Idle

Idle is a café, bakery and pantry space in New Farm, Brisbane's inner north side, and it works as a proper neighbourhood bakery with a short-order kitchen attached. It's the next chapter of the much-loved Agnes Bakery, and you can see that heritage in the baking.

Sourdough loaves are the backbone, alongside sweet and savoury pastries and whole cakes. Locals rave about the laminated pastries: the double-baked almond croissant has its fans, one person left a maple bacon danish convinced their life was better for knowing it existed, and the pork sausage roll and bear claw get a mention too. The odd person is after a more classic buttery, flaky croissant, but the craft behind them is plain to see. The sourdough crumpets and mushroom toast are favourites on the breakfast side, and the continental breakfast with a baguette and good condiments suits people who like simple food with quality ingredients.

We've heard particularly good things about how seriously the kitchen takes gluten-free requests. One local with coeliac disease was impressed by the care and advice the staff gave, and the gluten-free sandwich bread got a thumbs up. They also take custom cake orders and do catering.

Staff are warm and attentive. Lucy and Zac both get named for going out of their way, and people mention being greeted and seated quickly even without a booking. The coffee is well liked, though a few people have found the chai and hot chocolate not to their taste, so it's worth sticking with the coffee if you're unsure.

It's a light, minimalist space with an alleyway dining feel. Tables are small, so it suits a quick bite more than a long group lunch. Prices sit a little on the higher side, though most feel the quality justifies it. There's a pantry section with house-made condiments and deli goods if you want to take something home.

Dine in, grab takeaway or just browse. There's free street parking nearby and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, and it's open daily, but check the hours before you head in.