Do your gift shopping and Christmas lunch shopping in one hit… Here’s a guide to where you can find the best mince pies (plus some other delicious treats) near each of our seven bookshops. Happy eating!

Carlton & Kids

We can’t resist Baker D. Chirico this time of year, or really, any time of year… Their mince pies are as spectacular as everything else they do. We’re also long-time fans of iconic Italian cafe Brunetti Cafe, which is a must-visit when you’re in Carlton.

And if you’re looking for somewhere to sit down and relax for a moment – check out Heartattack and Vine. This gorgeous neighbourhood bar / café offers enjoy simple breakfasts, hearty lunches, and chilled out evenings of drinking and snacking.

Doncaster

Stock up on delicious pastries and bread at Woodfrog Sourdough Bakery. Or, if you need to take a break from the mad Christmas rush, we recommend you stop in at the Louis Louise champagne bar for a nice cool drink.

Hawthorn

After collecting your books, pop next door to Bread and Jam for Frances. This sweet bakery cafe is named after the classic children’s book about a food obsessed badger, and is also Dench Bakers’s home away from home. They offer excellent coffee and what we suspect are some of Melbourne’s best mince pies.

Down the street, you’ll also find the French artisan bakery and cafe Laurent.

Malvern

The ever-popular Hootsens Bakery-Conditorei is located right next door to Readings Malvern and their homemade mince pies come very highly recommended from us. Their Olle Bollens (small Dutch doughnut-style fritters) are also very good.

We’re fans of the Stocked Food Store and Fleischer Continental Cakes as well, both of which also make their own mince pies.

St Kilda

St Kilda is known as a Melbourne destination for foodies, and we have a host of favourite places.

Check out Woodfrog Sourdough Bakery for their out-of-this-world baguettes and pastries, Monarch Cakes for their famous Chocolate Kooglhoupf and other decadent treats, and Gruner’s Butcher and Deli (recently featured on Broadsheet) for Christmas hams and such things.

You might also like to have some sit-down foods and drinks at either Ground Yourself Cafe (really, really, good coffee plus some great gluten-free options), or Matcha Mylkbar (a ridiculously popular vegan cafe).

State Library

For something a bit different, head across Swanston Street and drop by the Emporium to visit Zumbo. The stunning pastry cabinet houses a collection of irresistible individual and large cakes, colourful Zumbarons, tarts and pastries.