Abbots & Kinney

Abbots & Kinney is a pastry shop and cafe in Adelaide's city centre, and it works equally well for a quick takeaway or a sit-down with a laptop. It's open weekdays only, so it suits a workday breakfast or lunch rather than a weekend outing. Worth checking the hours before you head in.

Pies are what it's known for, and we've heard the sausage rolls are a pleasant surprise too, with a few varieties on offer. On the pastry side, locals mention the almond croissant and the pain au chocolat. One person called the pain au chocolat one of the best they've had, though the almond croissant gets a more mixed reception: a couple of people found it on the lighter, less buttery side, and one would have liked it warmed. The spinach, goat's cheese and pesto Danish gets a very good wrap, flaky and layered, with the pesto lifting the filling.

Coffee is a big part of the appeal. A courier who works in the city and has tried plenty of cafes singles out the barista, Dani, for consistently good coffee. Flat whites and iced long blacks come up often, and the iced long black is described as rich and full-flavoured. The iced matcha is a different story, with one local finding it strong and bitter.

It isn't only pastries. Sandwiches and toasties get good mentions, including the pulled pork, the panko chicken and the buffalo chicken toastie, and there are egg and bacon rolls for breakfast. The staff come across as friendly and efficient, and one person recalled the counter staff staying pleasant and doing their best on a very busy weekend when some items ran short.

The setting is a small, relaxed nook with a nice atmosphere, comfortable for working or watching the city go by. There's dine-in and takeaway, a wheelchair-accessible entrance, and cards and mobile payments are accepted.

If you're after a pie, a flaky pastry or a good coffee in the Adelaide CBD on a weekday, this is a handy stop.