Have your cake and eat it too!
There are a wealth of culinary talent in Sydney thanks to its multicultural population and a love for coffee/tea and its companions. This leads Sydneysiders constantly in search for the best cakes and pastries in town to satisfy their need for a dose of sweetness.
Good coffee, great strawberry mouse cake and seating among fig trees along the small back lanes of The Rock, La Renaissance is no doubt a popular hunt for lovers of croissants, mouses and creme brulees. Hide in the courtyard behind the shop front and sip that perfect cup of coffee, you'd think you are in Europe in the middle of Sydney!
A cafe and patisserie in one, and its date tarts are fantastic. Excellent cakes either way. They serve tummy filling foods as well. Come for dessert - from Tuesday to Saturdays they open til 10pm!
Down the road from Yellow Bistro and a big competitor if not just a little better. This European style patisserie is perfect for that peckish afternoon in town. Delight yourself with that duck meringue (in shape, not in ingredient!) and a hazelnut macaroon.
If it's in the Italian part of town, and you stumble across an old Italian papa whose home recipes from Sicily have been treating Sydney with some of the best cakes, breads, biscuits and pastries, you know you've come to the right place. It's not always about the sweet things, and some of Pasticceria Papa's hot foods such as foccaccias and pizzas are also very popular!
Saving the best for last, Time Out Sydney magazine has listed Adriano Zumbo as the number one patisserie in Sydney and it lives up to its name. Talented Adriano Zumbo get his inspirations by simply walking down the isle at the supermarket, and have represented Australia in the World Pastry Cup in France.
Simply for that point, you'll have to visit. This little store in Balmain will have you coming back for more everyday.