Best Bakery and Cake Shops in New South Wales

"Back in the day, a visit to Sydney wasn't complete without a visit to the family-friendly nooks and picture-perfect crannies of the Grounds. You'd know it was a long wait to get in, but it was an honour you'd queue for. While the brand of prettily plated café fare popularised by places like the Grounds has filtered out to eateries around the city, it's still a lovely spot to wander around, pet the pigs and grab a fresh brewed takeaway coffee to sit in the sun with."

"A firm Sydney lunch favourite since opening, The Grounds of Alexandria has gone from strength to strength. This destination restaurant and café has a paddock-to-plate approach, and will have you munching down on the likes of buttermilk pancakes, Turkish-style eggs and toasted crumpets, or tempting you with the hearty Brekkie Burger served with a side of polenta chips. There is also a bakery churning out all kinds of delicious breads, muffins, cakes and tarts."

"It's not often that you can enjoy the company of piglets and goats while feasting on chocolate-filled doughnuts and freshly baked pastries. Responsible for putting Alexandria on the map, The Grounds is arguably the most Instagrammed establishment in Sydney. A whimsical escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, this beautifully designed space is an idyllic excursion for weekend brunch."

"The Grounds of Alexandria, is bursting with things to see, opening into a courtyard decorated with grapevines and greenery, garden beds of florals, vegetables and herbs, and is home to the resident pig, Harry Trotter, and his friendly farm animal crew. The Insta-worthy menu spans everything from avo toast to tender beef ragout and healthy "bowls" that can be served chilled just in time for Summer. And just try stop yourself from trying one of the show-stopper cakes – the Black Forest and Polenta and Pistachio cakes."

"The Grounds of the City, the metropolitan sister to the bucolic The Grounds of Alexandria, evokes the luxe brasseries and coffeehouses of New York and London. Booze is served from 10am. Enjoy your single-origin coffee with old school fare from the house-made crumpets to the wild mushroom feuillete – a puff pastry parcel filled with mushroom, poached eggs, sheep’s curd and hazelnuts."

"What makes it special: You’ll be surrounded by everything you love about food. From food in restaurants to food for take away, casual food sold at markets to organic food grown in the garden areas, it’s any foodie’s paradise!. From breakfast at The Café, fresh produce at The Garden, and a bar scene at The Potting Shed, the Grounds of Alexandria is an acre full of experiences."

"This Marrickville gem is a from-scratch café and bakery with a focus on organic produce. Chirilas says, “You can’t go past this one – the fact that it serves everything on Mud plates and bowls gets me every time.” The menu is Mediterranean-inspired with peperonata breakfast bruschetta and meze plates, along with healthy alternatives to a standard weekend fry-up. The beverage selection is thoughtfully crafted, with coffee sourced from nearby Microlot Coffee Roasters and house-made sticky chai, a raw honey-soaked spiced chai tea."

"It’s hard just getting your head around the fact that all the bread and pastries are made in-house every day at this winning Marrickville cafe. Enter through the open garage doors on Chapel St and be prepared for Insta-pretty dishes with flavours you’ll be thinking about all day. Take your pick from the sourdough crumpets with chilli-braised broad beans and straccitella or the chana dal breakkie bowl with flatbread and yoghurt."

"This ‘from-scratch’ café bakery on Marrickville’s Chapel Street is revered by locals for its handmade breads and pastries that even angels would fight over. Forever rotating their donut repertoire be sure to follow them on Instagram to make sure you’re up to speed on what’s on offer each day. We’re hankering for the lemon curd and violet meringue or the salted caramel cream cheese with crispy caramelised popcorn."

"Last year, Stanmore’s Sixpenny restaurant opened a general store, serving takeaway to hungry locals. This year, in lockdown 2.0, Sixpenny is bringing back their general store, which will be open from 9 am to 3 pm, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The menu will be posted at 4 pm the day before, so be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram page."

"If you’re vegan, stop and drop everything - we’ve just found a cafe that has graciously made life a little sweeter with playful desserts, donuts and a full brekkie and lunch menu that are all prepared with the best naturally gluten-free ingredients!. At Nutie, they are all about ‘having your cake and eating it too!. Find them at: 44 Holt St,Surry Hills | 13 Beattie St, Balmain"

"Spots in the Inner West might not be first on your hit-list when you're looking for an outdoor dining locale, but Acre's sprawling urban farm set-up makes it well-deserving of a place on this list. With big, shady umbrellas to loll under and a colourful bounty of dishes – from baked fish to sour cherry cheesecake to the classic Acre salad – it's a popular, relaxed choice for the whole family."

"Sure, the pairing doesn't quite scream "summer", but matching real-deal stilton with whisky is one of life's great pleasures and this luxe Parramatta cocktail bar can provide. It also does it from an east-facing terrace 26 storeys in the sky. Moreton Bay bug rolls might be better suited to the season, yours to be scoffed with a textbook French 75 or a brisk martini."

"A hidden gem beloved by Sydney local, the Golden Age is a cinema and bar housed in the old screening room of the heritage-listed Paramount Pictures Building in Surry Hills. Think of Golden Age as the femme fatale, the leading man, and the sassy best friend all in one. The famous art deco building was painstakingly transformed for its opening in 2013, including 1940s-era cinema chairs with plush velvet upholstery sourced from Zurich."

"Bronte Beach is located just south of Bondi along the famous 6 kilometre Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk. You will find a great grassy area running from the sand back up the hill, popular for picnics. Bronte Beach is known for its good surf, though the steep waves make it a touch spot for beginner surfers."

"Little Manly Beach in Sydney Harbour is an ideal hangout for families with kids of all ages. The water is calm, clean, and there are plenty of grass areas to roam around. When the little ones are done splashing and swimming, they can head over to the playground areas for even more active excitement."