Part 1 – The Best Pastries in Newcastle: A Local’s Guide to Flaky, Buttery Bliss

Let’s be real: Newcastle’s pastry scene is every bit as bold and buttery as anything you’ll find in Sydney or Melbourne. From cult-status food trucks to Euro-style patisseries, here’s your first batch of spots - minus The Grumpy Baker (we’re saving that one for Part 2).

Bootleg Bakery – Merewether

📍 10 James St, Merewether (Fri & Sat only)
⏰ Serving from 8 am until sold out

Bootleg’s bright red van is parked in a Merewether driveway, slinging Bootstrap sourdough, danishes and ever-rotating pastries. The lines form early—and for good reason.

Why go?

• Tangy, crackly-crust sourdough
• Weekly pastry specials (they vanish fast)
• Beachside vibe: salty air + flake factor

Thinking of making Merewether home?
See our Merewether Suburb Profile

 

Praise Joe – Tighes Hill (Also now at Westfield Kotara!)

📍 8/20 Elizabeth St, Tighes Hill (7 days a week!)

Praise Joe is the local café where your name—and your coffee order—are always remembered. Expect rich Pablo & Rusty brews, hand-crafted treats, pastries…and some say the best toasties in town. Now you can even grab your fix at Westfield Kotara.

Don’t miss:

• Pablo & Rusty coffee
• Decadent pastries & hand-made treats
• Signature toasties (trust the hype)
• Sun-soaked sit-down moments

Thinking of making Tighes Hill home?
See our Tighes Hill Suburb Profile

 

Sonny & Betty – Mayfield

📍 122 Maitland Rd, Mayfield (Tues–Sun)

Sonny & Betty is the latest venture from former MasterChef contestant Reece Hignell—the creative force behind Cakeboi on Beaumont St, Cakeboi X QT high tea at QT Newcastle, and Acacia Dining in Maitland.

Go-to moves:

• Flaky pastry rolls
• Anything custard-filled
• Warning-level caramelised edges

Thinking of making Mayfield home?
See our Mayfield Suburb Profile

 

Liebe European Pastries – Newcastle West

📍 11 Union St, Newcastle West (Wed–Sun)

Moving to Newcastle from Canberra around five years ago, owner Craig’s journey to launching Liebe is far from traditional: before pastry, he was a professional poker player. His sister Jacqui of Sprout Catering gave him kitchen access, and the rest is flaky history.

Highlights:

• Seasonal fruit danishes
• Euro-style mini cakes
• That “I didn’t know I needed that” experience

 

Crumb – Lambton

📍 113 Elder St, Lambton
🕗 Weekdays till 2 pm, Weekends till 12:30 pm (or sold out)

When Crumb first opened, I wasn’t convinced. Born in France—with an inbuilt croissant snob filter—I eyed their canelé (a notoriously tricky Bordeaux specialty) and muttered, half-joking, half-snobby, “I doubt they’ll get that right.” Turns out the owners overheard me. At the checkout, one of them smiled and said, “Challenge accepted.” I took it home. I took a bite. And I ate my words.

Gareth Williams (Covered in Crumbs) teamed with Ben Richardson (Autumn Rooms) to prove French technique and Aussie creativity can absolutely co-exist.

Must-Try Pastries:

• Croissants that shatter like glass
• Maple bacon scrolls that should be illegal
• Chorizo + hot honey croissants
• Those canelés—custardy centres, caramelised crust, zero compromises

Property Snapshot
Lambton’s median house price is $1,100,000 based on 56 sales in the past 12 months—a 6% rise year-on-year .

Thinking of making Lambton home?
See our Lambton Suburb Profile

 

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Next up: The Grumpy Baker and more hidden gems—and the stories (plus suburb insights) you won’t want to miss.