Athena Cake Shop

Athena Cake Shop is a family-owned bakery in Marrickville, New South Wales, that makes traditional Greek sweets and contemporary cakes. That dedication shows in how locals talk about the place. One visitor called it an institution, and another said it's the closest you'll get to Athens in Australia.

The sweets are made fresh on the premises each day, using locally sourced and European ingredients. Ask around and the same names come up: the vanilla slice, galaktoboureko, honey cake and orange semolina cake on the sweet side, and spanakopita and moussaka when you want something savoury. One visitor from Cronulla drove across town for a large moussaka and spanakopita, heated them up at home with a Greek salad, and said the lot disappeared among four people. Another called the vanilla slice among the best they'd ever had.

Custom cakes are a real part of the trade here, from birthday cakes to special occasion orders. One local praised a flan with a message written in Hungarian, done without any fuss, for a family reunion. Tell them what you need and they'll work with you, and it's worth ordering ahead for anything big.

You can dine in or take away, and there's coffee, including Greek coffee, so it works just as well for a sit-down with a pastry as for a quick stop. The staff come across as friendly and welcoming, and one customer mentioned Stef and Vasso. Free street parking nearby makes a quick visit easier, and they take cards and tap-and-go payments.

We've heard the odd grumble about freshness on a particular order and about the coffee, and one person felt prices have crept up. Most of what we hear is warm, and the savoury range and traditional sweets are the highlights. Popular items can sell out, so going earlier in the day is wise, and it's worth confirming the opening times.