An essential guide to the ACT’s best bakeries

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.

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 Wesula 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.

Photography by Mae Mu

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.

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