The Bakery Adaminaby

If you're passing through Adaminaby on the way to or from the Snowy Mountains, this is a bakery worth stopping in at. It's a country-town bakery with a cosy dine-in space, a takeaway counter and the smell of fresh-from-the-oven pastry, and it opens early every day of the week, so it suits a breakfast stop as much as a late-morning bite.

Pies are the main event. Steak, bacon and cheese pie gets ordered here, with firm, crisp pastry that isn't soggy and a filling temperature that won't burn your mouth. Chicken and corn with a peppery kick has its fans too, and the sausage rolls draw plenty of praise for flaky pastry and generous size. Apple pie comes up often, with sweet, firm pastry and plenty of filling. Pepper pie and pecan pie turn up in conversation as well. One visitor found a curry pie cold and dry, and a muffin or two has been called a touch dry, so it pays to grab things fresh from the cabinet.

Beyond the pies, there's a good spread of cakes, scones, slices and cream buns, plus ham and cheese croissants and bacon and egg toast for breakfast. Coffee gets a lot of goodwill, with a couple of people noting how good it is for such a small town, and the soy hot chocolate has been a hit on cold days. A small range of pantry items, jams, sweets, pickles and souvenirs sits alongside the baked goods, which makes it a handy place to pick up a gift for the road.

The staff are one of the things people mention most. Friendly, quick and chatty is the usual verdict, and some who hadn't been in for a while say the place has really lifted. Indoor and outdoor seating is plentiful, and it's right across from a park. Value gets a mention too, though one group found the bill on the steep side for a round of coffees and baked goods.

The bakery has been baking since 1950, using seasonal ingredients and traditional methods. There's a wheelchair-accessible car park and free street parking, and they take cards and mobile payments. Hours are generous, but check before you head in.