Lode Pies & Pastries Surry Hills — Restaurant in Sydney

I’ve been considering going to Lode for a long time, ever since seeing it appear on the gram. Well after finally coming here one morning it met and exceeded expectations. These are some of the finest pastries I’ve ever had in Sydney. The pastry itself is impeccable. There’s a nice butter taste and a bit more of a sweetness than some other shops, but the real standout is the pure technical perfection in the lamination. Honestly they are straight up dunking on other Sydney pastry legends. The way in which Lode manages to implement that lamination so beautifully and cleanly is really very impressive.

Rankings of what we tried: almond croissant - real crowd pleaser. A light cream filling that doesn’t bog you down. Subtle dusting of orange zest on top that provides brightness to prevent the sweet filling from becoming cloy. Excellent execution, and our favourite so far. roasted pepper croissant - we both liked this but agreed it would be better warm! The portions with the filling were good, and the sesame seed was a nice touch to add to the savoury feel. fruit tart - this was good, and definitely had a rustic feel to it. The jam was a bit to sweet for my taste, and there was a bit too much of it in proportion to the cream. I would have preferred a tarter, cleaner, brighter jam. I think that would more effectively balance the delectable butter of the tart shell and the sugary nut paste filling. Also perhaps a bit more of the cream on top.

All in all excellent and will definitely be back again. I really want to try their plain croissant, I’ve got a good feeling about it.

Random other remarks. their coffee is pretty decent, but the main star really is these pastries. The setting and ambience are nice with a clean and modern very gramable look. Muted pink...

I had added @lode_pies to my Sydney wishlist after @chefshentan said I needed to check it out. So, my husband and I made an early morning trek to Surry Hills where the bakery, housed in a narrow shophouse, is located. And we were rewarded with more than ample choice upon arrival. Trust me, this is one place you won’t want to be late to, because the risk of having limited options is real - I could see the stocks diminishing swiftly from where I sat. Sydney-based fellow food-lover @hungrywolfgrams highly recommended the LuMi Pithivier ($20) - no easy feat for this to exist, a three-day process is what it takes. Normandy Beurre d'Isigny and Australian organic stoneground flour are the building blocks of its ethereal crust, while its tasty filling is @emiliosbutchery’s free range pork and shiitake mushrooms all chopped up. I missed the memo to pour the accompanying chicken sauce down through the cute “chimney”. So don’t make the same mistake when you have it. And have this exquisitely crafted and really delicious pie you must! We also got the Ham, Cheese and Jalapeño ($10) which has a generous amount of Scamoza and Parmesan cheeses, meat and chives, but it’s the laminated pastry that demands loudest for your attention. Which isn’t a surprise given that #lode_pies focuses on the lamination process to deliver “layers of goodness”. But nowhere is that statement more apparent than in the jaw-droppingly beautiful Pain Au Chocolat ($8) filled with Callebaut Dark Belgian Chocolate. It’s one of their bestsellers for a good reason. Their take on the Almond Croissant ($11) has a delightful twist with a citrus and almond frangipane, poached pears and...

✨ Hidden gem alert in Surry Hills! Just found this insanely good bakery – LODE PIES & PASTRIES and I’m honestly still thinking about that flaky pastry 😮‍💨

Tried 3 things and here’s the lowdown:

🥇 Lode Pithivier – legit a must try. Caramel pork + mushroom filling wrapped in the crispiest, most buttery puff pastry ever. Comes with a rich chicken jus that takes it to the next level. So flavourful and layered, I totally get the hype. I got the last one at 1pm – so yep, go early or cry later 💔

🥈 Wagyu & Mushroom Pie – has a red wine sauce and peppy seeds on top (gives a slightly peppery kick). Pretty unique – maybe not for everyone, but definitely worth a try if you like savoury pies with a twist.

🍋 Yuzu Tart – super refreshing at first with that citrusy vibe, coconut flakes + caramel. But gets a bit heavy after a few bites (maybe ’cause I reheated it?). Recommend eating it fresh for best texture!

🍵 Matcha Latte – ngl… kinda disappointing 😕 Couldn’t get it iced, and it tasted powdery + watery after it melted. As a self-declared matcha addict, this one didn’t hit the spot.

⚠️Heads up: • They often have long lines, so be ready to wait or just grab and go (I’d recommend takeaway tbh). • Card only – no cash. • I signed up for membership thinking I’d earn points… but turns out your first purchase only activates the card and you only start getting points from the second visit 🥲 lowkey disappointing.

📍487 Crown St, Surry Hills ⏰ 7:00am–3:00pm

✨ Overall, super worth it – that Pithivier is 10/10. If you’re into flaky pastry and savoury goodness, don’t sleep on this...