Tenacious Bakehouse

Tenacious Bakehouse is a small bakery in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, and the sort of place you could easily walk straight past. It's takeaway-first and the counter is where the action is, so it suits a quick stop on the way somewhere else.

The pastry case leans creative. Locals keep coming back for the Portuguese and egg tarts, with the Salted Caramel Miso Tart a particular favourite among people who've made it a morning habit. The croissants include a hot honey ham and cheese version with a bechamel filling and a pandan one that's lighter and better balanced than you'd expect. There's also a Dubai-style crunch ball, a pain suisse with a generous layer of dark chocolate, a beef rendang pie and a cinnamon scroll, so there's a fair bit to try beyond the tarts.

The drinks have a Korean and Japanese streak. Coffee is on offer for breakfast, and you'll also find matcha, a black sesame latte and sikhye, a sweet rice punch. One local called the pastry work "buttery and tasty", and a couple of others describe the flakiness of the tarts and the creamy custard in much the same way.

Not everyone's order has landed perfectly. One person found the rendang pie light on meat, and another had a croissant that missed the mark. The staff, though, get friendly mentions, including a chatty person at the counter who made the visit. A delivery order has also arrived in good shape, if you'd rather not go in.

Worth knowing before you head in: seating has been scaled back, so plan on taking your order with you. They're set up for card and tap payments. Check the hours before you go, as the bakery trades through the day rather than late.

If you're in Darlinghurst and fancy a tart or a croissant that's a bit different from the usual, this one is worth a look.