Akimbo Bread

Pastry purists in Northcote will point you straight to this Victoria Road staple. No overwhelming, sprawling menus here—just tightly curated viennoiserie and dough craft. The pain au chocolat? A total masterclass in lamination. Crunchy, impossibly light, armed with the perfect chocolate-to-pastry ratio. Savory fiends are completely obsessed with the flavor-drenched jalapeño and cheddar fougasse and the flaky tomato-anchovy combos. Then there’s the bread program. Pitch-perfect house sourdough with a stellar crumb. Weekend-only rye and caraway. A brioche-like milk bread that rarely survives the walk home. Throw in a cinnamon foam cold brew, a killer cheesy salad sandwich on fresh-baked slices, and a sunny outdoor seat. A masterfully dialed-in operation.