Inverleigh Bakehouse

Inverleigh Bakehouse is a handy stop for anyone driving between the Western District and Melbourne, and it suits a proper sit-down as much as a quick grab-and-go. Takeaway and dine-in are both on offer, with seating indoors and out, so you can settle in with a coffee or take your pie back to the car. Opinion here leans warm, and the bakery in Inverleigh, Victoria is well regarded locally.

The pies are what most people talk about. We've heard the steak and pepper pie described as fantastic, with flaky pastry and tender meat, and one traveller rated their pie close to the top of the scale. Sausage rolls and pasties sit in the cabinet alongside them, though one visitor was unhappy with the filling in theirs, so tastes clearly vary. Items fresh from the oven are part of the draw, and busy periods can see the cabinet thin out, so don't be surprised if your first choice has gone.

For something sweet, the vanilla slice comes up again and again, and the caramel, cherry and peanut butter fudge slices have their fans too. One local was won over by a Wagon Wheel slice and said it improved on the childhood original. If you'd rather have something savoury and substantial, there are toasties, salad rolls, wraps and breakfast croissants, plus a pulled pork ciabatta that one person said was so generously filled they had to pull over to eat it.

Coffee gets plenty of praise, including an iced coffee someone called the best they'd ever tasted, and the takeaway cups look the part. Breakfast is served, so it works as an early stop on the way through. Value is regarded as fair, and the staff are generally described as friendly and quick, though one visitor felt the welcome could be warmer on their day.

Practical bits: there's a free car park with wheelchair-accessible parking, free street parking as well, and card and tap payments are accepted. There's also a playground nearby if you're travelling with kids. It's open most days, but check the hours before you head in.