Sydney's Best Desserts

Black Star Pastry has changed the way we think about sausage rolls and pies forever. Its orange cake with Persian fig and quince will put every other cake to shame, while their chocolate éclair's continue to create mouthfuls of joy to anyone game to try them. Black Star now stocks to a handful of Sydney's fine diners, as well as all of our favourite cafes. And, if you're looking for something special, they also create customized cakes.

You only need to see the lines snaking down Haberfield's Ramsay Road and into Pasticceria Pappa to know this cafe's Italian delicacies are highly sought-after. On offer are fresh gelato, cannoli, profiteroles and biscotti. The dining room's glass cases brimming with glossy sweet treats, but Pappa's is best known for its baked ricotta cake. Diners can enjoy dessert and coffee in the cafe's old-worldly interior or in the sunny outdoor courtyard, where you can watch the locals stroll through Sydney's little Italy.

A French-inspired patisserie in Dulwich Hill is part of the new wave of cafes to roll out through the Inner West. Sitting behind the Commonwealth Bank on Marrickville Road, Strawberry Fields Patisserie has an open kitchen providing customers with unobstructed views of the pastry chef rolling out croissants and adorning cakes. Other sweets include macarons, brownies, lemon meringue tarts and tiramisu, but you can't go past the namesake Strawberry Field Forever fruit tart. The petite pastry is packed with glazed strawberries, and the creme patissiere is full of fresh vanilla bean. 5 Senses coffee is the brew of choice, and savoury additions include quiches, gourmet scrolls and sausage rolls.

Considered the best in Australia, Gelato Messina privileges Sydney and Melbourne. An insane array of flavoured creations abound. Mad Messina minds are at work when a Dr Evil's Magic Mushroom Cake appears. Your Sundae's will never be the same with their cold-set caramel custard version capped with a white chocolate dome. Hot salted caramel fudge smothers it for good measure. Visit after a Surry Hills restaurant dinner, or when next in Vegas...

Having sold their bread to restaurants all over town, Brasserie Bread's ubiquitous loaves are also sold at its popular bakery and cafe, which has been drawing patrons to Botany Road from all over Sydney. Inside this casual cafe, diners can enjoy a croque monsieur, sourdough pancakes and a great coffee before settling on which breads and patisseries to take home for the family.

Photography: Courtesy of Brasserie Bread

Situated on a quiet tree-lined street off the main Randwick drag, Kurtosh house is a culmination of what home should feel like - comfortable, cosy, eclectic and sweet. The name ‘Kurtosh' comes from ‘Kurtoskalaca' – a traditional Hungarian pastry called chimney cake. This sweet nosh is one of the many distinctive offerings of the bakery, which also include traditional Eastern European pastries and delicious cakes by the slab (and generous free sample offerings on the counter). Kurtosch uses full bodied Mecca Espresso beans and Teacraft teas.

Featuring one of Sydney’s most instagrammed food items, the cronut, Brewtown Newtown is not only home to flaky, puff pastry delights, it also offers speciality coffee and a bistro-style menu. The mastermind of two men with serious café credentials, Simon Triggs and Charles Cameron, if this place isn’t on your must-visit list, it should be.

The Langham, Sydney is one of the city's most elegant luxury hotels, with its harbour views, plush interiors and signature restaurant, Kitchens on Kent.