Lake Mac Sweet Spots
Published on 23 November 2023
Fine dining is one thing, but what about those days when you just crave something sweet? Fear not – there are a myriad of bakeries, patisseries, cafes and ice-creameries dotted across Lake Mac to help sate that sugary desire.
That’s not to mention the growing number of specialty eateries pimping up traditional baked treats and desserts, turning them into creations that would give Willy Wonka a coronary.
Here are some of the top spots.
From vintage decor and shakes served in traditional tall glasses, to retro music and tubs of handmade ice cream, this lakeside favourite is like a trip back to a simpler time.
Ice-cream flavours range from classic to contemporary (vegan lamington variety, anyone?), but all are a far cry from the mass-produced buckets found in supermarkets.
The friendly peeps serving the ice-cream are often the ones who created it, so they can answer all your questions about how the magic happens.
Mama-P
Charlestown
Once a tattoo parlour, this little store on the Pacific Highway is now making its mark in a completely different way.
The treats produced by owners James and Kylie Pheils prove that allergies, gluten intolerance or vegan diets don’t spell an end to enjoying a bit of culinary decadence.
No processed sugar, gluten or dairy is used in any menu items, and more than 95 per cent of the food on offer is made in-store by hand.
There’s good reason this local foodie institution took out a top gong at the 2019 Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
The lake views are priceless, but avert your eyes for a few moments to peruse a menu featuring more than a dozen varieties of pancakes and waffles.
Kit Kat and Tim Tam varieties are among the most popular, but those with more adventurous palates could sample the maple and bacon waffles served with ice-cream and cream.
It’s not just humans who deserve a treat every now and then.
While Gourmet Dog Barkery’s internet presence boasts customers from across Australia, the bricks-and-mortar shop at Bennetts Green is a sight for your four-legged friend to behold.
Dog doughnuts, dog birthday cakes (shaped like a bone, of course) and 30 different dog biscuit flavours make this the equivalent of a canine candy store.
The Italian pastries known as cannoli are yet to be embraced in Australia as widely as, say, doughnuts or lamingtons, but Franky & Co’s creations could soon put an end to that.
The little tubes filled with flavoured cream are the perfect accompaniment to a coffee … or just about any drink, for that matter.
Impeccably presented slices, tarts and friands provide further toothsome temptation.
Wangi Wangi
Wangi Bakehouse has racks upon racks of handmade baked classics to scratch that sugary itch when you get a hankering for good old-fashioned bakery treats.
Plump cream buns, glossy neenish tarts, vanilla slices with the perfect custard/pastry/icing ratio and custard tarts made with real baked custard are among the highlights.
The bakery has operated for more than 20 years, and now includes an adjoining café, for visitors who want something slightly more substantial.
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