Mount Barker Country Bakery

If you're driving the Perth to Albany road and want a proper pie stop, this is the bakery in Mount Barker people tend to point you towards. It opens early and keeps going through the afternoon every day of the week, so it suits a breakfast coffee or a late lunch just as well.

The pies are the main event. Locals rave about the prawn and scallop pie, which one person described as being like a rich seafood soup tucked inside buttery, flaky pastry, and another bought five of to take back to Perth. One local swears by the lamb pie, and the beef bourguignon and truffle and chicken pies are also mentioned. There's even a cauliflower pie that one local admitted sounds odd but is genuinely good. Sausage rolls and custard tarts are also on offer, along with sandwiches, sweet pastries and the cinnamon and Biscoff scrolls.

Beyond the pies, the bakery is known for its sourdough, and everything has the fresh-from-the-oven feel you'd hope for. Coffee and breakfast are on offer, with both takeaway and dine-in. Prices are considered good value for the quality, and the staff come across as friendly and polite.

Be prepared for a bit of a crowd. It gets busy, and service can slow when the queue builds, though one customer found it moves along efficiently. There's seating outside, so if the weather turns it's worth planning to eat elsewhere. A free car park is nearby, with parking across the road that suits caravans, and the entrance and car park are wheelchair accessible. Cards and mobile payments are accepted.

A couple of visitors found a pie on the salty side or the filling not quite what they expected, so it pays to ask the counter about what's in each one. It's best to check the hours before you head out, but one visitor stopped in on the way through Mount Barker.