19 April 2016

Best of Canberra - Bakery

| Alexandra Craig
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bakery interior

We’ve previously brought you Canberra’s best vanilla slice, hot cross buns, cupcakes, meat pies, donuts, pastries and cakes. Now it’s time to combine these categories into one: Canberra’s best bakery.

We’re looking for a bakery that not only has top notch baked goods (we’ll judge a few different products at each bakery), but also has great customer service and an easy to navigate layout.

I don’t often visit bakeries, but when I do I’m instantly reminded of my childhood when a new baker opened up down the road from my house. Those finger buns smothered with copious amounts of icing, and the pink cupcakes with m&m eyes and chocolate smiles were the best!

Whether it’s the freshly baked and still-warm bread, the flaky pastries, the melt in your mouth biscuits, or simply the happy faces behind the counter that greet you on each visit – I want to hear about it!

To vote for your favourite bakery, nominate them in the comments below. I’ll visit the two most popular choices and deliver the verdict in next Monday’s taste off (or should it be bake off?!)

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BombaySapphire, I think the guys at the markets are from Pork Barrel near Old Parliament House. They do a great rye bread with caraway seeds. The cafe used to sell bread and cakes too but I haven’t been there for a while and don’t know if they still do. I second that nomination, anyway.

I like the pretzels at Autolyse, but I find the service really bad. I’ve walked out a couple of times without purchasing because the staff seemed more interested in their own conversations than in serving customers.

I agree with the Knead recommendation – makes a great refuelling stop after a Sunday morning swim at AIS. Silo is also really good, and Dobinson’s sourdough rolls are a favourite. Must try some of the other recommendations!

I can’t support Braidwood Bakery, the products are average only and I object to their Sunday surcharge. I can’t say it’s always service with a smile, either.

However, Dojo is another story, expensive but artisan.

In town, I’m very partial to Knead at Belconnen markets. I love the Autolyse bread but have stopped buying it for two reasons: I eat too much of it and I was mightily annoyed when Superbarn put the price up from $5.50 to $6.20 in one flat jump. Ziggy’s at Belco markets was selling it at $5.50 all the while, but it hasn’t been sighted for a couple of weeks. You can get Dom’s and Mosaic at Ziggy’s.

I hear Flute at Fyshwick is pretty good, but don’t seem to be able to make it. The little French bakery in the City bus interchange is an unsung hero for mine, some great pies!

Knead bakery in Belconnen has long been our go to for beautiful breads and baked goods breakfast/brunch. Never have we ever been disappointed.

Second runner up is Hawker Bakery, I can never have enough red velvet muffins or beef stroganoff pie.

A lot of overpriced pretentious ‘cakeries’ mentioned … but if you’re looking for a good down to earth actual bakery, then Garran bakery has to be considered – delicious pies with real meat, lovely soft fresh bread, and heavenly to-die-for cakes. The complete all-rounder!

Brunos at Mawson southlands has excellent bread and superb coffee eclairs, not to mention the truffles.

bruno’s was a narrabundah wonder – he was a chocolatier that branched into a bakery, with true swiss style.

otherwise, while silo is delicious, the constant throng has dulled their customer service. and autolyse is a bit overrated and overpriced for mine. i like knead at belco markets, too. excellent fare.

Silo is the closest thing Canberra has to a true European bakery, with its Italian sourdough bread, its amazing Vollkornbrot and what can you say about its pastries but “Get thee behind me Satan!” A few years back Silo was let down by its egg supplier and was temporarily closed down – it wasn’t a hygiene issue. It even makes great coffee and serves great wine and cheese. I could love there.

On the North side, Bakery Culture in the Jamieson Centre (Macquarie) features the best range of true sourdoughs: French (white), San Francisco (wholemeal) and German (rye). Unfortunately, its front display case features sticky buns, Danish gooey things, pizza-inspired doughy monstrosities, and the standard sugary confections that Australians regard as “pastries”. Just buy the sourdough, you won’t regret it, in fact buy several and stick them in the freezer. They’re just as delicious thawed.

ChrisinTurner2:29 pm 24 Sep 15

Autolyse for me too, apart from the sour dough bread my wife make at home (she is 7th generation German baker).

I strongly recommend Bruno’s Truffles and bakery in Southlands at Mawson. Most bakeries in Australia make nothing but fluffy super whites, wishy washy browns or multigrain loaves, and occasionally sourdough. After living in Switzerland for a long time, I have missed many of the breads, including the seriously tasty denser breads that characterise North Switzerland and Germany.

Bruno fills those cravings with a great range of seriously tasty bread.

The fact that you can buy some of the best Truffles in the world from there doesn’t hurt either (try a brandied apricot – your chocolate eating life will never be the same).

Genie said :

Clearly I’m not a bakery snob….

Someone mentioned Bread Nerds at EPIC farmers markets, while I do enjoy their bagels and pretzels I find them quite stale and something that has the be toasted or warmed up to enjoy eating.

For me I love the Vietnamese rolls at the Charnwood Bakery and I was a fan of the bread at the Kaleen Bakery (the big shops) when I lived nearby.

But alas I can’t go past the High Fibre / Low GI loaf of bread from Bakers Delight, stays fresh for days.

Sadly allergies don’t let me enjoy most sweet stuff.

Bagels are a eat the same day as they are cooked proposition. That is if they are made properly. Steaming is the preferred method to get them soft again if you can’t eat them on the same day they are made.

Bakery Culture at Jamison Plaza has a good range of sourdoughs, the pies are great but a bit pricey.

Does anyone know of a bakery that does oven baked cheese kranskys? The best ones i have had so far is from the bakery in Holbrook.

madelini said :

The bread and croissants at Autolyse are fab. Also, Sweet Bones has the best cinnamon rolls.

Cake wise, definitely recommend Flute Bakery and La Sable Patisserie in Mitchell. Also, Tupelo has a small range of baked goods (croissants and danishes, mostly) that are top notch, but I don’t know if they would be able to count as a bakery.

We think alike – I second La Sable in Mitchell and the muffins at Tupelo are simply amazing, nothing fancy just perfectly selected flavour combinations cooked properly (i.e. not hard as a rock like most muffins)

Clearly I’m not a bakery snob….

Someone mentioned Bread Nerds at EPIC farmers markets, while I do enjoy their bagels and pretzels I find them quite stale and something that has the be toasted or warmed up to enjoy eating.

For me I love the Vietnamese rolls at the Charnwood Bakery and I was a fan of the bread at the Kaleen Bakery (the big shops) when I lived nearby.

But alas I can’t go past the High Fibre / Low GI loaf of bread from Bakers Delight, stays fresh for days.

Sadly allergies don’t let me enjoy most sweet stuff.

Vote for Silo but boo for their January holidays. Flute runner up

The Vietnamese bakery at the Wanniassa shops isn’t bad either.

For me, for bread Silo is still hands down the best bakery in Canberra. Been going there for 12 years and I swear by it.

My grandfather was an artisan baker in Europe, with the bakery round the side of the house, so I grew up around bread and bakeries. The sourdoughs and baguettes at Silo are by far the closest thing I’ve tasted to the kinds of breads my grandfather made.

The runners up:

– Flute – bread is almost on par with Silo, pastries too, but I think their inaccessible location and limited opening hours and stock lets them down

– Chiefley shops – they have a Czech baker and he makes great Czech/Polish style light rye sourdough loaves, which are a bit different from the usual artisan sourdough, but this is what most people in central Europe still eat. If you’re from that part of the world and want a nostalgic fix, go to Chiefley on a Saturday. They also have awesome pies and poppyseed and sour cherry strudels.

– Knead

– My house 😉 Occasionally I dig out the old recipes and make my own; takes a very long time but the results are on par with the commercial bakeries. It’s not as difficult as people think, just time consuming and messy

I think Autolyse and A. Baker are way overrated as far as their bread goes. I mean obviously they’re much better than your regular bread, but something about them just don’t hit the mark for me. Not sure what it is but they just don’t have the depth of flavour and don’t last as long as proper 100%  sourdough should. Also overpriced. I suspect a large part of their popularity is due to their hipster locations and vibe.

bronal said :

Perhaps there ought to be two categories: one for the innercityites and foodies; and one for the rest of us.

I belong to the latter category and my vote goes to the Erindale Bakery.

+1 for both the comment and for Erindale Bakery. A bakery should be judged by its meat pie, its finger bun and its vanilla slice, and you will find excellent examples of all three at Erindale Cakery Bakery.

Perhaps there ought to be two categories: one for the innercityites and foodies; and one for the rest of us.

I belong to the latter category and my vote goes to the Erindale Bakery.

Rollersk8r said :

rubaiyat said :

Rollersk8r said :

Autolyse is very good – but – it’s super expensive. And it’s extremely frustrating when you just want 1 thing and the 10 people in front of you are have the longest and most complicated coffee orders in history.

Dobinsons is still right up there in the value for money stakes. Although I do feel a bit sorry for them. They’re very late on the bandwagon with everything being salted caramel and/or nutella. They’ve got a massive range and still do a roaring trade – but lucky their sweet stuff is never that good, or I’d be the size of a house.

Autolyse is fairly priced for their product. Sourdough is a two day process.

If you go to Sydney or Melbourne you do not necessarily get better bread, in fact I think our bakeries are a notch up, and you pay anything from a dollar or two more for specialty loaves in the big cities.

Don’t measure well baked bread by what you pay for the industrial versions.

As with everything eat less, enjoy more!

You can’t taste “Lotsa”.

I’m fine with paying $7 for a loaf of sourdough, or whatever it is. However, last time I was there I ordered 2 coffees, 2 pieces of cake, 2 macaroons and 2 small chocolate milks – for $55.

Not sure of the individual prices – but even if the cake was $15 a slice – and the coffees were $5 each – the remainder was still expensive!

Weird. My wife and I eat lunch there with coffee and cake (shared) for less.

You didn’t ask?

Knead at the Belconnen Markets. All their bread is good, but the sourdough is to die for. They also do a lovely range of gourmet pies with unusual flavours.Yum!
Flute at Fyshwick makes the best multigrain sourdough of any of them, but the hours are very limited. Their pies are also good.
Autolyse does a wonderful grain bread with quinoa – best of all, it is low sodium.
Bakery Culture at the Jamison shops does excellent sourdough rolls, but I don’t like the full loaves as much.
And Silo has to be be up there with the rest too, for its lovely chewy crusts.

The bread and croissants at Autolyse are fab. Also, Sweet Bones has the best cinnamon rolls.

Cake wise, definitely recommend Flute Bakery and La Sable Patisserie in Mitchell. Also, Tupelo has a small range of baked goods (croissants and danishes, mostly) that are top notch, but I don’t know if they would be able to count as a bakery.

rubaiyat said :

Rollersk8r said :

Autolyse is very good – but – it’s super expensive. And it’s extremely frustrating when you just want 1 thing and the 10 people in front of you are have the longest and most complicated coffee orders in history.

Dobinsons is still right up there in the value for money stakes. Although I do feel a bit sorry for them. They’re very late on the bandwagon with everything being salted caramel and/or nutella. They’ve got a massive range and still do a roaring trade – but lucky their sweet stuff is never that good, or I’d be the size of a house.

Autolyse is fairly priced for their product. Sourdough is a two day process.

If you go to Sydney or Melbourne you do not necessarily get better bread, in fact I think our bakeries are a notch up, and you pay anything from a dollar or two more for specialty loaves in the big cities.

Don’t measure well baked bread by what you pay for the industrial versions.

As with everything eat less, enjoy more!

You can’t taste “Lotsa”.

I’m fine with paying $7 for a loaf of sourdough, or whatever it is. However, last time I was there I ordered 2 coffees, 2 pieces of cake, 2 macaroons and 2 small chocolate milks – for $55.

Not sure of the individual prices – but even if the cake was $15 a slice – and the coffees were $5 each – the remainder was still expensive!

jennybel75 said :

Dojo Bakery in Braidwood by far. They’re only small but the quality is top notch. In particular their lamb and fenugreek pie and rum glazed fruit bread.

Shhhhhhh!!!!

btw Does anyone know of anyone who bakes the genuine dark rye Bauernbrot?

There was a bakery in the Fyshwick Markets that said they used to do it. Unfortunately no longer.

It is a very healthy bread and keeps well. Carve it thin and spread it with smorgasbord type toppings.

Great! A little goes a long way.

Exploring_The_Blue3:42 pm 22 Sep 15

Can you please NOT have a tie for first place this time?

Exploring_The_Blue3:38 pm 22 Sep 15

Can it please not be a tie for first place this time?

Rollersk8r said :

Autolyse is very good – but – it’s super expensive. And it’s extremely frustrating when you just want 1 thing and the 10 people in front of you are have the longest and most complicated coffee orders in history.

Dobinsons is still right up there in the value for money stakes. Although I do feel a bit sorry for them. They’re very late on the bandwagon with everything being salted caramel and/or nutella. They’ve got a massive range and still do a roaring trade – but lucky their sweet stuff is never that good, or I’d be the size of a house.

Autolyse is fairly priced for their product. Sourdough is a two day process.

If you go to Sydney or Melbourne you do not necessarily get better bread, in fact I think our bakeries are a notch up, and you pay anything from a dollar or two more for specialty loaves in the big cities.

Don’t measure well baked bread by what you pay for the industrial versions.

As with everything eat less, enjoy more!

You can’t taste “Lotsa”.

Dojo Bakery in Braidwood by far. They’re only small but the quality is top notch. In particular their lamb and fenugreek pie and rum glazed fruit bread.

Autolyse is very good – but – it’s super expensive. And it’s extremely frustrating when you just want 1 thing and the 10 people in front of you are have the longest and most complicated coffee orders in history.

Dobinsons is still right up there in the value for money stakes. Although I do feel a bit sorry for them. They’re very late on the bandwagon with everything being salted caramel and/or nutella. They’ve got a massive range and still do a roaring trade – but lucky their sweet stuff is never that good, or I’d be the size of a house.

BombaySapphire1:03 pm 22 Sep 15

Three votes – Autolyse, Flute and Bread Nerds at the Epic Markets.

First runner up – the guys at the Epic markets who sell Cupacumbalong eggs – they make awesome pies and breads and pastries. But I’m not sure if market stalls count as bakeries?

Isn’t it nice to have a Best of… that actually is!

Mess said :

+1 for Braidwood Bakery, well worth the drive

Twentyone in New Acton makes really good pies and sausage rolls, but is not technically a bakery.

The best bakery in Canberra for mine was Chisholm Bakery which, as I was shocked to find out on the weekend, has now closed its doors.

Braidwood is doubly blessed there is also Dojo Bread just around the corner.

One of my earliest memories as a child was a family drive down from Sydney to Canberra. We stopped off at Braidwood where we ate hot fresh bread with butter and beautiful ripe cling peaches! Heaven!!

rubaiyat said :

Dame Canberra said :

rubaiyat said :

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

Hey Rubaiyat, I don’t agree with all of your opinions, but your bakery recommendations are dead on. I haven’t tried Dom’s in Queanbeyan – now I know where I’m visiting this weekend!

My vote goes to Autolyse, but I also like Erindale Bakery, Flute Bakery, Braidwood Bakery and Nimmitabel Bakery (it’s been a while since I’ve been to Nimmitabel though, so not sure if quality is still as excellent).

What can I say I love my bread and thankfully Canberra has finally risen to the mark after all these years! 🙂

Nimmitabel is only a coffee stop on the road to the coast.

The bakery is not that good, but maybe the prospect of getting out of the car and having a pie, makes it seem that it is better than it really is. Certainly no crust on their bread and the pastries are mostly doughy and soft, which they compound by zapping it in Chef Mike as the day drags on.

I stopped for coffee and something to eat in Nimmitabel recently. The pastry I had was pretty ordinary. The staff were polite, but nothing more. The bakery had no particularly welcoming vibe. I think it has changed hands in the last couple of years.

+1 for Braidwood Bakery, well worth the drive

Twentyone in New Acton makes really good pies and sausage rolls, but is not technically a bakery.

The best bakery in Canberra for mine was Chisholm Bakery which, as I was shocked to find out on the weekend, has now closed its doors.

Nilrem said :

rubaiyat said :

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

Dom’s Italian bread is delicious and good value. Can you visit the bakery?

Not really it is out in Whoop Whoop back of Queanbeyan. I get their bread at either Woden fruit & Veg or the Manuka Milk Bar, although there are plenty of other outlets. They genuinely seem to be using wood to bake, unlike others who use gas but say they use wood.

rubaiyat said :

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

Dom’s Italian bread is delicious and good value. Can you visit the bakery?

rubaiyat said :

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

I buy Dom’s Italian bread from the local IGA two or three times a week. Delicious and good value.

Dame Canberra said :

rubaiyat said :

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

Hey Rubaiyat, I don’t agree with all of your opinions, but your bakery recommendations are dead on. I haven’t tried Dom’s in Queanbeyan – now I know where I’m visiting this weekend!

My vote goes to Autolyse, but I also like Erindale Bakery, Flute Bakery, Braidwood Bakery and Nimmitabel Bakery (it’s been a while since I’ve been to Nimmitabel though, so not sure if quality is still as excellent).

What can I say I love my bread and thankfully Canberra has finally risen to the mark after all these years! 🙂

Nimmitabel is only a coffee stop on the road to the coast.

The bakery is not that good, but maybe the prospect of getting out of the car and having a pie, makes it seem that it is better than it really is. Certainly no crust on their bread and the pastries are mostly doughy and soft, which they compound by zapping it in Chef Mike as the day drags on.

Dame Canberra9:38 am 22 Sep 15

rubaiyat said :

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

Hey Rubaiyat, I don’t agree with all of your opinions, but your bakery recommendations are dead on. I haven’t tried Dom’s in Queanbeyan – now I know where I’m visiting this weekend!

My vote goes to Autolyse, but I also like Erindale Bakery, Flute Bakery, Braidwood Bakery and Nimmitabel Bakery (it’s been a while since I’ve been to Nimmitabel though, so not sure if quality is still as excellent).

Definitely Autolyse. Sorry to hear their Sydney venture didn’t make it.

Ricetta in Manuka does seriously good bread as well as Pizza. Their pastries can be good as well but their range has shrunk lately.

A.A. Baker is let down by their coffee.

Flute in Fyshwick.

Danny’s in Narrabundah.

Dom’s in Queenbeyan.

Don’t know if Silo is safe, haven’t been back since they were closed down.

Kerryhemsley9:14 am 22 Sep 15

Autolyse for me. Silo is also very good but the service is inconsistent and hours less convenient.

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