Austro Bakery

Austro Bakery in North Melbourne is the kind of place worth a visit, partly because it only opens on weekends and partly because the good things go early. The bread and pastries are baked on site, and the Central European leanings show in the cabinet: pretzels, danish, croissants, focaccia and pies.

Pies are what the bakery is known for, though the savoury pastries have their fans. Locals rave about the Leberkäse sandwich with zucchini pickles, and one visitor from Germany said it gave her the comfort of home. The Flammkuchen has its fans too, and we've heard a late-day anchovy quark pastry with caramelised onions and olives was flaky, buttery and well balanced. On the sweet side, the fig tart gets the loudest praise, along with the Vienna coffee scroll, raspberry danish and custard tarts.

A couple of people found a few items average: the focaccia a touch light on flavour, and one pie's pastry less flaky than hoped. Get in early, because the fig tart and other favourites can sell out well before closing. The menu changes with the seasons, so what's on offer shifts from visit to visit. Several local cafes stock their pastries, but the full spread is only at the bakery itself.

The staff are friendly and happy to point you toward something good if you're unsure. There's coffee, takeaway and dine-in, though seating is limited to a few spots outside, so it suits a quick stop more than a long sit-down. They also take custom cake orders. The entrance is wheelchair-accessible, cards and mobile payments are accepted, and the bakery is LGBTQ+ friendly and identifies as women-owned.

Trading hours are short and confined to the weekend, so check the hours before you head over.