Melbourne is renowned for having a strong food culture and our top chocolate and pâtisserie stores don’t disappoint. This is a list of some of my favourite boutiques from bakeries and pâtissieries through to chocolatiers and ice creameries.

Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive. You will find there are always new food treasures in Melbourne waiting to be discovered.

CACAO FINE CHOCOLATES & PÂTISSERIE

52 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Open: 7 Days
www.cacao.com.au

Cacao is well known for its jewel-like chocolates and innovative pâtisserie products, including a modern range of éclairs and petit gateaux. A delicious array of macarons with many flavours comes out monthly. All stores have seating and they have a new concept store opening in April in Melbourne CBD.

[Read about Cacao’s éclairs on page 32]

CHEZ DRE

Rear of 285-287 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Open: 7 Days
www.chezdre.com.au

A modern pâtisserie with an à la carte menu catering for both savoury and sweet. Chez Dre is well known for its beautiful flavour and texture combinations in its petit gateaux and éclairs.

LUX BITE

38 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Open: 7 Days
www.luxbite.com.au

A full range of macarons and a mouth-watering display of petit gateaux incorporating both traditional Asian and French flavours greet you in-store. Lux Bite’s products demonstrate amazing attention to detail with its finishing. Don’t pass up trying the famous MasterChef Australia Lollybag Cake.

ADRIANO ZUMBO PÂTISSIER

14 Claremont Street, South Yarra
Open: 7 Days
www.adrianozumbo.com

Adriano’s name speaks for itself and this modern Melbourne pâtisserie will not disappoint. Head pastry chef for the Melbourne store, Daniel Texter, has worked together with Zumbo to create the unique Melbourne menu, both placing their own flare and input on the delicate range of petit gateaux, entremets and macarons. Continue to expect the quirky flavour combinations Zumbo is famous for.

BURCH & PURCHASE SWEET STUDIO

647 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Open: 7 Days
www.burchandpurchese.com

B&P Sweet Studio has one of my favourite shop fit-outs with a very feminine touch that carries through to its innovative range of products, including entremets, petit gateaux, verrines and éclairs. Burch & Purchase is also well known for its dessert nights.

LE PETIT GATEAUX

458 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Open: Monday to Friday
www.lepetitgateau.com.au

Headed by French pastry chef Pierrick Boyer, this French-style pâtisserie has a range of beautiful products and classic flavours with a modern twist. The store is well known for its delicious passionfruit brownie gateaux.

LA BELLE MIETTE

30 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Open: 7 Days
www.labellemiette.com.au

It’s all about the macaron at this French-style store. With its beautiful fit-out and delicious range of macarons greeting you when you walk through the door, you could be mistaken for thinking you are in Paris. The packaging alone turns a simple macaron into an extravagant gift.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA CHOCOLATES

45 Cook Street, Flinders
Open: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
www.mpchocolates.com.au

This popular chocolate shop is well worth the drive and is located just more than an hour out of Melbourne. Isilda and Milton, owners of this peninsula gem, have created a niche in the market with their spectacular shop and product to match. Milton’s creativity shines through with his beautifully coloured chocolate figurines.

BRUNETTI

380 Lygon Street, Carlton
Open: 7 days
https://brunettioro.com.au/

The iconic Carlton-based pâtisserie sells mainly traditional Italian fare. The sheer volume of product and customers alone makes this worth a look. The business creates a large range of biscuits, chocolates, gateaux, Danishes and croissants, but is most famous for its pastries.

TIVOLI ROAD BAKERY

3 Tivoli Road, South Yarra
Open: 7 days
www.tivoliroad.com.au

A rustic fit-out with an open kitchen, tucked into a side street in one of Melbourne’s hottest suburbs, South Yarra. This bakery is well known for its sourdough bread, Danishes and salted caramel doughnuts. They often sell out early so don’t be late.

[See Tivoli Road’s croissant masterclass on page 56]

LUNE CROISSANTERIE

29 Scott Street, Elwood
Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday until sold out
www.lunecroissanterie.com

Traditional French Viennoiserie with a full range of delicious croissants, Danishes and cruffins, a combination of croissant and muffin. Make sure you’re early and be prepared to queue; it’s well worth the wait.

N2 EXTREME GELATO

329 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Open: 7 days, 1pm–11pm
www.n2extremegelato.com.au

N2 were the first in Australia to open a nitrogen-based ice cream store with a new range of flavours on the menu that change daily. The reasonably priced store is worth a look with an open kitchen enabling you to watch the science spectacular.

KOKO BLACK

Shop 4 Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Open: 7 days
www.kokoblack.com

Koko Black’s store has an elegant ambiance that is reflected in its classic Belgian-style chocolates. The store also has a range of chocolate-inspired desserts available.

GELATO MESSINA

237 Smith Street, Fitzroy
Open: 7 days, 12pm to late
www.gelatomessina.com

Gelato Messina features beautiful flavour combinations in a wide range of gelato and sorbet. The quality of ingredients used by Nick Palumbo and team shines through and his salted caramel gelato is not to be missed. Nick’s gelato cakes are legendary, including his black forest gelato bomb presented on MasterChef Australia

BAKER D. CHIRICO

178 Faraday Street, Carlton
Open: Tuesday to Sunday
www.bakerdchirico.com.au

Baker D. Chirico has won numerous awards and accolades for its unique shop design in the Carlton store. Daniel’s baked wares are equally impressive from his artisan sourdough through to his French pastries.