and carrot cake are the touches of nostalgia that we love about Humble Bakery. Coming onto the bakery scene in late 2020, Humble was opened by the hospitality superstars who bought us Porteno, WyNo Bodega and Bastardo. So you can expect nothing less than baked perfection from their offerings. Highlights include the finger bun cake, croissants, and of course the sourdough loaves.
Staple Bakery – Seaforth, Manly, Cromer
Staple Bakery keeps it simple, offering damn good bread, croissants and pastries, or ‘bread and necessities. This neighbourhood favourite even won best sourdough in Sydney by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW in 2017, proving they are experts in the art of bread making. Using locally sourced ingredients, a whole lot of love goes into their hand made sourdough and pastries.
Lode Pies and Pastries – Surry Hills
For a selection of some of the best pastries and pies in Sydney, you need to visit Lode Pastry and Pies in Surry Hills. ‘Layers of goodness’ is the motto here, with their signature and classic pastries flaky and crispy, just how they should be. The picture-perfect treats are almost too pretty to eat but take a bite and you will see what the hype is all about. From the raspberry tart with rhubarb and almond to the elevated almond croissant with poached pear, vanilla cream, and orange zest, nab a few and take a seat to enjoy all that flaky goodness.
Frequently asked questions:
What is the best bakery in Sydney for croissants?
For the best croissants, visit A.P Bakery in Surry Hills, Rollers Bakehouse in Manly or Iggy’s Bread in Bronte.
What is the best bakery in Sydney for cakes?
For the best cakes in Sydney, visit Humble Bakery in Surry Hills, Flour and Stone in Woolloomooloo, and Black Star Pastry with multiple locations.
Where can I get the best sourdough in Sydney?
To try some of the best sourdough bread, visit Iggy’s Bread in Bronte, Staple Bakery in the Northern Beaches or Brickfields in Chippendale, just to name a few!
Feeling hungry? Check out our list of the best burgers in Sydney here.