Wild Life Bakery

Wild Life Bakery is a bakery and café in Brunswick East, Victoria, set in a quiet residential pocket and easy to miss if you don't know it's there. Inside it's a big, open room with plenty of natural light, a glass panel so you can watch the kitchen at work, and a communal table that suits a slow coffee as much as a quick bite.

Sourdough and pies are what the local crowd talks about most, and the bread has a following for good reason. The toasties are a big part of the appeal, built on that sourdough, and we've heard more than one person call the mushroom and the ham and cheese versions some of the best around Melbourne. There are vegan options too, including a pumpkin toastie that gets a mention. On the pastry side, the croissants come up often, including an almond one with a generous frangipane filling, along with Portuguese custard tarts, a strawberry and matcha danish and savoury twists. Locals like that things come out fresh from the oven, though a few wish certain pastries were reheated, and it pays to go early as the shelves can thin out by late morning, especially on weekends.

Coffee is made with Market Lane beans, and it's a drawer in its own right. Prices are seen as fair for the quality, and the staff are described as friendly, if sometimes stretched when the place is busy. The odd visit has turned up over-toasted bread or a toastie on the salty side, so quality can vary on a rushed day.

You can sit in or take away, and they do custom cake orders. The same people run Wild Life Superette, a deli and cheese shop on Sydney Road in Brunswick, which takes online orders for pickup, and bakery ordering is offered for selected holidays and special events. There's a wheelchair-accessible entrance and toilet, free street parking nearby, and card and tap payments are accepted. It's a welcoming spot for the whole community and LGBTQ+ friendly. It's open daily, but check the hours before you head in.