Waack's Bakery Ararat

4.0(683)

168 Barkly St, Ararat, Victoria, 3377

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Services:TakeawayDine-In

Fresh From the OvenKnown for PiesGood ValueFriendly Staff

Known for

Vanilla slicePastiesSausage rollsTakeawayDine-inCoffeeBreakfastWheelchair accessible

Why Choose Waack's Bakery Ararat?

Waack's Bakery sits on Ararat's main street and is known locally for pies with rich, chunky fillings and a standout vanilla slice that keeps people coming back. The bakery operates as both a takeaway and sit-down spot, with good coffee, fresh baked goods, and friendly service, making it a solid stop whether you're passing through on the Melbourne-Adelaide run or grabbing lunch locally.

About Waack's Bakery Ararat

Pies are the first thing people mention when Waack's Bakery comes up, and it's easy to see why. This Ararat bakery sits on the main street and has been going since 1999, and it's a stop for travellers who pull off the highway between Melbourne and Adelaide. The range runs from steak and chicken and leek pies to pasties, sausage rolls, focaccias, salad rolls and wraps, plus cakes and slices. One visitor loved the chunky chicken and rich sauce in the chicken and leek pie, and another found a steak pie hot and very tasty.

The vanilla slice is the other talking point. Several people rate it highly, and one local was happy to call it the bakery's claim to fame. The jelly slice gets a nod too. We've heard the odd comment that a pie's pastry could be crisper or a filling a touch dry, but most people leave happy and plan to return.

It's a roomy place, with seating for over 100, so there's usually somewhere to sit even when the lunch crowd is in. You can dine in, take away, or sit out the front in the sun. Amanti coffee is on the menu, and people describe it as well made. Breakfast is served as well. Food comes fresh from the oven, and the value gets a good word. Staff are friendly, helpful and quick to recommend something, even on a busy day, and regulars mention how clean the shop and the toilets are. It's also an easy stop for access, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, plus free street parking and a car park nearby. They take cards.

Hours differ between weekdays and weekends, so check before you head in, especially on a public holiday, though one traveller was glad to find them open on one.

If you're in Ararat and after a pie, a vanilla slice and a decent coffee, this is the bakery locals point you to.

Location

What Customers Say on Google

Pastries

“The filling is rich in flavor, and the sauce had a nice balance.”

Cakes

“The vanilla slice, wow, first bite and I knew it was different to normal, held its form and tasted delicious.”

Bread

“Great variety of pies. We tried the chicken and leek pie which had chunky chicken pieces and rich sauce.”

Source: Google Reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions About Waack's Bakery Ararat

: Pies are the main drawcard at Waack's Bakery, with travellers on the Melbourne to Adelaide route regularly stopping in. The chicken and leek pie gets praise for its chunky chicken and rich sauce, while the steak pie is often described as hot and tasty. The vanilla slice is just as talked about, with several visitors rating it as a standout.
: Beyond pies, the range at Waack's Bakery covers pasties, sausage rolls, focaccias, salad rolls, wraps, cakes and slices, plus coffee and breakfast. It's set up for both takeaway and dine-in on Ararat's main street, with muffins and loaded chips also mentioned by visitors as worth trying alongside the usual bakery fare.
: Yes, coffee is a strong point alongside the food. Visitors have called out well-made flat whites and caramel lattes, noting good drinking temperature and froth. It's a popular stop for a quick coffee and bite while passing through Ararat, with breakfast also on offer.
: The bakery offers a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance, along with free street parking and a free car park on site. It accepts credit and debit cards and is noted as LGBTQ+ friendly, making it a straightforward stop for most visitors passing through town.
: It can get busy around lunchtime, as it's a popular stop for travellers between Melbourne and Adelaide as well as locals. Staff are generally described as friendly and service as prompt, though it pays to ask the bakery about current hours before planning a visit if timing matters.