Golden Brown Pancake & Bakery Cafe

If you're after a bakery in Sydney's CBD that goes a little beyond the usual loaf, Golden Brown Pancake & Bakery Cafe on Pitt Street is a lively, Asian-inspired spot that draws customers in. It's a modern bakery café serving handcrafted breads and signature pancakes, and it's part of the Siam Palette Hospo Group. You can dine in or grab something to take away.

The salt bread is the thing people mention first. The original gets the most love, with a soft, fluffy inside, a savoury crunchy base and a texture some compare to a croissant. There are flavoured versions too, including honey cream cheese. One customer's children often bought takeaway salt bread before they had a chance to sit down.

The pancakes are a different style from the diner stack. They lean cake-like and fluffy, with a sweetness that people say is pitched just right, and the matcha mochi version has its fans. The cake display near the entrance is hard to walk past, and one local was won over by a fresh, light mango cake that wasn't overly sweet.

Beyond the bakery side, the café menu runs savoury as well. We've heard good things about the salted egg pasta, the truffle wagyu fried rice and the bingsu desserts, along with fresh, not-too-sweet drinks. One visitor found a rice dish a bit bland, so it pays to lean on the highlights.

It's a small place that fills up around lunchtime, so expect a short wait for a table. Staff are known for being friendly and welcoming, and the entrance is wheelchair accessible. Prices run on the higher side, though portions are generous enough to share. One diner felt the food looked better than it tasted and was put off by a minimum spend, so check that when you arrive. The kitchen keeps long hours, open into the evening every day, but check the hours before you head in.