The African Voyager

Garden Route, South Africa

The guide to the Garden Route’s 5 essential bakeries (and must-try pastries)

Southern Africa • Eat & drink • The guide to the Garden Route’s 5 essential bakeries (and must-try pastries)

Sweet escapes: Garden Route bakeries you can’t miss

Following the curve of South Africa’s scenic Garden Route, you’ll find a variety of bakeries whipping up delicious bites. If you’re passing through or spending time in the area, you have to make a stop at these must-visit bakeries and try their unique pastries and fresh-baked goods. Along this stunning coastline, these bakeries are the unsung heroes of your culinary adventure, catering to cravings with the kind of care and craft that only comes from passionate hands. This guide highlights our favourite bakeries along the route that are worth adding to your itinerary. Get ready to explore the area in a whole new way – through the bakeries and pastries that locals rave about.

Heritage Bakery

Step into Heritage Bakery and it feels like the world slows down for a moment. This unassuming spot is tucked away in a quiet clearing, with tables scattered under trees and the scent of fresh sourdough wafting through the air. Their breads are naturally fermented and baked with precision, their hand-kneaded sourdough is a standout. We also recommend trying their signature almond croissant – flaky, buttery and generously filled, it’s a true delight. They also sell proudly South African products, so if you are on the hunt for unique textiles, hand-carved wood crafts or small-batch leather goods – be sure to shop here while you enjoy your flaky treat!

Heritage Bakery
Plot 8 Farm 191
Rondevlei
Wilderness
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Heritage Bakery

Prince of Tarts

When we heard about a bakery devoted to tarts, we knew we had to visit. Prince of Tarts specializes in, well, tarts – but don’t think for a second that means plain or predictable. These are works of art! The name itself is a nod to its founder, Tyrone Schroder, whose story is just as impressive as his pastries. From helping his mom sell tarts at a local market to building this buzzing bakery café, Tyrone’s dedication shows in each and every pastry. We couldn’t resist the pecan nut tart, a perfect balance of sticky and crunchy and the dark chocolate option? Pure decadence. The cosy interior, with its warm lighting and the scent of fresh coffee, makes it hard to leave.

Prince of Tarts
5 Hibernia St
George
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Prince of Tarts

Le Fournil de Plett

Located in the heart of Plettenberg Bay’s Main Street, Le Fournil de Plett is a charming French bakery and café that transports you straight to the streets of Paris. Here you’ll find croissants so buttery they practically melt, baguettes with the perfect crusty exterior and quiches that could hold their own in a Parisian café. Their pear and almond tart is a masterpiece. The combination of juicy pears and creamy almond filling, all stuffed in a flaky pastry, is simply divine. The outdoor seating, surrounded by greenery, makes it a sublime spot for a slow morning or a long lunch.

Le Fournil de Plett
The Lookout Centre
18 Main St
Plettenberg Bay
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Le Fournil de Plett

Île de Païn

If you’re passing through Knysna, stopping at Île de Païn is non-negotiable. Famed for its artisanal bread, pastries and creative menu, this charming eatery will pull you in once you get a whiff of the warm, freshly baked bread. The ambience is warm and welcoming and light filters through open windows, warming the long wooden tables that invite lingering. The open-plan design and lively atmosphere provide a glimpse into the artistry behind each creation, where the dough is shaped, proofed and baked in rhythmic precision. Trying the artisanal bread is a no-brainer but our favourite is definitively the pain au chocolat – chocolate and buttery, flaky dough – yes please!

Île de Païn
The Boatshed
Long St
Thesen Island
Knysna
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Île de Païn

Ou Meul

A road trip along the Garden Route isn’t complete without a stop at Ou Meul. Ou Meul, established in 1984, started as a humble farm stall in Riviersonderend and has since blossomed into a beloved chain. The bakery’s interior is designed to reflect its small-town roots, wooden tables and chairs with touches of greenery and soft lighting further soften the atmosphere, making it both cozy and lively. Here, you’ll find all the baked classics done right, from flaky croissants to hearty loaves. But it’s their pies that steal the limelight. The bobotie pie, a savory pastry filled with a Cape Malay inspired spiced meat mixture, is the star of the show at Ou Meul.