Bake House Gozen

Bake House Gozen is a Japanese-style bakery in Molendinar, Queensland, and the croissants are what most people talk about first. Locals describe them as properly crunchy outside, warm and soft within, with generous fillings. The sweet ones get plenty of love, and so do the savoury pastries, including a cheese kransky croissant that gets a mention. One visitor who has eaten croissants in Paris reckoned these held their own, and suggested trying the plain croissant alongside the fancier options.

Beyond croissants, people rave about the variety. There are sweet and savoury pastries for most tastes, and we hear the flavours are Japanese-inspired and not overly sweet or heavy. A strawberry daifuku custard pastry and a Ferrero-style creation have both won fans. If you're after a drink, the matcha gets a good word, and the café side of things also runs to coffee, lattes and chai. There's no drinks menu on display, so just ask what's available.

Staff are a highlight too. Regulars talk about a warm welcome from the owners and team, and about being helped to choose from the cabinet without any fuss. It's a cosy spot where you can dine in or take your pastries away, with free parking and wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance and toilet. They take cards and mobile payments.

The one thing everyone agrees on is to go early. This is a weekend-morning bakery, and the cabinet empties fast, so late arrivals can miss out on the sweet croissants in particular. Check the hours before you head over, as they trade only on weekends.

One local did raise a concern about food sitting uncovered at the counter, though it's the exception in a sea of praise. For a Gold Coast bakery that people are happy to queue and plan their weekends around, Bake House Gozen is a name worth knowing in Molendinar.