The South Levain

4.8(206)

81 Chadstone Rd, Malvern East, Victoria, 3145

“From Paris to Malvern”

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Services:Sourdough BreadCateringTakeawayDine-In

Fresh From the OvenKnown for SourdoughKnown for PiesCustom CakesGood ValueFriendly Staff

Known for

CroissantsSourdough breadSausage rollsTakeawayCoffeeBreakfastWheelchair accessibleCard & contactless payments

Why Choose The South Levain?

The South Levain is a French-inspired sourdough bakery in Malvern East known for flaky, buttery croissants and pastries that locals queue for early. Beyond pastries, they're equally accomplished with savoury pies, custom cakes and fresh-made baguettes, plus coffee and a seated café, making it ideal for breakfast, lunch or takeaway.

About The South Levain

The South Levain is a family-run sourdough bakery and boulangerie in Malvern East, Victoria, and it's easy to spot why it has built such a following. The tagline, "From Paris to Malvern", tells the story: head pâtissier Joanna spent a year in Paris, and that French influence runs through the counter, from baguettes and croissants to a proper loaf of sourdough.

Pastry is where people get most animated. Locals rave about the flaky, buttery layers on the croissants, whether it's a chocolate croissant with a morning coffee, an almond croissant that's properly filled, or an egg and bacon one for brunch. There's also a Mauritian thread with minced beef pastries and Mauritian puddings. The sourdough gets plenty of praise too, crisp outside and soft and chewy within, and the fresh chicken and avocado baguettes have their own fans.

Pies and sausage rolls hold up as well. We've heard good things about the chicken and leek, the beef, a chicken curry pie and the fish pie, with generous fillings and crisp, buttery pastry. One local found the relish served alongside a bit sharp and reckoned the pies were better without it. Vanilla slices have turned heads too, and the team does custom cakes. One regular had their wedding cake made here, sent through some inspiration photos and got a filling tailored to taste. Catering is available as well.

It's a small suburban spot, so expect a bit of a queue at busy times, though the line tends to move. Seating is mostly outside and undercover, so rug up in cold weather. Coffee can take a while when it's flat out, and not everyone has found every pastry perfect, but the friendly service comes up often, and there is free street parking and a car park nearby.

Popular lines sell out, and shelves can look thin towards closing time on weekends, so go earlier in the day. It's worth checking the hours before you head over, as they close early afternoon and take a day off during the week. Takeaway and dine-in are both on offer.

Location

Croissants Au Beurre
Classic buttery croissants, golden and flaky.
$34.50
Pain Au Chocolat
A rich pastry filled with dark chocolate, delicately layered and baked to perfection.
$42.50
Fruit Danishes
Light puff pastry topped with seasonal fruit and a smooth vanilla custard.
$42.50
Viennoiserie Selection
A curated mix of croissants, chocolate croissants, and danish.
$40
Ham & Cheese Croissants
Flaky croissants filled with sliced ham and melted cheese.
$54.50
Breakfast Sliders
Herbed scrambled eggs and candied bacon served on soft house-made milk buns.
$54.50
Apple Turnovers
Puff pastry parcels filled with our signature apple compote.
$34.50
Seasonal Fruit Platters
A vibrant selection of seasonal fruits, beautifully presented.
$140

Lunch, Grazing & Small Bites

Mini Chicken Pies
Chicken, leek, mushrooms, and cream, slow-cooked in white wine and served with house relish.
$27.50
Mini Beef Burgundy Pies
Beef braised in red wine with vegetables and beef jus, served with house relish.
$27.50
Mini Beef Sausage Rolls
Traditional beef sausage rolls with golden pastry and house-made relish.
$24
Mini Spinach & Ricotta Rolls
Vegetarian pastry rolls filled with creamy ricotta and spinach, served with relish.
$24
Mini Ham & Triple Cheese Quiches
Miniature quiches made with smoky ham and a blend of three cheeses.
$27.50
Mini Pumpkin, Spinach & Feta Quiches
A vegetarian blend of roasted pumpkin, baby spinach, and feta.
$27.50
Mushroom & Shallot Galettes
Puff pastry topped with roasted mushrooms, caramelised shallots, and whipped feta.
$30
Chicken & Avocado
Free-range chicken, avocado, aioli, and cos lettuce on a sesame baguette.
$46.50
Roast Beef
Roast beef with horseradish aioli, seeded mustard, caramelised onion, and baby watercress on rustic baguette.
$46.50
Tuna Salad
Tuna, lemon mayo, red capsicum, cucumber, tomato, spring onion, and egg on rustic baguette with rocket.
$46.50
Roast Pumpkin & Dukkah
Roasted pumpkin, beetroot hummus, rocket, and feta, with a dukkah spice blend.
$46.50
Prawn Cocktail Sliders
Butter-poached prawns with sriracha aioli, cos lettuce, and micro herbs on brioche buns.
$72
Tuna Niçoise
Tuna, green beans, olives, eggs, potatoes, and leafy greens with a lemon vinaigrette.
$145
Roasted Cauliflower Salad
Turmeric-roasted cauliflower with fennel, Israeli couscous, spinach, cherry tomatoes, green beans, dukkah, and pomegranate dressing.
$140
Pumpkin & Couscous Salad
Roasted pumpkin, baby spinach, currants, couscous, toasted almonds, and orange-mint dressing.
$130
Cheese & Charcuterie Platter
An indulgent spread of four fine cheeses and cured meats, served with fresh and dried fruits, house-made savoury biscuits, sliced sourdough, olive-walnut bread,
$180

View full menu →

Menu as published at thesouthlevain.com on 28 October 2026. Prices change; confirm with the shop.

What Customers Say on Google

Pastries

“The croissants were so flaky and crisp on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside.”

Cakes

“I had them make my wedding cake and WOW!! Incredible!”

Pastries

“Very crispy and buttery pastry, the filling was generous.”

Source: Google Reviews

Community Comments

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Frequently Asked Questions About The South Levain

: The South Levain is a family-run sourdough bakery and boulangerie known for its French-inspired pastries. Head pâtissier Joanna's year in Paris shows through in flaky croissants, pain au chocolat and fruit danishes, alongside proper sourdough loaves and baguettes. Locals also rate the pies, including Mauritian-style meat pies, and the sausage rolls. It's well regarded locally for fresh, flaky pastry and generous servings.
: Yes, catering is offered alongside the bakery's regular takeaway and dine-in service. Customers have had wedding cakes made here by sharing inspiration photos, with the team customising the design and flavour to match. For catering or custom cake enquiries, it's best to contact The South Levain directly to discuss what you need and the lead time required.
: Breakfast and morning tea options include croissants au beurre, pain au chocolat, fruit danishes, ham and cheese croissants, a viennoiserie selection and breakfast sliders, all paired with coffee. Egg and bacon croissants and chocolate croissants are popular with regulars who visit on weekends. Popular items can sell out, so it's worth getting there earlier in the day.
: Yes, savoury options are a strong point, with mini chicken pies, mini beef burgundy pies, mini sausage rolls, mini spinach and ricotta rolls, and mini quiches such as ham and triple cheese or pumpkin, spinach and feta. The bakery is also known for chicken and leek, beef, and fish pies, plus Mauritian-style meat pies with a lighter, flakier crust than a traditional pie.
: The bakery has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and offers free street parking as well as a free car park on site. It accepts credit cards, debit cards and NFC mobile payments, so takeaway orders and dine-in visits are straightforward. Given its popularity, some items do sell out, so visiting earlier in the day is a good idea.