Gunnedah Hot Bread

If you're after a pie in Gunnedah, this bakery is known for pies. Gunnedah Hot Bread opens early, from the small hours on weekdays, which suits anyone grabbing breakfast on the way to work or passing through town. Hours do vary a little across the weekend, so it's worth checking before you head in.

Pies are the main drawcard. People mention the steak and bacon pie and the pepper steak, and we've heard the sausage rolls and spring rolls get a good run too, along with apple pie for something sweet. One visitor said it was one of the few pie shops they'd tried across several states that didn't leave them with heartburn. The odd person has found a pie or pastry a bit dry or not as fresh as they'd hoped. Plenty come away happy, and it has a reputation for fair prices and generous value.

It's a proper all-rounder. Bread, cakes, slices and desserts fill the cabinet, and the Vietnamese-style bread rolls are a quiet highlight, with a crusty loaf and fillings that one visitor said matched what they'd had in Chatswood. Toasted sandwiches and a decent coffee make it a handy breakfast stop, and it also does takeaway. Welcoming staff are mentioned often, and the shop is kept clean and tidy.

Access is good: there's a wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, toilet and car park, plus free street parking and a free car park nearby, which makes a quick stop easy.

One thing you'll hear: they've heard the shop takes cash only, and a few people have been caught out. Bring some notes with you, or plan on finding an ATM, so you're not scrambling at the counter.

For a pie, a coffee and something sweet in Gunnedah, it's a dependable stop for most people passing through or living nearby.