After delays, cult American chain Cinnabon is now selling its super-sticky cinnamon scrolls to Sydneysiders. And by the look of the long lines, some of us are very excited about its arrival. In fact, demand has been so high there’s currently a limit on how many you can order.
For those not down with the Cinnabon story, the bakery was founded in Seattle in 1985 but has since grown to more than 50 outlets across the globe, arriving in Australia in 2019 – first in Queensland then in Melbourne. It’s now added Sydney’s Darling Square to that list.
For Alby Lam, one of the three directors of the master franchisee for NSW and the ACT, it was all about timing. “I feel like it’s been an amazing year for bakeries and new venues opening up around Sydney. The city is finally welcoming people back in, and we felt like it was the right place and the right time to open [here],” he tells Broadsheet.
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SIGN UPThe classic Cinnabon cinnamon scroll is unmistakable, both in scent and flavour, owing to Cinnabon’s signature Makara cinnamon from West Sumatra. The soft dough is rolled, cut into scrolls, baked in the oven and then slathered with waves of sweet icing, or “frosting” if you’re American. Cinnabon’s chocolate scroll and its golden caramel-pecan scroll also feature on the menu, with fresh batches rolling out of the oven every 30 minutes.
The offerings won’t be limited to just sweet treats, though – there’s a Vegemite scroll in the works, and panini, meat pies and other buttery goods are expected in the next few months. The drinks menu includes Cinnabon’s signature Chillattas (blended frozen milkshakes) and coffee from Melbourne-based specialty coffee roasters St Ali.
As for the venue itself, the bustling precinct of Darling Square seemed like the ideal location for Lam and his partners. “We didn’t want to be tucked inside a shopping centre away from all the action. Darling Square offers great flexibility with [opening] times, which means we can satisfy those late-night cravings.”
This is the first of multiple venues in Sydney, with plans to expand to regional areas over the next few years.
Cinnabon Darling Square
85 Hay Street, Haymarket
Hours:
Daily 10am –7pm