The croissant bakery on Bristol Road
Charlie Bakery is in the Torquay Village shopping centre at 41-57 Bristol Road, the centre with the Coles. Where Bells Bakery is the pie shop, Charlie is the pastry and coffee stop: a counter of croissants and danishes, a few savoury bakes, its own sourdough, and coffee made with its own house beans.
It's set up as a place to sit down, with a breakfast menu and tables to eat in, so it works for a slow coffee as well as a grab-and-go. It opens at 6am on weekdays.
The story
Charlie Bakery is Elise's. The bakery says the idea came from childhood memories of walking to the local bakery in Japan with her mum, together with a love of specialty coffee. It describes its service as Japanese-inspired, and you can see the influence on the menu, which has a grilled ham and cheese on shokupan, the soft Japanese milk bread.
The first Charlie opened in Grovedale in June 2023. Torquay followed in January 2025, and a pop-up in Barwon Heads in September 2025.
What to get
These prices are from the Torquay shop's online ordering menu in October 2026. When we looked one afternoon, many of the pastries were already sold out online, so the earlier you go, the more there is to choose from.
Croissants
A plain croissant is $7.40, a pain au chocolat with Belgian chocolate is $9.90 and an almond croissant is $12.70. The signature filled croissants are the big ones: Biscoff frangipane ($13.90), raspberry and Persian pistachio ($14.30), a cookie croissant filled with cookie dough ($14.30), and a Bueno croissant with hazelnut cream and wafers ($14.60). There are cruffins too, like lemon meringue ($10.90) and cinnamon ($7.90).
Danishes
Raspberry custard ($9.10), blueberry or strawberry French cream ($9.30), and baked cheesecake danishes with cherry and pear or passionfruit ($10.30).
Savoury
Ham and Swiss cheese or spinach and cheese croissants ($12.40), a smoked mozzarella, tomato and nut-free pesto danish ($10.30), and a breakfast croissant with bacon, scrambled eggs and hollandaise ($16.50). For something more like lunch, there's a ham and cheese toastie ($14.70) and the grilled ham and cheese shokupan ($11.70). The bakery also does pies, sausage rolls and ciabatta rolls.
Slices and muffins
Muffins are $6.90. The brookie, half brownie and half chewy choc-chip cookie, is $7.10, and so is the raw caramel slice, which is on the gluten-free list.
Coffee and drinks
A latte or cappuccino is $5.90 to $7.80 depending on size, and there's a sticky chai, cold brew ($6.80) and iced chocolate with or without ice cream. Bags of the house beans are $24 to $69, and there are bottled juices and smoothies.
Photo: @charliebakery on Instagram,
used with permission 
Photo: @charliebakery on Instagram,
used with permission Sourdough to take home
Charlie bakes its own sourdough, and it's sold at all three shops. When the Torquay shop opened, Forte Magazine reported the everyday loaf was a 10% rye, 90% white sourdough, with more styles to follow.
It's a handy bread stop on a weekday, when the Zeally Bay Sourdough bakery door is shut. And Surfcoast Wholefoods, in the same centre, stocks Zeally Bay bread if you want to compare.
Hours, getting there and pre-orders
Hours
The bakery's website lists the Torquay shop as open 6am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. Weekends finish early, so for a weekend breakfast, go in the morning rather than after the beach.
Getting there
Torquay Village is at 41-57 Bristol Road, about 5 minutes' drive from north Torquay. It's the same centre as the Coles, so it's easy to combine with the big shop. Our supermarkets guide has the rest of the centre.
Pre-orders
You can order ahead for pickup through the Torquay shop's online ordering page, linked from the Charlie Bakery website, or by phone on 0432 942 140. It's worth doing for a weekend order, or if you've got your heart set on one of the filled croissants.
Catering, the coffee van and gift cards
For a group, there's a separate catering line (0489 241 110), with packages and custom orders. The online menu had a box of 34 mini carrot cake bites with orange-peel icing when we looked, which is the kind of thing that sorts out a birthday morning tea.
Charlie also hires out the Little Charlie Van, a coffee van that does events, corporate catering, markets and wedding recoveries. If you're in town for a wedding and the morning after needs coffee and pastries, it's one to ask about. E-gift cards work at any of the three shops.
The other Charlie bakeries
The original shop is in Grovedale, at 3/122 Burdoo Drive, and it's takeaway only, with the full range of pastries, focaccias and hot food. It's about 20 minutes' drive from north Torquay, just off Torquay Road on the way into Geelong, so it's a handy stop if you're heading up for the day. The Barwon Heads pop-up is at 5-7 Bridge Road, in the middle of town, with a rotation of the most popular pastries and lunch items. It's an easy stop on a Barwon Heads day trip.
Charlie Bakery FAQ
Where is Charlie Bakery in Torquay?
In the Torquay Village shopping centre at 41-57 Bristol Road, the centre with the Coles.
What time does Charlie Bakery open?
6am on weekdays and 7am on weekends. It closes at 4pm on weekdays and 1pm on weekends.
Can you eat in?
Yes. The Torquay shop is set up to dine in, with a breakfast menu. The Grovedale shop is takeaway only.
Does Charlie Bakery sell sourdough?
Yes. It bakes its own, and the loaves are sold at all three shops.
Can I pre-order?
Yes, online for pickup or by phone on 0432 942 140. Catering orders have their own line, 0489 241 110.
Is there anything gluten-free?
The raw caramel slice is on its gluten-free list. Ask at the counter what else is on the day, and about allergens if it matters.
For more, see our bakeries guide, the breakfast guide and the cafes guide. Staying in north Torquay? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 27 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Charlie Bakery — Charlie Bakery (official)
- About — Charlie Bakery (official)
- The Little Charlie Van — Charlie Bakery (official)
- Online ordering, Torquay — Charlie Bakery (official)
- Charlie Bakery — Torquay Village
- Torquay's newest bakery Charlie brings fresh flavours to the neighbourhood — Forte Magazine