While most bakeries still close their doors by mid-afternoon, a small but growing number of Australian bakers are turning out tarts, pies, and cakes long into the night.

From 7pm to well past midnight, these late-night bakeries are redefining when—not just what—Australians eat when it comes to baked goods.

Among them is Bite and Savour in Canberra, a standout newcomer that keeps its ovens running until 3am. Owner Sam Huang discovered a noticeable gap in the market for night-time coffee and cakes and seized the opportunity.

“In other Asian countries, it’s very typical to have late-night food. But in Canberra, if you get hungry after 10 pm, you might starve until the next day!” Sam told Region.

“But the government is focusing on the night-time economy, and now our neighbours are also open late. It’s a totally different world at night: it’s really vivid! The streets are crowded, and we have lots of customers.”

With an emphasis on personalised cakes and warm hospitality, Bite and Savour is tapping into a post-dinner crowd looking for dessert rather than drinks.

Brisbane’s Veganyumm, a 100 per cent vegan bakery in Everton Park, has also committed to serving customers late into the evening, staying open until 9pm. Owner Shairie Bhim also noticed a gap in Brisbane’s night-time baking scene.

“We decided we’ll just be a late-night spot,” Shari said.

“One of the reasons why we wanted to do that was we noticed everything in Brisbane was always closing early… and we just thought we wanted to change that.”

Veganyumm’s customers have embraced the night-friendly schedule.

“People love it… Everyone’s always shocked when they order cakes to pick up,” Shari said.

“First question everyone asks is, what time do you guys close? Because they have to swing by after work.”

Over in South Bank, Montjoie Pâtisserie keeps its doors open until 9pm as well, driven by the area’s vibrant dining scene.

“After people had dinner they were looking for something like this,” said owner, Chef Simon Boucher.

The patisserie offers elegant desserts like crème brûlée, panna cotta brownies and pavlova, and sees the busiest foot traffic on Friday and Saturday nights.

“We have always closed late, and people have been very positive about it.”

In Sydney’s Chinatown, Dragon Pastry operates until 10:30pm, serving traditional Chinese pastries alongside modern dessert bowls and bingsus.

Located on Dixon Street, the bakery draws in locals and tourists alike, offering sweet options that complement the surrounding area’s late-night buzz.

These late-night bakeries are meeting a demand that traditional hours have long overlooked. Whether it’s for a post-dinner tart, a midnight mud cake, or a vegan brownie after work, Australians are proving that their appetite for baked goods doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.

As more bakers begin to recognise the potential of the after-dark crowd, a new era of baking might be on the rise—one where the ovens stay warm and the cake boxes stay open, well into the night.