Loafer Bread

Loafer Bread is a small bakery-cafe in Fitzroy North, tucked just off St Georges Road, and it has built the kind of following that gets people queuing on weekends. Locals will tell you the laminated pastries are the main event. The plain and almond croissants come up constantly, crisp and buttery, and one regular order is a croissant served with house-made jam. The potato danish gets a lot of love too, flaky outside with a savoury filling that holds together rather than going soggy.

Bread is the other half of the story, and the sourdough here has a name for itself. People also rave about the salad sandwich, the egg baguette, a mushroom sausage roll, the cardamom scroll, and loaves like the sprout and seed. There are seasonal specials as well, and focaccia that only appears later in the morning, so it pays to plan your timing. Everything tastes like it came fresh from the oven, and the staff will happily warm a pastry for you.

You can dine in or take away, and coffee and breakfast are on the menu, so it works for a sit-down start to the day or a quick grab on the way through. Card and mobile payments are accepted, and there's free street parking nearby. The service gets plenty of praise, with friendly, warm staff who keep the line moving even when it gets busy. One local who has been coming for years says it's the team that keeps them returning.

We've heard the odd note that the pastries are better value than the large loaves, and one person found a sourdough crust a bit firm for their taste. Opinion on the whole is strongly positive, though, and most regard the pastries as good value for the quality.

Hours run through the morning and early afternoon every day of the week, and weekends can be busy, so check the hours before you head in and expect a short wait at peak times. If you're after croissants, danish or proper sourdough in Fitzroy North, this is the place to start.