The 3 best bakeries within a 40-minute drive of Canberra

Michelago General Store & Cafe

The most wholesome Instagram account in the world inspired us to drive south last weekend for a taste of the baked goods on offer at the store, and boy did it deliver.

The store is a bakery and cafe (and general store!) in one, located in a big tin shed in the heart of Michaelgo on Ryrie Street (just off the Monaro Highway).

The kids ordered bright pink strawberry milkshakes and chocolate fudge brownies, while mum had scones with jam and cream, and dad had “probably the best pie I’ve ever had” in the form of beef and red wine casserole. Dad also had a Puppacino afterward, the dad version of a babycino.

The ambience at Michelago General Store is gorgeous – think classic rustic charm – and the staff are the best. We’ll definitely be back.

Michelago General Store
50 Ryrie Street, Michaelgo NSW
Weekdays, 8am to 6pm
Weekends, 8am to 4pm

Gunna Doo Bakery, Bungendore

There are so many reasons to head to the village of Bungendore on the weekend – the fine art gallery and the homewares at Manon and Moss are top of the list – but there’s also Gunna Doo.

The bakery’s exterior gives Wild West with its dark wood panelling and black-framed arched windows, but the interior is warm and drenched with the savoury smells of freshly-baked pies and pastry. The cheeseburger pie (!) is a must and make sure you get plenty of serviettes for the cream pie that leaves icing sugar from forehead to chin.

Gunna Doo Bakery
18 Gibraltar Street, Bungendore NSW
Weekdays, 4am to 3pm
Weekends, 5am to 3pm

Saigon Bakery, Queanbeyan

At the end of an old alleyway is Queanbeyan (okay, it’s actually a 1960s arcade) is a traditional Saigon bakery, with shelves crammed with Saigon rolls, loaves of bread and meat pies, and a glass cabinet full of sweet treats.

It’s a local secret that this bakery is home to the best sausage rolls in town; nothing fancy, just old-fashioned meat and pastry, but the locals have been eating them religiously ever since the bakery opened more than 30 years ago.

An apple turnover is the best way to top off a couple of sausage rolls at lunch.

Note: there’s nowhere to sit at this bakery, but Queanbeyan’s town park is a 60-second stroll away.

Saigon Bakery
City Arcade, Monaro Street, Queanbeyan NSW
Monday to Friday, 6am to 5pm
Saturday, 6am to 3pm
Sunday, 6am to 11am