Templestowe has a bakeries scene that punches well above what you’d expect. The suburb runs down-to-earth, multicultural, accessible — and the food reflects it. We’ve eaten at every bakeries spot in the area and these are the ones worth your time and money.
Expect to pay $22-38 per person for a proper sit-down meal. The cheaper end gets you sourdough, the higher end gets you croissant done properly.
Our Top Picks
1. Mia — 221 Henry Lane
Hours: Wed-Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm Price: $20-28 per person
Mia is the benchmark for bakeries in Templestowe. The danish pastry is what most people order, and for good reason — it’s consistently excellent. The rye loaf is the other standout, done with genuine care rather than the paint-by-numbers approach you get at chain spots.
The room seats about 45 and fills on Friday and Saturday nights. Midweek you’ll walk straight in. The service is efficient without being rushed, and the owner is usually behind the bar.
Order this: The fruit tart ($20) as a main, plus cinnamon scroll to share. Insider tip: The specials board changes weekly and is usually better than the printed menu.
2. Rex Corner — 123 Nicholson Road
Hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-11pm Price: $14-26 per person
This is the locals’ pick — less polished than Mia but arguably more flavour per dollar. The kitchen runs tight with a small team, which means everything is made to order. The croissant here has a depth that comes from doing the same dish three hundred times until it’s muscle memory.
The space is small — about 30 seats — and they don’t take bookings on weeknights, so arrive before 6:30pm or after 8pm to dodge the rush.
Best dish: The sourdough ($14). Simple, executed perfectly. Pro tip: BYO wine on Tuesdays ($5 corkage).
3. Rosa — 144 Pine Lane
Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30pm-11pm Price: $17-31 per person
Rosa opened in late 2025 and has already built a following. The menu is short — eight dishes — which is usually a good sign. Everything on it is considered. The rye loaf ($23) is the dish that gets photographed most, but the cinnamon scroll ($28) is the one regulars order.
When to go: Sunday lunch is the sweet spot. Same food, half the crowd.
4. Lena Standard — 296 Henry Lane
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-10:30pm Price: $23-41 per person
The takeaway option on this list. Lena Standard doesn’t have table service — you order at the counter and either take it home or eat at the three outdoor tables. The quality-to-price ratio is the best in Templestowe. The danish pastry ($23) is the standout.
5. Nico’s — 303 Henry Lane
Hours: Tue-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm Price: $22-37 per person
A solid all-rounder. Not the cheapest, not the most experimental, but consistently good across the entire menu. The croissant ($28) and the sourdough ($20) are both worth ordering. The wine list is surprisingly thoughtful for a bakeries place.
Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Best For | Price (pp) | Bookings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mia | Overall best | $20-28 | Recommended Fri-Sat |
| Rex Corner | Locals’ favourite | $14-26 | Walk-in only (weeknights) |
| Rosa | New opening | $17-31 | Yes, via website |
| Lena Standard | Best takeaway | $23-41 | Counter service |
| Nico’s | All-rounder | $22-37 | Recommended weekends |
Bakeries Price Guide — Templestowe
| Category | Price Range | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $10-16 | Counter-service, takeaway, no frills |
| Mid-range | $22-38 | Sit-down, proper menu, decent wine list |
| Premium | $50+ | Tasting menus, premium ingredients |
Before You Go
Best time to visit: Weeknight dinners (Tue-Thu) for no wait. Friday and Saturday — book 3-5 days ahead for the top two spots.
Parking: Street parking along Sydney Parade is metered until 6:30pm. Side streets are usually 2-hour. After 6:30pm, most are free. Best option: Public transport options in Templestowe.
Dietary: Every restaurant listed handles vegetarian requests. Vegan and gluten-free: call ahead to confirm, but most are accommodating.
Delivery: Lena Standard and Mia are on Uber Eats and DoorDash. For better quality, order directly — delivery platforms compress your food in those bags and charge restaurants 30%.
Nearby Guides
- Box Hill Bakeries
- Blackburn Bakeries
- Templestowe Cheap Eats — when budget matters
- Templestowe Bars — post-dinner drinks
- All Templestowe Guides
Last updated: March 2026
Keep Exploring
More in this area:
- Best Pizza in Templestowe
- Best Thai in Templestowe
- Best Japanese in Templestowe
- Best Italian in Templestowe
- Best Vegan in Templestowe
Useful tools:
Data-Backed Bakery Scene Analysis
Templestowe is a strong bakery suburb because its customer base suits repeat, practical food shopping: family households, multilingual households, older residents, and car-based errands. ABS 2021 Census data records 16,966 residents in Templestowe, with a median age of 46, notably older than Victoria’s 38. That matters for bakeries because weekday morning trade, coffee-and-pastry routines, celebration cakes, and take-home bread tend to perform well in established family suburbs.
The suburb is also more family-heavy than the Victorian average. Family households make up 81.8% of occupied private dwellings in Templestowe, compared with 70.1% across Victoria. Couple families with children account for 50.3% of families, above Victoria’s 45.5%. For a Best Bakeries shortlist, that points to shops that do more than one thing well: lunchbox rolls, whole loaves, birthday cakes, savoury pastries, and weekend sweets.
Templestowe’s multicultural profile is another reason the bakery scene feels broader than a standard suburban pie-and-slice strip. ABS records Chinese ancestry at 23.9%, Italian at 11.4%, and Greek at 9.5%, all above Victorian averages of 6.6%, 5.9%, and 2.8% respectively. Mandarin is spoken at home by 13.1% of residents, Cantonese by 6.7%, Greek by 6.3%, Italian by 3.4%, and Persian by 3.2%. In practical terms, the best bakeries here should be assessed across more than vanilla slices: look for Asian-style cakes, continental biscuits, sourdough, savoury bakes, and reliable coffee.
Templestowe is also less apartment-driven than inner Melbourne. Separate houses make up 77.6% of occupied dwellings, compared with 73.4% across Victoria, while flats and apartments are only 3.7%, versus 12.1% statewide. That supports destination-style bakery trips by car rather than quick downstairs purchases. A bakery with easy parking, fast service, and family-sized takeaway options has a real advantage here.
How to Judge the Best Bakeries in Templestowe
Start with the bread test. Buy a plain sourdough, white loaf, or seeded loaf before judging the sweets. Good crust, even crumb, and freshness after several hours are better signs than a crowded display.
Check the savoury range between 11am and 1pm. In a suburb with many family and car-based errands, the best bakeries should handle lunch trade well: pies, sausage rolls, spinach triangles, focaccia, rolls, or hot pastries should move quickly and still look fresh.
Compare one classic sweet. Use the same benchmark at each shop: vanilla slice, custard tart, almond croissant, fruit tart, or sponge cake. This makes comparisons fairer than ordering each bakery’s strongest item.
Look for multicultural range. Templestowe’s demographics justify giving extra credit to bakeries that serve beyond standard Australian bakery fare, especially Asian-style celebration cakes, Greek pastries, Italian biscuits, or Persian-influenced sweets.
Visit twice. A bakery can be excellent on Saturday morning and ordinary late Tuesday afternoon. For a practical Best Bakeries ranking, test one peak-time visit and one weekday visit.
Factor in access. Parking, queue speed, EFTPOS minimums, seating, pram access, and whether cakes can be pre-ordered all matter in Templestowe because the suburb skews toward household shopping rather than CBD-style grab-and-go.
Local Tips
Weekend mornings are the best time to judge range, but not always service consistency. If a bakery is still organised at 10am on Saturday, that is a strong sign.
For celebration cakes, ask how much notice is needed before assuming same-day availability. In family-heavy suburbs, popular sizes can sell out before afternoon.
Do not judge only by coffee. Some of Templestowe’s most useful bakeries are better at bread, pastries, or take-home sweets than espresso.
If you are comparing value, price by serve rather than item. A larger continental cake, family pie, or loaf can be better value than a single premium pastry.
FAQ
Q: What type of bakery does best in Templestowe? A: The strongest fit is a bakery that combines everyday bread, savoury lunch items, sweets, and pre-order cakes, because the suburb has a high share of family households and car-based shopping patterns.
Q: Is Templestowe better for classic Australian bakeries or multicultural bakeries? A: Both can work, but the suburb’s Chinese, Italian, Greek, and Persian-speaking communities mean multicultural range is especially relevant when ranking the best local options.
Q: When should I visit to find the freshest bakery selection? A: Aim for mid-morning on weekends for the widest display, or late morning on weekdays if you want to test everyday consistency without peak queues.
