Gordon St Bakery

Gordon St Bakery is a small artisan bakery in Footscray, Victoria, working in the French tradition. It's run by Wilhem Isaac, a baker who trained in Paris and has worked with Melbourne bakeries including Loafer Bread and Woodfrog. The focus is sourdough, viennoiseries and coffee, and it's takeaway only, so plan on eating on the benches out the front or taking your haul home.

Ask around Footscray and the almond croissant comes up first. People describe it as big, buttery and flaky, generously filled but not overly sweet, and a few swear it's the best in Melbourne. We've heard the chocolate croissant has its fans too, especially when it's still warm from the oven, and some locals take it home and give it a few minutes in the air fryer. If you want something savoury, the cheese stick is the other order that keeps coming up, with one local calling it the best they've ever eaten. There's also a cinnamon roll, and the sourdough is a big part of why the bakery has the following it does.

Fresh from the oven is the real draw here. Everything is baked on site by hand, and people who time their visit right sometimes walk away with something still hot. It's also known as good value, with one local happy to find no weekend surcharge on the pastries.

The hours are short, with an early finish and closed days each week, so check them before you head in; one regular's only grumble is that they close too early. Parking is free on the street, though it can take a little juggling, and there's a steady stream of customers from the nearby hospital. They take cards and mobile payments, and coffee and breakfast are on offer too. If you're after a proper croissant or a loaf of sourdough in Footscray, arrive early and see what's come out of the oven.