Pioik Bakery Pyrmont

Pioik Bakery is a small, family-run bakery in Pyrmont that makes its bread and pastries by hand, from scratch, using organic, seasonal ingredients and no preservatives. The team supplies several of Sydney's well-known restaurants and cafes, and the head baker, Shady, has spent more than two decades cooking in some of the city's best kitchens. You can see that background in the lamination on the croissants.

Sourdough is the headline here, and the loaves come fresh from the oven. The croissants, including an almond version, the baguettes and the canelé are items customers have mentioned. There are some unusual things too: a turmeric and cinnamon twist that sounds odd and apparently works, a baklava escargot, a morning bun that isn't overly sweet, and a savoury danish with halloumi, labneh and za'atar. Focaccia comes in different flavours, and even people who don't usually bother with focaccia tend to come round. One local put it simply: the baked goods beat plenty of the hyped bakeries around Sydney.

It's a compact shop built around takeaway, with a bit of simple outdoor seating, and coffee is on offer to go with your order. The entrance is wheelchair-accessible, and cards and tap payments are accepted.

Hours are short and morning-only, and the bakery is closed early in the week, so check before you head in. The egg sandwich sold out when one customer visited. Some of the older menu details floating around are out of date, so go for the pastries and bread rather than a cooked breakfast. Pastries are best eaten soon after buying, since a later pickup can mean less crunch. There's also little seating, so plan to take things with you. One local found the counter service a little brusque, though the baking brought them back anyway.

If you're after a bakery in Pyrmont for sourdough or something buttery and flaky, this is a good one to aim for early.