When travelling through the country there’s nothing quite like stopping in a small town and visiting the local bakery for a feed. Whether you’re munching on a meat pie or devouring a vanilla slice, baked goods always taste better when consumed at a country bakery.
While Victoria might hold the title for the best pie in Australia (Country Cob Bakery took out the 2023 title for its fish amok pie), when it comes to regional bakeries worth visiting, South Australia takes the cake.
The Festival State is home to a smorgasbord of country bakeries serving everything from pies, pasties and sausage rolls to vanilla slices, croissants and SA favourite, the frog cake.
Whether you’re taking a day trip down the coast or exploring the Adelaide Hills, you’ll pass by dozens of country bakeries serving all the baked goods your heart desires, To help you find the best regional bakeries in South Australia, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks below.
Port Elliot Bakery
Port Elliot
Port Elliot Bakery is widely regarded as South Australia’s best bakery. People travel from across the state to sample the baked delights from this historic bakery that’s been in business for over a century.
Not only can you grab something savoury, like a meat and potato pie, cheese, bacon and vegetable pasty or traditional sausage roll, but the bakery has a wide range of sweet treats for sugar lovers. The vanilla slice and cinnamon scroll are beaut, but you really can’t go past the wide range of donuts on display.
Looking at the stacked menu can be overwhelming, so if you’re struggling to make a decision, grab the pie and doughnut of the month. Past specials have included the scrumptious cheesy steak and green peppercorn pie and Oreo cheesecake doughnut. Mouth watering stuff.
Find out more about Port Elliot Bakery here.
The Uraidla Bakery
Uraidla
Owner Julie Fraser is on a mission “to create authentic, wholesome, ethical and delicious baked goods” made from locally sourced SA produce. From what we’ve seen and tasted, she’s ticking all the right boxes.
Backed by her team of skilled bakers, led by Haydn Denny, Fraser has turned The Uraidla Bakery into a popular weekend spot. The rustic vibe of the venue, with its red brick façade and wooden benches, sells a great selection of hot pastries and is well known for its gourmet bread.
A favourite of the lycra-wearing crowd, stop for a piping hot coffee and flaky croissant with ham and cheese and leave with several loaves of freshly baked sourdough. Preservative-free with no added sugar and low salt content, these loaves are great for those on a health kick who want to cut down on the carbs but still enjoy a slice here and there.
Situated next door to its sister venue the Uraidla Hotel, stop in for lunch at the bakery before hitting the pub and necking a few pints of the good stuff.
Find out more about The Uraidla Bakery here.
Copley Bush Bakery & Quandong Café
Flinders Rangers
Copley Bush Bakery & Quandong Café is an award-winning pastry shop that sells all the usual pastries (both savoury and sweet) you’d find at a bakery. What sets this outback eatery apart from other regional bakeries, besides the delicious kangaroo pie and barista coffee, is the selection of foods made from quandong.
For the uninitiated, a quandong is a small, red fruit often referred to as a native peach due to its tart flavour. At Copely Bush Bakery you can try their famous quandong pie with some homemade quandong ice cream and get a real taste of the bush.
Find out more about Copley Bush Bakery & Quandong Café here.
Lobethal Bakery
Lobethal
Take a drive through the Adelaide Hills and you’ll come across the charming town of Lobethal. Settled by German Lutherans in 1842, it is widely known these days for its famed Christmas lights, the Lobethal Bierhaus and its top-notch bakery.
Operational since 1975, Lobethal Bakery prides itself on baking authentic bread and handmade pastries with a German twist. Choose from a large assortment of hot foods, salad rolls, sweet buns and cakes to satisfy your cravings.
Arrive early morning for a full English breakfast, grab a salad roll or winter soup for lunch (we recommend the Polish sausage) or stop in for afternoon tea and try an apple Danish or custard tart.
Find out more about Lobethal Bakery here.
Tumby Bay Bakery
Tumby Bay
There isn’t a hell of a lot on offer foodwise in the coastal town of Tumby Bay, which is why a stop at the local bakery is a must. This traditional-style family bakery has over 500 baked items available, from old favourites like their Kitchener bun and the classic chocolate doughnut to Tumby Bay Bakery’s pie of the month, with past flavours including chicken parmi and chilli con carne.
Fancy something a little healthier? They’ve got you covered with salads, sandwiches, wraps, smoothies and fresh juices. But don’t take our word for it. Tumby Bay Bakery supplies local supermarkets, hotels, cafes, sporting clubs and more for ten towns across the Eyre Peninsula, so you know they must be producing the goods.
Find out more about Tumby Bay Bakery here.
Rise Artisan Bakery
Nairne
Housed in an old church in the Adelaide Hills, Rise Artisan Bakery feels like you’ve stepped back in time. The rustic bakery features antique furnishings, wooden floorboards and an unbelievable selection of pastries, breads, cakes and slices.
Give them a follow on Instagram and you’ll be rewarded with images of freshly baked sourdough loaves, strawberry-topped lamingtons, sticky date puddings, Danish pastries and more delectable bites available daily at this regional bakery.
Not only can you pick up an almond croissant and coffee to go, but Rise also has a small, seated area where you can gather for brekky and order a bacon & egg roll with a spiced mulled cranberry and pomegranate juice. Yum!
Find out more about Rise Artisan Bakery here.
The Country Bakehouse
Loxton
When it comes to country bakeries, they don’t get more regional than The Country Bakehouse. Located in Loxton, just a short drive from the South Australian/Victorian border, this award-winning bakery has grown exponentially over the years, changing venues several times, with the latest location just off the main drag with space for up to 74 diners.
If you stop in and are unsure what to eat, you might find yourself umming and erring when confronted with the menu. The Country Bakehouse has savoury treats including satay chicken pies, cheese kranskys and pizza slices, along with an array of dessert options from jam Berliners and muffins to apple streusel buns and choc chip biscuits.
Then you’ve got a breakfast menu, lunch menu, salad bar and a large selection of take-home meals. We recommend the homemade lasagna or family potato pie plate. They also provide catering services from a small picnic lunch to a 200-person boardroom meeting.
Find out more about The Country Bakehouse here.
Clare Rise Bakery 1895
Clare
Clare Rise Bakery 1895 is a family-run business that’s been providing locals and passersby with a wide range of pastries since 2013.
Named after the cottage’s original owner and baker, Albert Baker, this quaint bakery serves up homemade goods from freshly made rolls to chunky meat pies. They’ve also collaborated with local breweries and wineries over the journey to produce special baked creations, including teaming with Eldredge Winery for the tasty chicken and Riesling pie.
Once you’ve chowed down on something savoury, grab a doughnut or lamington (or both), take a seat on the front porch and watch the world go by.
Find out more about Clare Rise Bakery 1895 here.
Sunrise Bakery
Angaston, Lyndoch and Truro
With three locations across the Barossa region, Sunrise Bakery has been delivering the goods for over 30 years. Each bakery prides itself not only on the food they serve, but the service they offer patrons, with friendly staff happy to cater to your gastronomic needs.
While all three locations are great, it’s hard to go past the bakery in Lyndoch with its café style menu that includes toasted sandwiches, wraps, pancakes and seasonal soup of the day.
Another great initiative Sunrise Bakery offers is family meal options. These are great for those busy folk who don’t have time to cook, with a selection of family meat pie plates, pastie slices, fruit plates, cakes and buns up for grabs.
Find out more about Sunrise Bakery here.
