I visited The South Melbourne Bakery today. I was a regular here when they first opened 18months ago as I worked locally, but then started to work from home. It would be a pity not to let you all know about this special bakery and the great items there. They are still open during these COVID-19 times, seven days a week from 7am - 4pm [specially adjusted hours]. It is quite a homely, almost rustic looking bakery that normally has seating inside and out. [Currently sticking to the restriction guidelines.] The baker, or should I say Chef, Chris, a seasoned Chef of over 30+years has bought a European touch to South Melbourne. There is also the lovely Bell working there, plus other staff. They are very accommodating and offer suggestions of what to eat and you can tell the food here is made with love. With their selections of savoury and sweet items there is something for everyones pallet and dietary needs. Items are baked daily so you know that you are getting fresh food of a high standard. Their baguettes and almond croissants are definite client favourites Bell told me today. For the keen baguette eater, note that their fillings change regularly as they use locally sourced produce currently in season. Reason enough to be a repeat visitor I say! I got to try their Chicken Baguette today - what a treat [thanks]- herb and beetroot sourdough croutons on top of arugula / rocket salad, freshly cut chicken, covered in a smokey BBQ like aioli. Crunchy to bite in to with a soft texture inside. Makes for a hearty lunch. Yum! What I ordered - *Pearl Barley Bread Loaf - a cross between a rye and a sourdough texture, soft interior with a crunchy exterior. $9 TIP 1: Great with Nuttelex and apricot jam. TIP 2: freezes well and has a long shelf life *Carrot Cake - perfectly sized for a snack with a coffee. Incredibly moist with a delicate texture and filled with loads of carrots. The carrot quill on top of the icing is a nice artistic finishing touch. $3.50 *The Escargot - crunchy, buttery and cinnamony in taste. w Filled with a generous amount of sultanas amongst the well defined, aerated layers. $6 I cannot tell you which was my favourite, though there is a lean towards the bread, as I am a repeat customer - but the carrot cake, well, it is simply quite special. You can decide! Drop in and check them out - you won't be disappointed.

The customer service was not good on my visit on Fri 11th March in the afternoon. I had to ask for the price of a choc-chip cookie several times, even after bagging, because the woman serving me was ignoring me. Look, a cookie isn't supposed to be very hard to please, but at the price of $3 that choc-chip cookie was mediocre at best and not worth the money. Unfortunately, the same women either forgot or didn't bother to inform me about a SURCHARGE and I ended up paying 5 cents extra! The food looked delicious and I would like to come back again to try your other food, but please... work on your service with customers.

The owner or the baker( the racist looking guy that serves you) is unhygienic ,on one occasion saw him touching customers dogs and never washes his hand and proceeds to handle the food. I was served once stale bread by him because I am asian and he was pretty rude when I took awhile to decide what I want. I got h pylori afterwards from eating that stale bread and also probably from him not washing his hands . Disgusting. Will not patronize again and I encourage Asians to do the same unless you wish to get H pylori and mean service from a racist guy.

Croissant was one of the best I had in Melbourne but I felt the bread was overpriced for what you get, looked like French / European bread but did not taste like it, multigrain sourdough had a dense dough with flour lacking flavour and not much grains unfortunately.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–20
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Such warm and friendly service. It is so important to support independent bakeries in our local neighborhood and this one offers wonderful quality and variety. Their freshly baked scones are ENORMOUS and if you come at the right time they are still warm. I also love their rustic sourdough bread. You can tell they are passionate about good food. Can't wait to head back for more yummies.

I think the place looks great and the bread on the shelves as well. I went for the first time on Sunday and got 2 pain au chocolat and two blueberry muffins for 25 dollars but I don’t feel like they were worth the price. The muffins were a bit dry and the pain au chocolat was just regular for its cost. The staff was very nice, maybe not the best products to try for first time.

This great little café bakery is simply a cut above the plethora of average eateries in the area. The pastry’s are amazing and so delicious, as is the selection of generously filled sandwiches and edible objects. All served in real, proper, in house mage pastry, breads and rolls. Do yourself a favour, give this hidden jem of an establishment a go. You won’t regret it. Yum yum.

Details count: (In these days of a Maker &Monger $15 gourmet cheese sandwich) SM Bakery’s Ham and Cheese Croissant is a revelation. Instead of warming it in the sandwich press. They put it BACK in the bread oven. Result: instead of a flat and soggy criossant - you get a big, crispy buttery croissant goodness, filled with melted cheese, Dijon mustard and ham. Heaven.

Best red velvet cake & carrot cake in Melbs! Friendly staff & great food. However be good if they could answer their fones just so we can check if they have the cakes avail esp cos we travel from out South. It always goes to voicemail yep have tried over 20times guys! Cant understand businesses that have fones but ppl can ever get thru Lol. Cheers.

Just ISO walking around in South Melbourne and stumbled across this little bakery. This bread is amazing. Love the charcoal and beetroot bread and the baguette. Soooo good. Love it. And I don’t even eat bread regularly but couldn’t help myself. The staff were gorgeous and sooo friendly.

A big thank you to the staff at South Melbourne Bakery. I came in to get a yummy loaf and a coffee to go home and make some ham and cheese toasties. I had an unusual request which was met with humour and delight. Once again, thank you and my sourdough toastie was AMAZING!!!

I have no idea how I had not noticed this place on the strip... The place looks amazing and the chicken sandwich was great. Whilst waiting I hear other customers praise their food too so make sure you check them out of you're around here... Take a look at the pix …

Not a bad local bakery. Interesting use of colours in their sourdough bread. Opening times are a little inconvenient, so although I’ve lived nearby, it’s taken a while to walk past and see it open. Friendly staff. The pain au chocolat looked good, as do the croissants.

Always such a happy visit to our local bakery. Fabulous array of lunch offerings at a really reasonable price. I love the chicken sandwiches as well as the ham and cheese rolls. Friendly staff who clearly love being part of the wonderful South Melbourne community.

This is such a nice little place! Delicious bread and croissants, super friendly staff and helpful with catering requests! The manager Chris has been so accommodating and lovely, community oriented- it’s hard to find nowadays. I highly recommend this bakery!

I was so excited to try this place. It looks and feels great, but the bread is far from anything special, I’m not even sure the charcoal sourdough had anything to do with sourdough. I might be missing the point, but just don’t see what the fuss was about.

Ordered vegemite toast on multi-grain bread, received UNTOASTED on SOURDOUGH and it was literally thrown at me. The owner was making coffee and didn't care and the woman that threw the toast at me clearly cared not for any customer DO NOT GO HERE!!

If you were looking for the best almond croissant in Melbourne, stop looking, it’s here ! Amazing crustiness on the outside while being soft and tender in the inside, its almond/buttery flavour won’t leave you desiring for anything else !

Friendly staff and delicious coffee! This is my Mon - Fri go to spot when I'm at work and the team are always smiling and happy. Their pastries are also delicious if we ever have morning teas at work I always pre-order them from here!

All baked right on the premises, the sourdough breads that the South Melbourne Bakery makes are simply amazing, without any doubt, the best bread anywhere in Melbourne. Organic. Sustainable. Long Ferment. No Additives. REAL BREAD!

Nice bakery, but a bit pricey! Had a breakfast ( 2 coffees and two sweet pastries) and it cost in total $20.50. Both coffee and pastries were basic, nothing special, so I don’t justify the price above average.

This place blew my mind. We came back the next day to have it again. Absolutely loved the pastries and whatever that garlic pizza bread thing is they sell at the counter. I could eat that every day of my life

I think I found the best carrot cake Very moist and not super sweet, nice frosting too This is dangerous LOL Very friendly staff, they explained what they had on the counter. Will return I’m sure.

Worst coffee I have had in Melbourne. Brought this to the staff’s attention’s receiving the unacceptable response of “sorry about that”, with no offer to make a new cup or alternative beverage.

Amazing food, great coffee but do they realise how unhygenic it is having all their food uncovered, directly by the counter where people stand, talk, pay, SPIT…etc…..so strange (and gross)

Damn nice bread . Friendly staff too. Love their Fruit n spice loaf - so good, and their multigrain sourdough, charcoal and beetroot sourdoughs are all really nice too. …

Has a good range of pastries / bread. We tried the plain croissant today and it was delicious. Crispy on the outside and buttery flaky. However, the staff were not friendly.

I liked it a lot, variety of sandwiches and crossanit, friendly and fast service. adequate prices for the deliciousness of each dish. I tried the hot chocolate, delicious!

The best shop in South Melbourne! These guys have nailed it! Delicious food, reasonably priced. Second visit this week and I can’t wait to go back. Highly recommended.

Coffee is not to standard, no taste, the Turkish bread ham cheese wS they as, gave half to the pigeons. No value for nearly $16 , I'm off to another coffee shop

Wonderful as always! Been a while since I last dined here. Their potato/mushroom pastry is really good and so is their carrot cake. Very generous serving too!

The best bakery in the area, have been a long term (8 years plus) customer and always leave with a smile
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great bakery in South Melbourne. Make sure you check them out on a Wednesday or Friday for their roast beef rolls - absolutely delicious and great value!

Big and thank You to Chris and crew @ South Melbourne Bakery for the amazing platters you created for our event, everything was superb. Bertazzoni Team

Great bakery with excellent bread, croissants, coffee, and other pastries/food. The only downside is the owner(?) might be a Liverpool FC supporter.

The best bakery in Melbourne! I have the feeling to be in France! The olive bread, pain au chocolat and cappuccino are AMAZING. HIGHLY recommended!

I went in to buy the beetroot loaf after reading the reviews. I am so glad I did because it is wonderful. Will definitely be back to buy more.

Excellent coffee, food and bread.. highly recommended. There's just something about the smell of freshly baked bread and freshly brewed coffee

Truly enjoyed their delicious croissant and vegemite scroll always. Coffee was yummy too. We normally dine here before heading to the market.

Coffee is good food is good. I got 2 breakfast rolls and 2 large coffees. The rolls were so satisfying full of good ingredients. Thankyou :)

They kindly let me eat my lunch here whilst I drank a coffee and the coffee was very tasty. Quite happy ☺️ and look at this cute mug

Authentic and rustic. Reveals the true beauty and character of south Melbourne. Great service. Support our local businesses!!!

Great coffee and opens earlier than any other Cafe in south Melbourne, always friendly best quality food always satisfied.

Great coffee, I would say the latte is the best in South Melbourne area and that's saying abit.. food also spot on..

excelente atención. deliciosos sandwiches preparados en pan fresco y con ingredientes de primera! …

The white dude with glasses working in the back looks like he is about to trade me my soul for a bagel.

Good selection of bakery and food. Charcoal toasties was tasty. Staff are friendly as well. Nice decor

Excellent friendly service and the best fluffiest croissants you are going to try on this side of town

Excellent bread and decent coffee. Try the charcoal or beetroot sourdough. The fruit loaf is also yum

Best sourdough in the area. Their roles are great, especially toasted. Coffee is also good! Winning!

Best almond croissant ever! I didn't know they could taste this good, with such generous fillings.

Great - fresh rolls and toastie's ..... and good music .... good value for money ..... thanks

Wonderful little cafe & bakery Friendly staff, good coffee and fabulous bread …

Absolutely beautiful baked goods and coffee. Chris offers great food and service! LOVE it.

Best breaky sandwiches after Park runs. Every Saturday we’re here)
Service…
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must try the beetroot sourdough, string beetroot flavour , you can smell it immediately

Great crossiants. Very good mocha. Fast service. Thumbs up. Service with a smile …

I love the rye sourdough and the almond chocolate croissant are unbelievable as well.

This place has best croissant ~ wait it also has the best chocolate croissant ~

Beautiful bakery with lovely smells from outside that one you can't resist.

The staff is beyond friendly and the coffee standard has never let us down.

Delicious beef pie and cakes. My fave is the banana walnut cake. Must try!

Gold standard bakery producing one of the best sour dough breads in town!

OMG Yum just had lunch there what a great selection very fresh and tasty

Amazing bread, good coffee and friendly staff. What more could you want?

Best Vegemite scroll I've ever had. Well done to Chris and the team.

Nice wee bakery. Really good coffee, and a tasty biscuit to boot.

Well presented store. Happy staff and heaps fresh tasty goodies.

Best bread,.cakes, and treats. Wonderful coffees and beverages.

Met the racist looking guy behind the counter. Would go again

Amazing bakery items here. Artesian baking. Fantastic staff.

The hot cross buns are the best in Melbourne, so so good!

Great coffee here. Strong and nice taste and hot.

One of the best almond croissant I’ve ever had.

Fabulous produce. Great coffee. Excellent Team.

Excellent bakery and great coffee and service

Great spot for fresh bread and decent coffee

Good coffee but the food is underwhelming.

Good food and coffee and customer service

Amazing selection of fresh baked goods!!

Nice coffee and snacks, nice staff too.

Fantastic breads made by lovely people!

Can’t even supply pies to a growing boy

Not sure why they dont have price on

Best hot cross buns and croissants

Best fruit buns ever. Good coffee.

Good coffee and beautiful breads.

great coffee and great atomsphere

Best almond croissant worldwide.

Dylan should be demoted to maid

Best almond croissants ever!

Superb bread! Best in Melbs

Delicious bakery staples!

Inaccurate trading times

Best scones in Melbourne

Good service good bread

Good but too expensive

Loved the food …

The best bread ever

Nice sausage rolls!