Call them bakeries, patisseries, pasticcerias or something completely different, today we’re talking about our favourite purveyors of baked goods: breads, pastries, pies, sweet treats. And we couldn’t stop at our usual five…

Here are the spots the HerCanberra team loves…and why.

The Flute Bakery & Patisserie

The Flute Bakery may look unassuming, but look past the canvas awnings and its hardly highbrow Fyshwick locale, and you will be rewarded with a veritable cornucopia of baked goods (below). Pies and quiches in the warmer, a gleaming glass cabinet filled with gateaux, tarts, brioche and pastries, and shelves of crusty baguettes and breads behind the counter. The Flute leaves a merry tune in our hearts…if music be the food of love, play on.

We love:  Sally Wagnon loves The Mr & Mrs Smith Apple Mousse layer cake and reckons they have the best pies and macarons in Canberra; Sarah Bowman says their Ham Flute (fresh rolls with hand sliced ham just like at Christmas) are divine! We also love their Lamington cake, and their Hot Cross Brioche/Buns.

210 Degrees

Some of the best places to eat are hidden away in the suburbs – and 210 Degrees Patisserie and Bakery is no exception. Just up the strip from the Hughes IGA (also worth a visit for some yummy food supplies), 210 Degrees has so much to choose from –  bread, foccacias, pastries, slices, tarts, savoury tarts, cupcakes, slices, etc. etc. etc.

They also do a mean breakfast – nothing tricked up, just good, honest fare like eggs benny, pancakes with candied bacon…and some more waist-conscious options!  Plus, if you’re a Woden worker, they’re just a hop, skip and a jump away for a hot take-away meal – expect yummy winter warmers like red chicken curry with rice or spaghetti bolognese. Saucy!

We love: the Gluten Free New York Cheesecake. Creme Brulee Tarts, Snickers Brownies (below), Blueberry Danish…the list goes on.

Knead Patisserie

Knead Patisserie get three ticks for great food, a cute little shop and a cosy environment.

Conveniently located for foodies at the Belconnen Markets, a visit is a great way to kick off a weekend before stocking up on fresh produce. Or you could just skip the fruit and vegetables and take home a carload of sweet delights! Just look at the range below…

We love:  Amelia Bidgood loves the croissants, the orange and poppyseed cake, the salted caramel mudcake and the creme brulee tart…and the chocolate eclairs! Jacqui Garrity can’t go past the toasted turkish and cranberry bagel or ANY of the tarts.

Silo Bakery

Yes, its narrow space is cramped on Saturday mornings when filled with Canberrans stocking up on still-warm bread, and ordering takeaway on weekends can be somewhat of a contact sport (will someone PLEASE introduce a number system already?!), but it’s amazing. The artisan loaves, the traditional french pastries, the cheese room, and the rest of it. Great coffee, good people-spotting, and fantastic food.

We love:  Amanda Whitley and Luisa De Liseo recommend any of the breads, the almond croissant, the banana caramel tart (below) and the orange brulee tart. And the breakfasts. And the lunches. Yum.

Autolyse

Autolyse may have only been on the scene since April, but it’s already made a name for itself as a mouthwateringly good artisan bakery. With a simple menu (changing daily), decent coffee, and amazing pastries you’d swear were overnighted from Paris, it attracts a steady stream of people keen for good food with no fuss.

And if you like a little extra something with your cuppa, sit inside near the open kitchen where you can watch bread being made all day long.

We love:  Trish Smith loves the handmade sourdough and croissants, but we’d swear by every single pastry (try the escargot!) Amanda Whitley also can’t go past the venaison et red wine ragout (venaison, de legumes et de vin rouge braise) braised venison ragout served with crusty sourdough, or the the salad of goats cheese, baby spinach, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, aged balsamic, spanish onion.

And then there’s…

Sfoglia in Dickson’s cannolis, particularly the Sicilian ones filled with ricotta. Heather Wallace

Cornucopia in Braddon is a Canberra classic. Luisa De Liseo

Bread Nerds in Hume make fabulous bagels and sourdough. Both available on the premises, and at Old Bus Depot Markets and Northside Produce Markets on Saturdays. Sally Wagnon

Cakery Bakery Erindale. Preferred supplier of all our office birthday cakes, baker of great croissants, bread and pastries … and neon meringue worms! Roslyn Hull  

Sweet Bones Bakery at Lonsdale St Traders – So many yummy muffins -Choc Peanut Butter, Cookies and Cream, Coconut Goji Berry, Spiced Pear & Pecan, Cherry & Almond and Gluten Free Banana & Blueberry ,and smores! On the savoury side, you might find something like smokey baked beans served on sourdough, or  Tempeh meatballs with roasted kale salad topped with tahini agave dressing and garlic bread. Bronwen Stead.

The Spence Family Bakery for lamingtons and Dream Cuisine for macarons and heavenly croissants made from scratch with cultured butter. Trish Smith

Danny’s Bakery in Narrabundah. A good old-fashioned bakery – amazing sourdough and all those retro baked goods that never go out of fashion because they taste so good! Amanda Whitley

Some may not like this because it’s mass produce and a chain.. but I love Bread Top! Samara Gentle  

What’s your favourite Canberra Bakery?