A whole lot of cake-making goes on here. From ricotta cannolis to baked ricotta cheesecake, Pasticceria Papa’s jaw-dropping creations have been dominating Sydney celebrations.
You might know it for its sourdough, but Brickfields Bakery also makes some of Cake Sydney You can pick up a few slices or go for the super-sized Persian love cakes at its two inner city locations and Sydney markets.
Flour & Stone
Cult Woolloomooloo bakery Flour & Stone is known for next-level spongy panna cotta lamingtons, buttery croissants and wholesome spelt carrot cake. Their zesty lemon drizzle and layered chocolate and raspberry cakes also get the thumbs up from foodies and Instagrammers.
The petite bakehouse – which serves breakfast, lunch and tea – is also a one-stop shop for the home baker, selling everything from baking tins to Woodstock flour, old-fashioned biscotti, Country Valley milk and Sample coffee. Flour & Stone’s savoury pastries and sandwiches are not to be missed either, with favourites like the zucchini, chili and gruyere tart or beetroot and goats cheese tarte tatin.
Brickfields’ amazing sourdough is well-known but the bakery does great counter treats too, including glazed madeleines and Persian love cake. You can buy the bakery’s goodies at two inner Sydney locations and Sydney markets, or grab a slice in their bright and airy cafe in Darlinghurst. The cosy spot is a popular brunch and cake stop for locals and tourists alike, so expect a queue.
Black Star Pastry
The bakery behind Australia’s most Instagrammable cake is expanding to the heart of the city. Black Star Pastry will open a CBD store in Driver Lane next to Emporium, taking over the former Money Order Office space.
The patisserie is famous for imaginative baking, sweet and savoury. Its strawberry watermelon cake achieved cult status thanks to its enticing taste and eye-catching beauty. It spawned a thousand imitators and has helped propel the Newtown bakery into a global renown.
Its parent company, JKLP Group, launched a full rebrand to reflect this global rise, with design partner Studio Ontagaro creating a visual identity that reflects its cross-cultural appeal and seeks to achieve lifestyle status with its merchandising and storytelling. Josh Ogilvie, general manager of marketing at JKLP, shares the story behind the new narrative. The brand also recently introduced a $7 snap-worthy strawberry watermelon latte that’s made with a secret syrup and almond milk. It’s available at the St Kilda and Chadstone stores.
Mrs Jones the Baker
One of our favourite northern Sydney bakeries is expanding, with Mrs Jones the Baker opening its first store outside of the Beaches. The shabby chic boutique bakery and catering service on Freshwater’s Lawrence Street is run by husband and wife team Lucy and Barry Jones.
Both have illustrious pastry backgrounds, with Lucy working at Harrods in London and Barry in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe. He also spent five years at The Dorchester as head pastry chef, where he baked for celebrities and the world’s elite, was on 24-hour call for Sylvester Stallone’s wedding cake emergencies and worked with sister five-star hotels around the world.
The pair put that experience to good use at Mrs Jones the Baker, serving up a menu of standout cakes and treats alongside Loma Verde coffee from exotic South American locations. Pick up a chocolate praline slice, fresh strawberry and rhubarb tart, cheesecake assortment, pear and raspberry frangipane or Victoria sponge, which is also available gluten-free.
Penelope Ransley
If you have a fetish for French pastry, there’s nowhere better in the city than Textbook Patisserie. They’re the go-to for bespoke cakes in Sydney with a whole range of flavours (including flourless Belgian chocolate, white chocolate and raspberry) and sizes. The cafe-within-a-cake is also renowned for its flaky croissants, decadent mille feuille and fresh fruit tarts.
Pastry chef Penelope Ransley formerly served up fine-dining big hitters at Est., Tetsuya’s and Sepia before launching her own patisserie in Leichhardt. Her mini sweet treats, including maple sticky buns and apricot danish, will satisfy the inner pastry snob in you.
Innovation meets tradition at this stalwart on the Sydney coffee and cake scene. Their bespoke cakes—like the galaxy chocolate mousse or the rose macarons and strawberry sorbet cake—are so pretty you’d almost rather encase them behind glass than take a bite. Find them at their two inner-Sydney locations or at markets around the city.
