Our expedition to sample the pies of all 26 bakeries in the Southern Highlands Pie Trail is over. With so much variety on offer when eating the humble pie, it was hard to pick an outright winner. Still, on such a journey as this, we feel obliged to honour some stand-out ‘Pie-land’ experiences for your next visit.
Top Pastry: Barrengarry General Store
When a chef has been perfecting pie pastry for 12 hours a day for over 15 years, you know they are going to be getting pretty close to perfection. The store boldly claims ‘The World’s Best Pies’, we grant them the best pastry hands down. Hats off to Chef Chu.
World’s best? Well, you will need to try it for yourself!
Top Filling: McVitty Grove Cafe
Hidden within this pouch of profound pastry is 12-hour, slow-cooked lamb with a hint of Dukka #drool. The location, out amongst the vineyards towards Wombeyan caves, didn’t hurt its chances either. Special mention though has to go to both the Chicken and Camembert pie at Robertson Pie Shop and the Cheeseburger pie at Southern Pies in Kangaroo Valley.
12-hour slow-cooked lamb. That’s all you need to know.
Top Value-for-Money: Chelsea Bakery
Up at 4 am, smash out an oven full of awesome tasting pies until they all sell out, then repeat. This is what Chelsea Bakery does each and every day. With a delicious steak pie starting from $4 it’s the best value deal in town and the staff are super friendly.
Get them before they’re gone!
Top Experience: Mount Ashby Estate
Be transported to a French farmhouse full of authentic antiques including the 200-year-old stone fireplace. Sit by an open fire and enjoy a rich and hearty beef bourguignon pie with a glass of their fine house Shiraz. You’ll enjoy it more than us who still had another 30km to run!
Pie Dining at Mont Ashby Estate
Top Hidden Gem: Fitzroy Falls General Store
The unassuming pie queen of the Southern Highlands operates out of her small kitchen in this rustic general store near Fitzroy Falls. Most people will zoom past to Instagram the waterfalls. It’s recommended to stop in and “Insta-gorge’ on some of the best pies you’ll come across.
Chef Sue at the unassuming kitchen within Fitzroy Falls General Store.
Southern Highlands Pie Trail Run
The Southern ‘Pielands’ Trail Run went for the month of June. As ambassadors for ‘Pie time’ we ran to all of the 26 bakeries on the official Pie Trail to see what they had to offer. See our reviews of all 26 bakeries, their stories and their pies.
About The Author
Warren
Ever since venturing out the back gate into the bush as a kid, I've had a curiosity to escape and explore as often as I could. It's fair to say that my curiosity has continued to grow instead of fade as the years go on. It eventually came time to turn a few scribbled notes into some legible stories and travel tips for anyone with a similar curiosity as me.