While Brisbane has a strong affinity for the humble meat pie, artisanal bakeries are stepping into the limelight with Brisbanites opting for traditional sourdough in droves. Slow ferments and local ingredients are the order of the day when it comes to baked goods.
Of course, the French origins of patisserie loom large over the scene and many excellent outposts stay true to tradition. These are the spots to pick up an elusive excellent croissant, pain au chocolat, or pain au raisin.
Here we round up the absolute must-tries in the Brisbane bakery scene. Many of these have been go-to local suppliers for years, earning themselves the title of ‘institution’. Others are up-and-comers who have made strong impressions in a few short years.
Best Bakeries Brisbane
Gathered Bakers, Chapel Hill
Australia has a strong tradition of the country bakery and Gathered Bakers, although only just outside Brisbane’s metropolitan region in Chapel Hill, embodies the best of that tradition. 2024 will mark their second year in operation but they’ve rapidly become the go-to for locals looking to pick up a fresh loaf for breakfast and a cheeky pastry for after. Their Single O coffee suppliers pair perfectly with their flaky croissants or sausage rolls.
Brewbakers, Albion
Brewbakers are the real deal. Well before the sourdough hype of the past few years, Richard and Caroline Cotton were experimenting with traditional French sourdough methods way back in 1993. Each of their seven core range uses individual starters, most of which date back to those first experiments. Their signature Brew sourdough has an impressive 80-hour fermentation and the team sources all of their flour from the organic Kialla Mills in Greenmount. Grab one of everything, especially the bagels.
Sprout Artisan Bakery, Fortitude Valley
Sprout is everything you could want in a modern bakery — a hyper-chic fit-out, closed-loop wood waste and produce supplies, and, of course, bang-on pastries. Baker Lutz Richter brings his three decades of European-honed skills to bear on the daily ritual of bread and pastries with partner Rebecca Foley. It’s pure attention to detail here, with 72-hour ferment sourdoughs the norm, and ultra-fresh, local ingredients the standard.
Banneton Bakery, Ashgrove
Launched in 2009, the popular Banneton Bakery and Cafes in Ashgrove, Woolloongabba, and Camp Hill are one of the few that take their commitment to tradition seriously enough to bake their bread with fire. French-born Eric Ramonda flings the whole gamut from sourdough, traditional baguettes, ciabatta, focaccia, and ryes into his custom oven. His pastries, including Guinness beef pie, pork and fennel sausage rolls, and blueberry Danishes, have become legendary in their own right.
King Street Bakery, Bowen Hills
King Street Bakery occupies the space of the well-loved Montrachet Boulangerie, carrying forward its legacy of French baking expertise. The team boasts international talent, with chefs trained in France and Australia, ensuring top-notch skills and authentic flavours. Flaky croissants, raspberry beignets, lemon meringue tarts, and chocolate eclairs are just the start with wilder concoctions like Oeuf Cocotte Facon Pays-Basque and Granny Smith Apple and Caramel Baked Brioche gracing the menu.
Christian Jacques Bakery, Kangaroo Point
Arguably the best in the city, Christian Jacques Bakery has an almost unbelievably strong reputation as Brisbane’s premier French bakery and patisserie. Hidden under the Story Bridge in Kangaroo Point, Christian Jacques does it all on-site, including their 48-hour French butter ferment croissants, French baguettes, Danishes, eclairs, and quiches. Expect early morning queues here as the secret is very much out about this place.
Riser Bread, Toowong
Housed in a charming old Queenslander cottage, Riser Bread quickly took the city by storm after its opening in 2021. This artisan bakery cafe, helmed by a passionate trio, brings fresh, delicious bread and pastries to the table, earning its place among Brisbane’s top bakeries. Their commitment to slow fermentation, high-quality ingredients, and charming atmosphere make for the perfect place to gobble down a flaky croissant or pick up a signature olive sourdough loaf.
Doughcraft, Albion
Doughcraft, nestled in the beautifully restored old timber mill at Craft’d Grounds in Albion, has quickly risen to become a beloved spot for artisan bread, delectable pastries, and gourmet deli delights. Opened in 2023, it’s the brainchild of four foodie powerhouses with decades of doughy experiences. Worth dropping in to sample one of their delicious and experimental mash-ups of French and Italian patisserie that they roll out daily.
La Bouche, Cleveland
A worthy final entry, La Bouche made a name for itself with its excellent pastries and European-style cafe treats. However, the team permanently closed their brick-and-mortar operations last year and is now only serving online orders. If you’re hankering for one of their famous brownies or Bretons, you now have an excuse to order a box straight to your door.
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