Paddock Bakery

Paddock Bakery is one of the Gold Coast’s quintessential must do’s – a charming weatherboard cottage with garden seating and an indoors that is part vintage café, part artisan bakery.

This coveted local’s secret can be found tucked away in a back street corner of Miami, where blocks of flats face off with light industrial businesses.

Look for the rustic picket fence with the line-up of dogs tethered to it (and an old washtub that doubles as a giant shared water bowl) and behind it is a tree-shaded yard swarming with diners and the converted Queenslander cottage, a meccafor divine bakery items, great coffee and café fare.

Paddock take no bookings and ordering is done at the counter inside, which gives everyone a chance to watch the bakers at work behind the glass wall that divides the bakery and café.

Seating is inside at the giant communal table (a 100 year old railway table) or bay window seat with vintage butcher’s block table or outside on garden furniture scattered amongst herb gardens in old railway sleepers and under trees.

The menu is a simple yet creative and delicious affair, with brunch style food (all under $15*) served in recycled cardboard ‘dish’ trays. Choose from delights like Carrot Cake Porridge, Bacon and (free range organic) Egg or Mushroom Roll (on divine just-baked rolls) or Rustic Avo (on 5 grain wholemeal sourdough with toasted pistachios, lemon, sunflower seed and pepitas).

Must try are the signature Dippy Eggs, a deconstructed brekkie dish served in an egg carton with diced Byron Berkshire bacon bits, parsley and organic labna.

For something lunch-like there’s Cheese Burgers, Red Dog (wood-fired hot dog with house made ketchup) and, inside behind the counter, wholesome daily salads like Green Beans and Haloumi or Quinoa and Lentil.

Also from within the counter come Maple Bacon toasties, House Bircher Muesli and heavenly sweet stuff such as lemon and blueberry streusel or triple choc muffins and salted caramel and pretzel donuts. Or take home one of the legendary wood fired sour dough loaves that permeate the menu.

In addition to the fantastic coffee (Paradox Blend or Single Origin Roasters), there’s a small range of loose leaf tea, Green Tea Latte, Mork Specialty Hot Chocolate and refreshing cold stuff like House Bottled Ice Coffee, Fresh Press Juices and Organic Karma soft drinks.

Need to know: For those in a hurry there’s a shipping container peddling takeaway coffee in the side garden. An adjacent vacant lot serves as a car park or park on street. And Paddock Bakery does not take reservations – it is solely a walk-in venue.

*Prices correct at time of our visit but may have changed since