Tag: Agnes Bakery

A Final Crumb: Agnes Bakery’s Last Weekend Before Rebirth as ‘Idle’

After more than three years of enchanting Brisbane’s pastry lovers with flaky croissants, golden kouign-amann, and pillowy loaves of sourdough, Agnes Bakery is closing the doors of its James Street location for the final time this Sunday, June 15. 

Read: Agnes Bakery in Fortitude Valley is Brisbane’s New Favourite

But don’t despair—this isn’t goodbye, just a delicious evolution. Rising from the ashes (or rather, flour) is Idle, a new concept from the Anyday Group set to open soon in New Farm.

Photo credit: A Bahrij/Google Maps

In fact, Agnes Bakery wasn’t part of the original plan. In early 2020, the team behind Agnes was preparing to launch a fine dining restaurant with a wine bar and bottle shop. But when COVID-19 lockdowns hit just days before opening, executive chef Ben Williamson and his team were forced to pivot. The solution? Transform the yet-to-open space into a bakery—a move that was meant to be temporary but quickly became one of Brisbane’s most beloved culinary surprises.

agnes
Photo credit: Joseph Cosico/Google Maps

With limited hours and no dine-in allowed, the Agnes team began selling their creations through the front door, and Brisbane lined up for the privilege. Locals couldn’t get enough of the bakery’s signature croissants—flaky on the outside, buttery-soft inside, and utterly addictive. 

Photo credit: Mark Nguyen/Google Maps

The kouign-amann, a caramelised Breton pastry, also became a cult favourite. Customers were equally devoted to their potato and rosemary danish with creamy cheese, their deeply flavoursome sourdough, and the perfectly scorched Basque cheesecake.

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Photo credit: Gerard Wood/Google Maps

More than just a stop for baked goods, Agnes Bakery became a pandemic-era comfort—a little piece of warmth and joy in uncertain times. It grew into a cornerstone of the inner-city food scene, drawing pastry pilgrims from across Brisbane and beyond.

Now, as the team prepares to close this chapter, they’re giving fans one last chance to savour their favourites. On Saturday and Sunday (June 14-15), the first 100 customers to make a purchase will receive a free mini almond croissant—a final thank you from a bakery that’s baked its way into Brisbane’s heart.

Read: Supernormal Brisbane Named One of the Best New Restaurants for 2025

And while Agnes Bakery will be missed, its spirit lives on in Idle, a fresh venture promising to blend the best of a bakery, market, and neighbourhood kitchen under one roof. If history is anything to go by, Idle will be more than a worthy successor—it might just be your new favourite.

Published 11-June-2025

Agnes Bakery in Fortitude Valley is Brisbane’s New Favourite

Have you been to Agnes Bakery? This new bakery on James St in Fortitude Valley isn’t hard to find. Just look for the queue of people waiting to get in, Wednesdays to Sundays. When people line up for their brekky even before the store opens, that’s when you know you’re on to something good.

Read: Fortitude Valley Property Market Rises Despite Softer Demand for Inner-City Living

Agnes Bakery, which started welcoming customers in late October 2021, takes pride in making everything in-house from scratch so that every batch of baked treats is served warm and fresh daily.

From the crusty loaves of sourdough bread, perfectly burnt yet creamy Basque cheesecakes, comforting choux buns, and delightful kouign-amanns, every bite of goodies that come from the bakery’s wood-fired oven leave a satisfying taste that lingers…no wonder many customers come back for more!

Photo Credit: AgnesBakery/Facebook
Photo Credit: AgnesBakery/Facebook

Curiously, however, the bakery wasn’t in the plan for the owners. Experienced hospitality operators Ben Williamson, Ty Simon, and Frank Li — who run popular Brisbane restaurants like Same Same, Honto, and Bianca — initially set their sights on opening a restaurant (also called Agnes).

However, things changed when the hospitality industry took a big hit during the pandemic. Not to be discouraged, the operators decided to shift gears and use their Agnes Restaurant spot as a pop-up bakery, opened during limited hours only, in August 2020 until the pandemic panic subsided. Amidst social distancing guidelines, customers lined up for the limited offering which has prompted the owners to consider expanding their business plan to include the bakery. 

“One of the concepts we have started to explore more is how the use of fire applies to working with ancient and sustainably grown grains, and how it can add to the complexity of flavours in sourdough and pastries, both sweet and savoury,” the owner said. “On top of this, we wanted to provide people with the opportunity to enjoy some of the wares we serve at Agnes restaurant, within a casual setting.” 

As things fell into place, the former Agnes Bakery pandemic pop-up became a stand-alone, permanent site and not merely an extension of Agnes Restaurant, with 14 bakers in the kitchen and 10 staff at the frontline. The group also formulated an enhanced menu filled with more appetising choices. 

Apart from the pop-up favourites, Agnes Bakery also offers smoked potato braid, heaps of danishes (potato/rosemary, apple crumble, and blueberry/citrus, among other flavours), as well as a rotating mix of cake slices, flans, cookies, and savoury muffins and pizzettes. Soon, the bakery will also introduce a lunch range featuring ciabatta sandwiches. 

Photo Credit: AgnesBakery/Facebook

For those on the clock, the bakery has a convenient coffee window for quick orders.

Photo Credit: Joseph Cosico/Google Maps

Agnes Bakery opens Wednesday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Follow their Facebook page for updates. 

Read: LEGO Eyes Queen Street Mall Opening Amidst Australian Expansion

“Everything is excellent and can’t wait till they add some more condiments and things. They make stuff you don’t really see in Australia (like pithivier) which is fun as well.”

Ben E

“OMG!  This beautiful bakery is an absolute gem!  I called in at the end of their 1st day (my interest was sparked as I drove past in the morning and there was a 100-meter line-up of peeps down James St).  This place must have something going for it.  I was not disappointed.  The young, cheerful girl who greeted me was very knowledgeable on the delights available.  I purchased a blackberry and blueberry and passion fruit with melted marshmallow Kouign-amann.  Supercalifragilisticepialidocious is an apt word for my experience of this pastry delight.  From the crispy outer layers of glazed pastry to the inner taste bud tingling cream patisserie, I was completely lost in indulgent heaven.”

Samantha Hutchison