The Loaf & Lounge

The Loaf & Lounge is a bakery and cafe in Camperdown, Victoria, and it works as both a quick grab-and-go stop and a place to settle in. You can dine in or take away, and there's coffee and breakfast on the menu alongside the cabinet of baked goods.

The pies are a talking point. We hear the beef and mushroom gets a tick, and the pasty selection has people eyeing the cabinet even when they don't end up ordering one. Sausage rolls and an egg and bacon roll come up too, and gluten free options are available if you need them. Cakes and bread sit alongside all that, and there are a few pantry essentials on the shelves, which is handy if you're passing through. One local also rated the carrot and walnut cake, and the raspberry and almond slice gets a mention for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Breakfast is a big part of why people stop in. Smashed avocado and eggs, toasties and baked potato dishes have all won fans, and the coffee has a following among people who say good coffee is hard to find around here. The cafe is cosy with plenty of seating, and the welcoming staff are mentioned again and again, with visitors passing through town singling out the counter service. One traveller who stayed a few days at a local caravan park ended up walking in every morning for a coffee and a treat.

Opinion isn't unanimous. One person found a pie lukewarm and the prices on the high side, and another waited a long while for a coffee, so it pays to allow a little time at busy moments. One who walked through the door came away happy.

There's a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, free street parking nearby, and card and mobile payments are accepted. The bakery is also LGBTQ+ friendly. Hours vary through the week and it's closed one day, so check before you head in.