Five To Try: Brisbane’s Best Spots for Good Coffee and Baked Treats

Brisbane’s no stranger to the pastry craze: 5am line-ups for that decadent kouign-amann, social media reels about the latest cookie-croissant mutation, and boxes upon boxes of buttery, shiny goods in the hands of those lucky enough to make the cut every Saturday morning. And the city isn’t lacking in spots that serve quality coffee, but it’s often difficult to kill those two birds with one stone.

Thankfully, there are bakeries and cafes that do a coffee-and-pastry twofer that won’t have you scouting for a second location. Here are five of our favourites.

Sprout

When it comes to Brisbane pastry hotspots, Sprout Artisan Bakery is undoubtedly near the top of the list. On a buzzy corner of James Street, the bakery’s display teems with rows and rows of golden-brown classics: seasonal fruit danishes, almond croissants, cinnamon sugar-dusted morning buns and toasties made with laminated croissant pastry and filled with ham and cheese. When you’ve got your pastries, order a Reuben Hills coffee or their changing batch brew, which is currently from Colombian farmer Jose Elias Martinez Guzman.

Lobby Bar

You’re forgiven for thinking Lobby Bar at the Calile Hotel is the typical hotel restaurant, catering more to lunch, dinner and drinks. But it also has a French-forward pastry menu with a croissant Nigella Lawson deemed the “best ever”. You can get it at breakfast time, alongside the ever-changing pastry of the day, perhaps a danish or the occasional cruffin. Later in the day, a canelé, madeleine or fruit tart can be had with an afternoon caffeine pick-me-up. Lobby Bar’s beans are from Fortitude Coffee Roasters just up the street, or you can opt for the hotel’s own blend with notes of milk chocolate, cereal and butter.

Snug

Coorparoo’s popular Korean-inspired cafe Snug is by and large a pastry and coffee destination. Among its standout offerings is the house-made soft pretzel with seasonal toppings, and danishes that come in both sweet (rhubarb and pistachio) or savoury (spinach and ricotta) varieties. Snug’s changing menu showcases local, seasonal ingredients and cheffy techniques for a considered pastry menu that goes beyond ordinary offerings. Pair these treats with St Ali coffee – or for something different, the cult-status hojicha latte provides a nutty, roasted tea flavour that complements any of the sweet treats.

Florence

To wander into light-filled Florence in Camp Hill is to be entranced by the stone counter of sweet goods. It has something different every day: some days there are tart, savoury galettes and croissants from Sprout, and other days, more mini cakes and sourdough doughnuts. All can be had alongside a cuppa courtesy of Cavalier Coffee Roasters.

Mercatus Deli

Busy Adelaide Street is populated by convenience stores, takeaway shops and massage parlours; it’s also home to Mercatus Deli, which is stocked with all the usual deli essentials. What sets it apart from the rest is the pastry section, which has viennoiseries like croissants and pains au chocolat, house-made cannoli, alfajores, pistachio tiramisu and more. It also makes savoury filled croissants like the caprese (fresh mozzarella and tomato) and the mortadella with stracciatella. Coffee-wise, the team here uses Vittoria beans in hot and iced drinks until 5pm.

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