The Colonial Bakery, Milsons Point

Iced donuts

A good old-fashioned bakery is hard to find. You remember the kind... silver racks bearing tray upon tray of baked goodies, a pie warmer on the counter filled with pastries, pies and sausage rolls, and baskets loaded up with bread rolls and bread loaves behind the counter at the back.

The Colonial Bakery at Milsons Point is just around the corner from the station exit, a convenient location when taking visiting tourists for a scenic walk along the pedestrian lane of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

There's always a slight pause as passersby linger a little longer outside the sugar-filled window. Some stare thoughtfully at the Neenish tarts, others sway entranced by the hard-baked swirls of pink meringue. Aussie favourites like lamingtons, rock cakes and vanilla slices have all your sweet tooth bases covered.

Chocolate cherry slice

Rock cakes

Pineapple tarts

Jam coconut slice

Custard scrolls

Scones

Spinach quiche

Jam tarts

Easter hot cross buns

My custard scroll

Off we went over the Bridge with my latest aquisition. The custard scroll was large, moist and fluffy, but dense with fruit and generously slathered with custard and icing.

It was enough to make you contemplate walking back over the Bridge for more.

The Colonial Bakery
4 Ennis Road, Milsons Point
Tel: +61 (02) 9955 3958

Monday to Friday 7.30am-5.00pm
Saturday 7.30am-2.00pm
Sunday closed

13 Comments:

At 4/03/2007 6:22 am, Anonymous said…

My local is la Baguette on Plumer Road, Rose Bay - which strictly speaking is not purely of the old fashioned variety as you described. But my 2nd (almost) local (shades of Kath & Kim here!) is Dobinsons, which is trés old fashioned indeed. The scones are so good that if you go after 8am on Saturdays ... you might as well save yourself the effort and bake them yourself! Lots of horrible people ring up and pre-order, thereby depriving us spur of the moment types! Harrumph!
At 4/03/2007 9:41 am, Anonymous said…

there are two good bakeries on Victoria Rd. one is Roberto's Fine Foods. although this is not strictly a bakery, it has the pies+sausage roll warmer, lots of cakes and tarts and things (including a gluten free range, yay).
the other is Bowen Island Bakery which is really rather nice although i have never eaten there. their breads are stocked at DJs Food Hall if that's any indication!
At 4/03/2007 3:27 pm, Cat's Experiment said…

so glad you mentioned this bakery..it's so classically australian.. I like to buy 4 different small cakes, get them to cut them smaller & then you can share with friends ! a degustation cake treat!
At 4/03/2007 8:21 pm, MissK said…

There used to be a great old fashioned cake shop in the Strand Arcade called Boronia Patisserie with the most amazing orange and poppyseed cake.
If anyone knows if they've relocated somewhere else i need to know.
At 4/03/2007 8:45 pm, Anonymous said…

yayyy i work at Milsons Pt so ill be snacking a lot now XD
At 4/04/2007 12:41 am, papa lazarou said…

hmm.. my local is the bakehouse cafe on lyons rd... not that old fashioned, but still pretty damn good.. damn, did someone say orange & poppyseed cake? i'd like to find a good one too...
At 9/17/2009 8:57 am, Anonymous said…

During my holiday in Australia I visited this shop and was completely bowled over by the quality of their baked goods. I've been dreaming of a bakery like this for years. I can't find anything like this in America, or at least in Los Angeles. A great find, thanks for the post.
At 9/21/2009 12:07 am, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Hi chetsp27 - Wow that's quite an endorsement. There is certainly a fine art to homestyle baking. Sounds like you have very fond memories of Australia - tasty ones too!
At 5/27/2010 6:10 pm, Sticky Penguin said…

Have definitely got to make a trip northwards - Colonial looks mouth-watering! Very serendipitously timed post... I'm on the trail of (proper) neenish tarts (all recommendations for tarts containing custard / creme patissiere and not cream are very gratefully, and gluttonously, welcomed).
MissK, I miss Boronia as well - they did the most delicious cupcakes (before the enormous ones were everywhere). The only place I know that's as good is in Blackheath, unfortunately... Harrumph indeed!
At 6/01/2010 1:35 pm, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Hi Blue Penguin - Ooh I do love Neenish Tarts. They're so sweet and so good :)
At 7/02/2010 11:32 am, Anonymous said…

This really is the best bakery! Very traditional, reminds me of when i was little, and everything there tastes so fresh and amazing. I highly recommend a visit here :)
At 7/04/2010 2:13 pm, Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

Hi Anon - Traditional bakeries are a dying breed aren't they? I hope Colonial stays around for a long time. Now I have a craving for an old-fashioned vanilla slice! And lamingtons!
At 6/06/2014 3:49 pm, Anonymous said…

I remember the typical cake shop of my youth in Queensland. Big flat trays with Apple slice, apricot slice and fruit slice. Thin pastry, real fruit and not overdone with gelatine filler. Where can I find this now a days???