10 of Melbourne's best bakeries for all things baked and beautiful.

Bakemono

The small crowd milling in the laneway is the giveaway. That, and the buttery smell of warm pastry. Looking like something straight out of Tokyo, this tiny spot does classics with fresh twists. Almond croissants are sharpened by yuzu while ham-and-cheese are made moreish by green tomato pickle. Then there's the croffle: croissant dough baked into a waffle in flavours like matcha or dark chocolate. Ice-cream optional, but advised.

Enter via 273 Little Lonsdale Street (shopfront is on Drewery Lane), Melbourne bakemonobakers.com.au

All Are Welcome

Overwhelming is one word for the bounty displayed on small wooden plinths each day: a sugar-coated morning bun winking at you here, a ridiculously cheesy khachapuri tempting there. Baker Boris Portnoy's fine-dining background brings surprises – the chocolate and buffalo curd cake is a staple of celebrations north-side – but not at the expense of basics. Mid-morning, sandwiches on thick slabs of sourdough or focaccia appear but only briefly. Move quick.

190 High Street, Northcote; 887 High Street, Thornbury all-are-welcome.com

Masarap

When it comes to Filipino baked treats, there's one address in Melbourne that's consistently mentioned. Tucked into a strip of shops in Braybrook, Masarap is busy seven days a week, filling paper bags with hot pan de sal, the sweet, salty and fluffy rolls that signal the start of the day, or perhaps a couple of ensaymada, coils of cheese-topped bread that are brushed with a sweet glaze. Violet-coloured ube cakes and steamed siopao (pork buns) round things out.

178 Churchill Avenue, Braybrook, no website

A1 Bakery

For 29 years A1 Bakery has been living proof that food brings people together. Tradies take five with a chicken wrap, keen cooks shop for pulses and tahini, Muslim families sit down for ful medames, while out front hungover 20-somethings nurse their heads and pick at falafel plates. But the cheese pies are the thing, a pleasing contrast of salty, stringy cheese and slightly sweet dough. Pro tip: buy some frozen and thank yourself next Sunday morning.

643-645 Sydney Road, Brunswick a1bakery.com.au

Bread Club

A contender for Melbourne's best-looking bakery, Bread Club offers plenty more to sink your teeth into. Rosemary and bacon-studded fougasse, for starters, or perhaps one of the custard-filled doughnuts or a cumquat marmalade danish. Sandwiches change daily but could be a reuben or roast mushroom with stracciatella, with everything prepared in-house by a team led by two former Vue de Monde and Baker D. Chirico bakers.

65 Cardigan Place, Albert Park; 558 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne breadclub.com.au

Falco

Combining the smarts of the Bar Liberty-Capitano team and Christine Tran's experience at Tivoli Road Bakery and Tartine, Falco's DNA heralds good things. And the shelves don't lie. Spot crafty cardamom buns, a cult peanut butter-miso cookie, sell-out sandwiches featuring the excellent country loaf and the signature Rockwell pie, a pastry-wrapped ode to the site's previous restaurant and its OTT cheeseburger.

288 Smith St, Collingwood falcobakery.com

Loafer

After 19 years, this humble shopfront is looking more handsome than ever thanks to a facelift that was prompted by Covid safety but which elevates the buttery croissants and golden danishes to gorgeous artefacts protected by perspex. German-leaning loaves like sprouted wholewheat complement sourdough, while food-to-go includes simply topped focaccia and one of Melbourne's best salad sandwiches.

146 Scotchmer St, Fitzroy North loaferbread.com

Baker Bleu

Is this Melbourne's most high-profile bread? It's seen on menus from Cumulus to Carlton Wine Room and has fans including Julia Busuttil Nishimura, so no wonder expansion is on the horizon for owners Mike and Mia Russell. Until the Prahran location opens, keep setting that alarm for delightfully chewy bagels, pistachio and barberry escargots, elegant multiseed ficelles and challah of all kinds.

119-121 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield North bakerbleu.com.au

Beatrix

The cake cabinet at Beatrix is so enchanting it made the cover of owner Natalie Paull's debut cookbook. Pastel shades of icing, cakes wearing a thick coat of crushed pistachios, and burnished lemon brulée tarts will stop you in your tracks. Take a breath, try not to order everything and bring at least one friend to share your haul. Don't miss the supersized rolls, ever-changing and vegetarian-friendly, or pies made with goodies from Gary's Meats.

688 Queensberry St, North Melbourne beatrixbakes.com.au

Wild Life

The salted chocolate cookie. The beautiful elasticity of the porridge loaf. The egg baguette. It's hard to zero in on Wildlife's signature item – and we haven't even got to the cafe menu yet. Kimchi and Comté toasties show off the dark-crusted, ultra chewy sourdough while shakshuka, rice bowls, Market Lane coffee, and croissants and pies warm from the oven complete the package.

90 Albert St, Brunswick East wildlifebakery.com