Lobethal Bakery - Stirling

If you're after a bakery in Stirling that does proper Adelaide Hills baking, this one is worth finding. It's a little hidden away from the main street, but locals know where it is, and the cabinet explains why. Pies, sausage rolls and pasties come out hot and fresh from the oven, and the pies in particular are what people talk about. One local described them as nothing like the soggy, run-of-the-mill kind, and we've heard the sausage rolls get the same praise. The pizza pie gets a nod too, though be warned it's a messy one.

The pretzel is the real talking point. Pretzel rolls and pretzel sandwiches, filled with salad, salami and cheese or similar, nod to the German heritage of the Hills, and one visitor from Germany makes a point of calling in whenever she's in Adelaide. Add the Danish pastries, bee stings, rum balls, glazed and chocolate doughnuts, and a decent spread of breads including sourdough, and you'll find something to browse. The bakery is family-operated and makes its goods by hand, with preservative-free breads a feature. Custom cake orders are also on offer if you're planning something for an occasion.

You can dine in or take away, and coffee and breakfast are both on the menu. Seating is outdoors, which is lovely in the sun, though one local advises watching for wasps. Prices are considered good value, and parking nearby is easy. There's a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance, and they take cards and mobile payments.

Service gets plenty of warm words, with staff described as friendly and polite, and one local told of a young woman who went out the back to make a special sandwich. One person felt rushed at the counter, and another mentioned a concern about handling of fresh rolls, so it can vary by visit. It's usually busy, so allow a little time. Check the hours before you head in, as they differ on weekends.