6 Sweet Treat Destinations Where There is Always Room for Dessert

Did you know the word dessert comes from the French verb ‘desservir’, meaning to ‘clear the table’?

When dessert first appeared as part of our eating rituals, it was to allow the tables to be cleared for after-dinner activities – sweet meats and spiced wines were consumed standing up, away from the table.

Sugar was so important in medical practices of the past, that the saying ‘like an apothecary without sugar’ meant a state of utter desolation. Sugar was used for everything, from aiding digestion to preserving the body.

Whatever the reason, we all crave a sugar fix that only a sweet treat can fix; here are six of our fave places to indulge your senses and your palate:

Well-loved local hangout Split Bean Café on Mernda Village Drive is the place to head for an aromatic brew and café fare with flair when in Mernda. This Melbourne eatery is abuzz from breakfast to lunch as friends gather in bright and breezy surroundings, where a full glass frontage makes for an abundance of natural light and cabinets overflow with sweet treats.

 

Stop in for crispy skin barramundi with tartar sauce, garden salad, crunchy chips and a lemon wedge, before indulging your dessert desires with lemon meringue pie, gooey caramel slice or macarons like bubblegum and chocolate; take home some smiley face cookies or gingerbread men to treat the family.

Located in the heart of Bairnsdale is an oasis for foodies and coeliacs alike at elegant little café Paper Chase Café & Providore on Main Street. Converted from an old goods emporium, sit back against the cosy walls or in the sunny courtyard and enjoy a morning fruit smoothie, while exploring a menu of honest comfort food and an abundance of gluten and dairy-free options.

 

Eating gluten-free has never been this easy to sit alongside loved ones and devour a slow-cooked chicken burrito with Mexican spices, tasty cheese and sour cream, or a bagel with salmon, cream cheese and cucumber; then appease your sweet tooth with cupcakes, chocolate chip and double choc chip cookies fresh out of the oven. 

Those seeking an aromatic coffee and satisfying bite to eat in Biloela head down Kariboe Street to find The Rabbit Hole Coffee Café. This charming café is an oasis of calm with recycled wooden floors, trailing greenery, vibrant artwork and cosy Chesterfield chairs to chill out on.

 

From early there is a buzz of lively conversation as guests enjoy plates like toasted waffles with ice cream, warm berries and salted caramel sauce, or housemade savoury mince on sourdough toast; then treat the senses with decadent desserts like matcha white chocolate and pistachio cheesecake.

Come as a guest, leave as a friend at Lime & Coconut Cafe on George Street in the historic town of Windsor. Housed in an early 1800s building with white fretwork, seasoned wood, old school pickings of mismatched tables and chairs and shabby chic accents, sit awhile and ponder menu choices that are fresh, healthy, rich in love, flavour and goodness.

 

Enjoy a smooth King Carlos coffee alongside all-day breaky tempters such as the French Kiss – banana bread topped with ricotta, caramelised banana, honey-roasted walnuts and oozy salted caramel sauce – or toasted waffles with cinnamon apples, cream, crumble and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Locally-loved Steamers Café on Bridge Street is the place to head in Murray Bridge for an aromatic brew and fare with flair. A warm and welcoming vibe awaits with spice-coloured walls, trailing and potted greenery, along with alfresco tables for people watching on balmy days.

 

Early risers stave off hunger with loaded pancakes topped with strawberries, banana and chocolate fudge syrup; stop in later for a coffee and cake catch-up with girlfriends over a fruit and custard tart, caramel slice, freshly-baked muffin, or a slice of Biscoff cheesecake that is sure to entice those with a sweet bent.

Find a little slice of Italy hidden in the heart of Sydney at Paddington Alimentari on Hopetoun Street. Beginning life as an authentic delicatessen, this bustling café has become a well-loved local hangout for a coffee and bite to eat before purchasing goodies like prosciutto and cheese to take home for a later snack with a glass of vino.

 

Start your day the right way with a steaming cup of coffee and pastry treat like an almond croissant or piece of orange and almond rosewater cake; then wrap your hands around a chicken schnitzel panini with provolone cheese, fresh tomato, rocket and aioli, or a herb and vegetable frittata served with gluten-free aioli.