When Shaun Quade departed from experimental fine diner Lume in 2018, the top chef planned to open another ambitious restaurant in Los Angeles with his business and life partner, Veronica Fil. But it never opened.

Instead, the pair launched Brunswick bakery Vandels years later. Bee sting croissants are the main attraction here. The pastries, inspired by Austrian-style bee sting cakes, see a croissant soaked in honey-and-oat syrup and topped with almond Florentine biscuit mix before it’s baked and then filled with cinnamon-infused crema catalana (Catalonia’s answer to crème brûlée).

While Quade has a reputation for being wildly experimental, Vandels is built around food that’s approachable and easy for people to enjoy. You’ll find ham-and-cheese croissants, pies, sourdough loaves and coffee here. Enjoy them in a cosy space that feels more like a living room than a bakery.