Royale Patisserie

Royale Patisserie is a bakery in Centennial Park, Western Australia, and hand crafted sourdough is what it's built around. The loaves are baked daily using traditional recipes, with organic fermented and specialty breads alongside. One local singled out the sourdough loaf as a favourite, and another put the Danish pastry in the same bracket.

The cabinet is the other draw. People talk about the pies, particularly the beef and the pepper steak, and one customer called the pepper steak the best pie they'd had in a long while. Sausage rolls, jam donuts and the apple and custard bear claw come up regularly too, and the almond croissant tends to win people over once it's gently warmed. Sandwiches and salad rolls are made on that same fresh bread, and one hiker was pleasantly surprised by how tasty and reasonably priced theirs were. Opinion on the baked goods is a little mixed, though. We've heard the odd comment that a filling or a pie flavour missed the mark, so it's worth double-checking what you're ordering at the counter.

Beyond the daily bakes, they take custom cake orders and do catering, and there's barista coffee if you want something to go with your pastry. Takeaway is the main way people use the place. Parking is easy, with a free car park and free street parking, the entrance and car park are wheelchair-accessible, and they take cards and tap-and-go payments.

Service gets plenty of praise, with locals describing the staff as friendly and helpful, though one customer found the counter service less warm. Value is generally well thought of, although a couple of people felt certain lunch items were pricey, and one noted there are no prices on the cabinet, so ask before you order.

Timing matters here. The favourites can sell out by early afternoon, so go earlier in the day if you have your heart set on a particular pie or pastry. Check the opening hours before you head in, as the shop is closed on a couple of days each week.