Scandi-inspired treats are definitely the flavour of the month, and newly opened Ilo Bakehouse is a testament to this popularity.

The waterfront bakery, which opened its doors on Brisbane’s bayside in late August, touts a perfectly curated menu of just 12 items – both sweet and savoury. Think sourdough croissants sitting alongside orange and cardamom buns, chocolate brownies, and miso butterscotch almond croissants. Then there are the seasonal additions that will be rotated in regularly.

Speaking with InDailyQld, owner Daniel Bowles – a former soccer pro turned businessman – said a bakery had been something he’s wanted to venture into for a long time.

“We’ve never done a bakery model before. It’s something we’ve always been interested in, but we wanted to not only find the right spot, but also assemble a team with the right people involved to be able to pull it off,” he said.

Daniel opened Ilo Bakehouse with his longtime manager Tram Phan. After completing an extensive patisserie course, Tram pitched the idea of opening a bakery to Daniel.

“We kind of complement each other in our skill sets, so we came to the conclusion that we really should do something together,” Daniel said.

“Tram was very set on what type of pastries we wanted to offer. We’ve tried to take an elevated approach… we wanted to keep it as tight and refined as we can.

“Ilo means joy in Finnish, so we definitely have a Scandinavian inspiration behind the venue. We tried to create a fit out that felt warm, with chocolatey and earthy tones.”

That being said, despite the attention to detail throughout the interior design, from bench seats in shaded areas outside to banquette seating inside, Daniel said his vision for Ilo Bakehouse was for it to be more of a grab-and-go destination.

“Ilo wasn’t envisioned as a place for long sit-downs,” he said.

“It’s more designed for people to grab something, bring a rug, sit across the road or stop in on their way to work.

“We really wanted to create a long-term venue that becomes a pillar in the community. It can be a place where people can come, gather and meet their friends.”