Sydney has so many cafés that I rarely remember a place just because the coffee was good.
But a bakery is different.
When the pastry itself is good enough, that becomes the reason to go back.
That was what I liked about Buttered Bakery & Cafe.
Rather than an enormous brunch menu, this is the kind of place where I would focus on what is sitting in the pastry cabinet, choose something that looks good and have it with a coffee..
What I Liked About Butteredy
The pastries don’t rely on being excessively sweet or complicated.
The flavours are relatively simple, and that is actually what works.
You notice the buttery pastry, texture and balance rather than a pile of toppings.
For me, two items stood out most.
Popular choices include:
- Korean-style salt bread
Salt bread sounds simple, but the texture makes a huge difference. The one here has a slightly crisp outside with a lighter, layered interior and a buttery finish. What I liked was that the butter flavour came through without making the whole thing feel too heavy. It is also not the type of pastry where sweetness dominates, which makes it an easy choice if you prefer savoury bakery items. If I were stopping by and only wanted one thing, this is the first item I would look for again. - Pain au chocolat
The pain au chocolat goes in a different direction but still keeps that same balance. The chocolate is there, obviously, but it doesn’t overwhelm the pastry or turn it into something excessively sweet. That’s important to me because sometimes chocolate pastries end up tasting more like dessert than something I actually want with coffee in the morning. Here, the pastry and chocolate work together rather than competing with each other. - Coffee With Pastry
I think Buttered makes the most sense when you treat the pastry as the main event. Have whatever coffee you normally enjoy and pick the pastry you actually feel like eating. I wouldn’t overcomplicate it with a list of “perfect pairings”. For me, a good bakery shouldn’t need one. Pastry. Coffee. Done.
Popular choices include:
The bakery is around Surry Hills and is within walking distance of Central Station, making it relatively easy to include in a morning around the city.
The space itself isn’t huge.
I actually think that suits the place.
It feels more like somewhere to stop for a pastry and coffee than a big café where you settle in for a two-hour brunch.
If you are exploring Surry Hills on foot, it also works nicely as a casual stop along the way.
Coffee & Pairings
The coffee here is reliable and well-balanced, designed to support the pastries rather than steal the spotlight.
Recommended pairings:
- Croissant + Long Black
- Any pastry + Flat White
A simple combination that works every time.
Parking
This is one place where I would think about transport before going.
There isn’t dedicated bakery parking, and street parking around this part of Sydney can be limited and subject to restrictions.
If I were travelling specifically for the bakery, I would either:
- use public transport and walk from Central
- check nearby paid parking
- visit at a quieter time if driving
For me, being able to walk from Central is probably the easiest option.
Who I Think Will Like It
I think Buttered will particularly appeal to people who:
- prefer pastries that aren’t extremely sweet
- like salt bread
- want a bakery rather than a full-scale brunch restaurant
- are already around Central or Surry Hills
- enjoy finding smaller Sydney food spots rather than only the well-known destinations
Would I Go Back?
Yes — and I would go back for the bakery items rather than because I need another café to add to a list.
The Korean-style salt bread is the item I would look for first.
And that’s probably the simplest way to describe Buttered.
It doesn’t need a huge list of “must-try” dishes.
A good pastry, a coffee and an easy stop around Surry Hills are enough.
