In news that will delight picnickers and Lycra-clad Tan-lappers of all denominations, artisan bread and pastry peddler Baker D Chirico has set up camp opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Operating as a short-term pop-up before making way for a bigger retail space on the site mid-2016, it's shop number three for baker man Daniel Chirico and his partner Allona Goren.
You'll find all the usual Baker D calling cards, including hand-crafted sourdough breads, decadent brioche-style Friday challah, the famed bomboloni, and savoury pies (the beef ragu was voted best pie in Melbourne by Good Food earlier this year).
The clever fitout by Goren, a trained interior designer, includes "contemporary surrealist" wallpaper art and packaging by long-term collaborator Misha Hollenbach.
While there's no seating or coffee machine yet (that will come with the expansion), you're welcome to bring a takeaway from neighbouring cafes for pastry-dunking purposes.
Better still – load up on Chirico booty, grab your coffee and ferry the lot across the road to the lush green sanctum of the gardens. A brisk lap of the Tan afterwards and you've more than earned your custard-filled bomboloni.
Open Tue-Fri 7.30am-6pm; Sat-Sun 7.30am-5pm.
183 Domain Road, South Yarra, bakerdchirico.com.au
Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.
Sign up