Black Star Pastry's first Melbourne venue reopens, with a few surprises in store

Cult Sydney bakery Black Star Pastry's first Melbourne store is reopening in St Kilda for the first time since lockdown, with a brand-new look.

Needing more production space due to growing orders in Melbourne, the team decided to do a wholesale renovation at the same time. The changes, by Studio MKZ, will be unveiled this weekend on Acland Street, with two-for-one cakes and free coffee on opening day.

While the flagship's cafe area has shrunk, the kitchen has gotten bigger meaning new pastries are possible, and the look has changed from cool greys to something brighter.

A mirror that measures three-metres across and is hung on an angle is the first thing you'll see when you enter, according to general manager Danielle Laskovsky. She says it brings the outside in and floods the space with natural light.

Tiered, stadium-style seating, with giant steps that double as both somewhere to sit and somewhere to photograph your tiered cakes, replaces the typical tables and chairs.

Laskovsky says it's an exciting moment for the shop after two years of being closed. "This [renovation] was to bring back the space with something we could be proud of."

On the menu, Black Star signatures have been joined by a host of savoury options exclusive to St Kilda, including a Sunday roast pie (beef with all the trimmings), duxelle and roasted vegetable shortcrust tart, and a potato, bechamel and leek danish.

A long-time favourite, the lemon pistachio cake, has also made a comeback, while soft-serve in flavours from the cake range is planned for summer. The just-launched strawberry watermelon latte is also available.

Black Star has also added a cake concierge at St Kilda, its version of a drive-through, where you can pre-order whole cakes and pick them up from the street.

Open from Saturday October 8, Wed-Sun, 8am to 4pm

2C Acland Street, St Kilda, blackstarpastry.com