Every good road trip should include a stop for coffee and/or baked goods. And Brisbane is surrounded by plenty of worthy candidates. Whether you’re hitting the coast or heading inland, we’ve rounded up the best bakeries along the way. We’ve got one baking strawberry cheesecake danishes; another making pork, pistachio and apple sausage rolls; and lots and lots brewing good coffee.

SOUTH

Yatala Pie Shop

Stopping here en-route to the Gold Coast is an established tradition. It’s such an iconic establishment, it even picked up the attention of the New York Times. Use the drive-through if you’re in a hurry, or park the car and head inside to see crowds of people tucking into a range of pies, including steak, bacon and cheese; chicken and mushroom mornay; and curry steak. Also on the cards: sausage rolls, Thai red curry parcels, and hot chips (level-up with chicken salt). Sweets include apple pies, custard tarts and classic jam doughnuts.

48 Old Pacific Highway, Yatala
(07) 3287 2468
Daily 7am–8.30pm
yatalapies.com.au

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Paddock Bakery

Trying to nab a seat at this Miami hotspot can be tricky. But those who do are rewarded with all sorts of woodfired baked goods. The pork, pistachio and apple sausage roll alone is worth the effort. Ditto the steak, bacon and cheese pie with house-made ketchup. Other options include butter chicken curry pies and, for a sweet treat, semi-sourdough doughnut French toast. Two more ticks for the Single O coffee and all-day breakfast and lunch menu.

20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
No phone
Daily 6am–3pm
paddockbakery.com

Bam Bam Bakehouse

If you’re after something sweet, head straight to Bam Bam. Get here early as the best stuff sells out fast. Popular items include Nutella choux bombs, cinnamon cruffins and salted caramel eclairs. Besides sweets, there’s an all-day menu featuring a karaage chicken croissant burger, sweet corn fritters and acai bowls.

2519 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
No phone
Daily 6.30am–2:30pm
bambambakehouse.com

Burleigh Baker

If you’ve never smashed down a meat pie by the beach, here’s your chance. Hit up Burleigh Baker after a morning session at Burleigh Heads Beach. The pie fillings change regularly, but expect combos such as chicken and pesto, or slow-cooked pepper steak, mushroom and potato. The breakfast menu includes toasties, banh mi, sweet treats and some of the best bread going around.

13/50 James St, Burleigh Heads
(07) 5659 1442
Mon to Sat 6.30am–4pm
Sun 6.30am–2pm
burleighbaker.com

NORTH

Rick’s Artisan Pies & Sourdough

Angus beef and bearnaise sauce. Spicy “gunpowder” lamb with pineapple salsa. These creative (and delicious) pie fillings are one a few reasons the Noosa bakery is adored by tourists and locals alike. Rick’s also serves Slide Coffee, a range of creative sweet and savoury pastries (Bacon Benny croissant, anyone?) and house-baked bread. The pastries rotate so pop in to see what’s available.

140–142 Eumundi Noosa Road, Noosaville
(07) 5447 1743
Mon to Fri 5.30am–4pm
Sat 5.30am–3pm
piesandsourdough.com.au

Maple 3 Cafe

This bakery’s former owner, Mark Hutchinson, was a chef for over 40 years – more than half of them at Maple 3 – and you can taste this wealth of experience in his pies. In 2021, Hutchinson sold the business and its prized recipes to current owner Valbhay Modi. For the minced and diced Killarney beef pie, he makes a rich demi-glace from tomatoes, beef bones and vegetable stock and the pastry itself is perfectly flaky and buttery. It’s textbook stuff. This iconic establishment is a must-visit if you’re in the area.

3 Maple Street, Maleny
0450 522 120
Mon to Fri 7am to 3.30pm
Sat & Sun 7am to 2.30pm
maple-3-cafe.business.site

Kenilworth Country Bakery

Reckon you can tackle a one-kilogram doughnut? The Kenilworth Country Bakery, located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, makes these monsters and fills them with jam, custard, Nutella and bee sting (a classic German combo of pastry cream, honey and almonds). Finish the $25 challenge and you’ll get your money back, plus a signed, personalised plate on the wall of fame. Crass? A little. But fun? Absolutely. The bakery also serves an assortment of pies and pastries, and coffee served out of a fresh doughnut with a layer of Nutella at the bottom. Delectable.

8 Elizabeth St, Kenilworth
(07) 5446 0172
Daily 8am–3pm
kenilworthbakery.com

WEST

The Baker’s Duck

When it first opened, this bakery operated out of a shed and only opened on Saturdays for six hours. People would line up and wait for their weekly croissants and breads. But since joining forces with Ground Up Espresso and moving to a new location, The Baker’s Duck is now open seven days a week. This means more opportunity to grab strawberry cheesecake danishes, flaky quiches and woodfired breads. It’s well worth the drive from Brisbane.

124 Campbell St, Toowoomba City
1300 339 592
Mon to Sun 7am–2pm
thebakersduck.com.au

This article was originally published on 19 December 2019. It has been updated to reflect new information and remove out-of-date details.