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If a perfectly crisp sourdough crust or the exquisite flakiness of a golden croissant brings tears of joy to your eyes, look no further. We’ve rounded up Tshwane’s top spots where you can get your fix, even if you’ve gone gluten-free.

Afro-boer (Die Wilgers)

A self-proclaimed ‘baker’s café’, Afro-boer has been hitting Pretoria’s culinary sweet spot with impressive consistency since first opening its doors some five years ago. This popular spot serves an extensive menu, but you’d be silly to miss out on its exquisite baked treats. There’s always a fresh selection of cakes and tartlets. Purists will love the croissants, scones and muffins, while the nightshade brioche is a dreamy, truly South African creation. Various dietary preferences are well catered for.

 

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Think start from the left… #afroboer #bakerscafe #tryeverything! #eatcakeallday

A post shared by a baker’s café (@afroboer) on May 21, 2019 at 8:44am PDT

Der Zucker Backer (Menlyn)

Previously in Hazelwood, this German bakery and coffee shop has been making carby dreams come true since the early 90s. Pop in for breakfast, coffee or light German meals like schnitzel or bockwurst but, whatever you do, be sure to save a pastry-shaped space for the good stuff. The vast array of beautiful breads and baked goodies makes it difficult to choose, but you haven’t lived in Pretoria until you’ve tried the famous bienenstich (bee sting cake). They’re also fully licenced.

 

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Good Morning lets rock this this Thursday with some heavenly croissants #bakedgoods #bakery #morning #fun #delicious #adventure #croissant #custard #freshcream #instatreat #instagood #start #startwithasmile #itsyourday #derzuckerbacker

A post shared by Der Zucker Backer (@derzuckerbacker) on Jun 12, 2019 at 8:05pm PDT

Die Brotstube (Murrrayfield)

Can’t have gluten, eggs or dairy? Whatever your dietary preference, visiting Die Brotstube means stepping into bread heaven. There’s just about every percentage of rye you can think of. Some loaves are double baked and have a crispier crust, while others have pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. Ask the friendly counter staff to talk you through the many options – it’s like beat poetry for bakers. There’s also a little coffee shop where you can enjoy an apple strudel, custard slice or baked cherry cheesecake.

A variety of baked goods from Die Brotstube. Photo from Die Botstube Facebook page.

Lucky Bread Company (Nieuw-Muckleneuk)

These guys whip up a mean cuppa joe like it’s nobody’s business, and when they’re not over-achieving in the barista department, they’re creating some of the finest baked treats you could hope to encounter. Their sourdough has a dark and flavoursome crust with just the right crunch factor, while the inside is beautifully springy. They also make a sinfully delicious milk tart doughnut. Looking for the goodness without the gluten? Try the famous flourless coconut cake.

 

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Flourless coconut cakes #coconut #banting #wheatfree #flourless #cake #nomnom

A post shared by Lucky Bread Company (@luckybreadco) on Jun 30, 2019 at 9:11pm PDT

Spout Coffee Company (Hazelwood)

Set in a nifty construction made of shipping containers, Spout has carved out a niche in the Hazelwood food scene as a purveyor of some of the finest coffee you could hope to sip on. But don’t just go for the perfectly crafted cappuccino: there’s always a delicious freshly baked sweet or savoury option to complement your daily caffeine fix. These seductive treats change often, but the mouth-watering brioche is fast matching their coffee offering as a thing of local legend!

Vanilla and cherry brioche at Spout Coffee. Photo from Spout Coffee Company Facebook page.

Toast Food Co. (Lynnwood)

This charming little eatery in Lynnwood puts a lot of heart into everything it serves, and that includes some of the capital city’s most delicious croissants. The almond croissant is generously topped with almond flakes and decadently doused in icing sugar, making it a crescent-shaped piece of perfection that delivers all the right textures with every mouthful. The chocolate croissants are equally delectable, and the gorgeous cheesecakes are almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.

 

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There is nothing better than our freshly baked Almond Croissants on a winters morning #freshcroissants #almond #fragipan #Yummy #comfortfood

A post shared by TOAST Food Co (@toastfoodco) on Jun 7, 2019 at 4:04am PDT

Did we miss your favourite bakery? Let us know in the comments below. Been to one of these bakeries? Let us know about your experience by writing a super quick review on our free app.

The offbeat British comedy The Baker, starring Damian Lewis, will air on on SundanceTV, DStv Channel 108, on Wednesday 17 July at 9pm.