Esperance French Hot Bread Shop

Esperance French Hot Bread Shop is the kind of bakery that suits a morning stop in Esperance, Western Australia, whether you're after a loaf, a coffee or something hot for lunch. Locals know it for pies first. Pies on offer include a steak and cheese, a cauliflower cheese pie and a zucchini one, with a potato-top pie and a steak, bacon and egg pie in the mix as well. We've heard the cauliflower cheese and the pizza steak pie both go down especially well with visitors passing through.

Beyond the pie warmer, there's a good range on the counter: sausage rolls, fresh bread and rolls, croissants, sweet pastries, a curry puff, apple danishes and cakes. It also leans in a different direction, with sushi, banh mi rolls and some hot Asian takeaway dishes sitting alongside the traditional bakery fare. People mention fresh crusty rolls straight from the oven, and bread here is considered good value, which is why some locals pick up their loaves on the way past.

You can eat in or take away, and there's coffee and a full breakfast spread, so it works for a sit-down start to the day as well as a quick grab. Seating inside is limited, so it's a better bet for a quick bite than a long lazy meal. There's free street parking and a free car park nearby, plus a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and you can pay by card or tap.

The staff get a lot of friendly mentions, and service tends to be quick even when it's busy. Some people rave about the pies and baked treats, while others find the flavours ordinary. Opening hours run across most of the week with an early start, but check the hours before heading in, especially on weekends.