There’s always time and a need for a decadent cake, a melt-in-your-mouth croissant or a fresh loaf of homemade or artisanal bread. While longstanding and popular bakeries continue to serve consistent freshness, it’s exciting to be able to experience what new kids on the block have to offer, especially in these difficult pandemic times where survival and anything new is a cause for celebration. Here’s a list of some new bakery hotspots to check out.

Johannesburg

Sweet Tea and Chickadee (Emmarentia)
Opened in February 2020, Sweet Tea and Chickadee is a South American bakery and café by South African Natasha Robson-Lovato and her American husband, Jason Lovato. The aim is to bring a taste of the American South to South Africa. Bakery highlights include biscuit sandwiches, boasting different names, the most popular being “The Charleston”, which is fried chicken with pickles served with jalapeño honey. Another contender is the “The Mount Pleasant” – crispy bacon, egg and pimento cheese. Beyond the biscuit sandwiches are baked goods such as jalapeño cheddar cornbread, classic pies and seasonal favourites like the banana foster coffee cake with vanilla rum sauce or the New Orleans bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Staying with delights from New Orleans, there are beignets and chicory coffee included on the specials menu.

L’atelier Bakery – Rosebank

L’atelier is a French patisserie, café and bakery that is all about a luxurious Parisian experience in Johannesburg. Expect a range of pastries, biscuits, vegetarian and gluten-free breads and sandwiches all created and presented in a pretty, artistic and sophisticated way. This is complemented by the beautifully stylish space that is perfect for a chic high tea occasion. L’atelier is also big on creating a variety of cakes for different occasions. The establishment prides itself on producing handcrafted delicacies in a world-class certified kitchen where the artisanal meets a modern approach. A delivery menu is available.

Pretoria

The BakeHouse – Hazelwood
Nestled in the culinary community of Hazelwood, the BakeHouse is a European café and bakery specialising in pasteis de nata and artisanal bread. Here you get an assortment of pastries, ciabatta, croissants, rye bread, sourdough and baguettes at reasonable prices. All products are handcrafted in the authentic European tradition and boast unbleached flour free from processing aids, chemicals and artificial preservatives. With a warm, woody and open space, the café boasts a few options of rissoles, sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas as well. Books on shelves add a relaxing vibe where you can enjoy a coffee while taking a literary escape. Online orders are also available.

Durban

Glenwood Bakery Bagels – (Morningside)
The Glenwood Bakery Bagels is an exciting extension to Durban’s iconic Glenwood Bakery by Adam Robinson. Launched on 18 August, this brand-new bakery specialises in artisanal bagels with a focus on sourdough. The bagels, with a choice of pretzels for your preference, are made fresh during the day and sold within a few hours of production. In addition to this are a small variety of soups, sandwiches and sweet delights known to make pleasurable statements in your mouth as has come to be expected from the Glenwood Bakery. The pricing is reasonable too. The establishment has a strict “no pork” rule and sources its meat from certified Halaal butcheries.

Breadologie – (Salt Rock)

Located on Claremont Farm in Sheffield, Breadologie is a wood-fired bakery by David Henry focusing on sourdough recipes. The ingredients here are made local with a sustainable edge. The breads are hand kneaded, naturally leavened and made using wild yeast for a quality rustic finish. On offer are sourdough bread, rustic white and Portuguese loaves, spelt bread, and rye bread. There’s also a selection of croissants and Chelsea buns, which are popular, as well as a variety of cakes. Henry hails from Mozambique and has 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry in Europe and Africa. He opened Breadoligie in October 2020 and enjoys a dedicated following from the community of Sheffield. There are plans for expansion with a bigger restaurant offering soon.

Cape Town

Paris Cape Town – Sea Point
Paris Cape Town is all about giving customers a real French taste and experience with all the baked goodies being handmade and using French techniques. The owner, Laurent Bezaudun; his pastry chef, Fabien Huchet; and the chief baker, Thierry Gondran, are French so authenticity is guaranteed. The chefs also come with rich gastronomy skills, ensuring great quality of the products. Open since June 2021, Paris Cape Town offers a wide range of breads, including the traditional baguette, sourdough loaves and ciabatta. For lunch, you can choose from a selection of quiches and handmade, crusty sandwiches. There are also fine pastries as a treat.

South Yeaster – Hout Bay

South Yeaster is a family-run artisanal sourdough bakery that is already a Hout Bay favourite. The two sibling chefs, Amber and Brode Gleeson, returned home after embarking on their respective culinary vocations overseas. Lockdown proved to be the catalyst that got them started on their business and passion. Local produce is at the heart of the bakery, which boasts specialist breads and pastry delights. On offer are the signature sourdough loaf, sourdough croissants, baguettes, wholegrain rye and the indulgent macadamia and banana bread, among other treats. South Yeaster will be launching a monthly order service soon for Hout Bay and surrounds where breads will be available for collection from the shop during opening hours.

Pic by Luke Kitchin

Lebanese Bakery and Kitchen – Claremont, Cape Town

The Lebanese Bakery and Kitchen makes a wide selection of specialty breads, authentic mezzes, manakish (Lebanese flatbread) and fatayer (a triangular pie that can be stuffed with cheese, meat or spinach fillings). Renowned for their fluffy pita, the bakery boasts a variety of freshly made saj (wraps), ka’ak (handbag-shaped bread) and baked dipping breads available in white and brown flour variations. Popular dishes include fatayer, falafel sandwiches and a banter’s choice of falafel bowls. Tuesday is the best day at the bakery with their two-for-one Tuesday special on falafel sandwiches. The Lebanese Bakery recently launched the Monday Manakish special, offering two cheese and za’atar manakish for R115, available for sit-down and takeaway. For meat lovers, there’s the sfiha manakish topped with grass-fed Angus beef mince (which is halaal), onions, tomatoes, spices and pomegranate molasses.

Yiayia’s Table – Mowbray

“Yiayia” is Greek for granny and Elli Parolis is the ancestor who inspired the creation of this Greek bakery and coffee shop. The traditions, passion and secret recipes of Yiayia Elli are at the heart of the experience and the offerings at this family-run establishment. Artisanal coffee is a specialty here. From the oven you get a variety of koulouria (Greek sesame bread rings – traditional, sweet and stuffed), phyllo spiral pies and desserts. A lot of heritage runs through the building and its food. The bakery is housed in what used to be an old family butchery.