Annabel's Bakery

Pies are the draw at Annabel's Bakery in Cairns North, and locals mention them often. Meat pies, steak and cheese, a beef curry that tends to go early in the morning, plus sausage rolls and the odd curry pie turn up in conversation again and again. People visiting from interstate seem to take the same view, with one holidaymaker saying they'd tried more pies than they should have and that this was the pick of the lot.

Beyond the pie warmer, there's a good spread of baked treats: apple turnovers, cupcakes, cream buns and other pastries. They also take custom cake orders, which is handy to know if you're planning a celebration. Coffee and breakfast are on offer too, with a latte that earns praise, and you can eat in or grab it to go. Seating inside is limited, so takeaway suits a busy morning better.

We hear a lot about the staff. Regulars talk about friendly faces at the counter, and one couple who'd moved away and came back after a break said they were greeted just as warmly as ever. A family of four told us they filled up on pies, sausage rolls and bites for far less than a usual meal out, and there were options their fussy kids happily ate.

Some locals feel the pie prices have crept up and say a few items are on the small side for the money, and one baker wasn't won over by the vanilla slice. Others still call it great value, so it depends on what you order and what you expect.

Getting there is easy. There's free street parking and a free car park, including a wheelchair-accessible bay, and they take cards and tap-and-pay. Opening hours differ between weekdays and weekends, so check before you head in. For a pie and a coffee in Cairns North, it's a familiar name locally.