Bakery on O'Connell

If you've spent any time out in Adelaide after dark, you've probably ended up here. Bakery on O'Connell is a bakery and café in North Adelaide that never closes, and it draws a mixed crowd: early commuters, local families, shift workers and people heading home after a big night. Locals call it an Adelaide institution, and it's the kind of place people have been dropping into with friends and family for years.

It's a family-owned business, and the range is big, with more than 200 items made on the premises. Pies are what it's known for, and the pie floater gets a special mention: a straight beef pie in a bowl with vinegar and sauce, done the proper South Australian way. You'll also find sausage rolls, pasties and vegan options, plus pastries, donuts, sandwiches, wraps and cakes. People rave about the apple and pecan pies, the banana bread, and a ham and cheese croissant. The coffee gets plenty of love too, whether you take it away or sit down with it.

Staff are friendly. One regular who stops in before work in the small hours says the team stay warm and smiling even then, and remember his order. Prices are fair for the quality, and there's a lot to choose from in the cabinets.

You can dine in, grab something to go, or have food delivered, and breakfast is on offer too. They take custom cake orders and also cater for events, parties and corporate functions around South Australia, so it's worth asking about timing if you've got something coming up. Access is good, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park, seating and toilet, and free street parking nearby. Cards and tap payments are accepted.

With the doors open 24/7, Bakery on O'Connell is an easy pick for a bakery in North Adelaide whenever the craving hits, from a pre-dawn coffee to a late pie.