I visited the bakery with queues out the door and it was worth the wait
Popty'r Dref Barmouth serves as the smaller sibling to the acclaimed Dolgellau establishment, which earned recognition as one of the world's finest following La Liste's 2024 Pastry Awards. After that triumph, they launched this considerably more compact bakery on Jubilee Road in the bustling seaside town of Barmouth.
The coastal resort of Barmouth in North West Wales is reportedly "bouncing back" as a holiday hotspot. House prices have soared dramatically and numerous fresh eateries and shops have emerged in the beloved seaside destination.
You can easily understand why the location is thriving when you witness the spectacular coastal panoramas as you navigate the winding road into the charming town. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
The expansive beach is flanked by palm trees and there's ample car parking available close to the seafront promenade. The bakery may be compact but it's simple to locate, as you'll spot a line of eager tourists gathering outside, reports North Wales Live.
We queued patiently and observed an array of magnificent baked treats displayed enticingly in glass cases and across shelves.
This isn't merely any ordinary bakery, as they also offer an extensive selection of hot and cold dishes. Salad boxes for scorching weather or hearty comfort fare like Bala butchered foot-long hot dogs or their renowned Chinese chicken curry.
You can order a slice of pizza or enjoy a Sunday lunch option of ham or turkey, served in a giant Yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings.
Nonetheless, we had come here for the baked goods and boy, what a choice they had. The bakery featured millionaire profiterole pots, filled with cream, caramel and chocolate sauce along with brownies, flapjacks and almond tarts.
There were buns galore with Chelsea, Belgium, Custard, Blueberry or even Biscoff variations up for grabs. There were Sourdough bloomers, baguettes or just plain fresh bread trying win your attention in the middle of a sensory overload of crumbs and carbs.
We weren't too sure where to start but then I saw an old school classic. I remembered cornflake cakes from the seventies and this delightful cake combined the classic flavors of rich, gooey syrup with the irresistible crispiness of cornflakes.
There was a layer of strawberry jam underneath the crunchy flakes and on top of the crumbly pastry casing. One nostalgic bite is all it took for me to fall in love once again.
I also picked a 'Pwdin Bara" as it looked a little different to what I have had before. Bread pudding is a traditional cake, and was called "poor man's pudding" at one pint of time, as it was an inexpensive easy way to use left over bread.
Kind of perfect for a bakery. The bread pudding was packed with spice, fruit, ginger and cherries.
It tasted a bit like a cross between bara brith and a Parkin cake. It was very moist and very morish.
One of the bakery's top sellers and a draw for bakery tourists is their renowned honey bun. Honey buns are crafted from a yeast-based dough that is fried, giving it a unique texture.
It's essentially an iced bun, but with a sweet honey glaze instead. It was pleasant, but I'm not certain about journeying halfway across the country for one.
Finally, we couldn't resist the mint aero tray bake. I'm fairly certain it gave me a cheeky wink.
The cake was a massive chunk of chocolate, crushed biscuits and mint bubbles.
It had a satisfying bite and crunch with a zingy aftertaste of mint chocolate. The thick and fudgy filling was divine and I proclaimed that I would likely travel across the country for this chocolate mint slice of heaven.
That's the beauty of cakes; we all have our favourite. We all have our preferred bakery as well.
We enjoyed our delicious baked goods by the seafront, with the blue and green hues of the sea glistening in the distance.
You may scoff at the concept of bakery tourism, but at this moment, I can't think of a better place to enjoy my cakes.
The Facts
Price: Cornflake Cake £3, Honey Bun £1.50, Mint aero chocolate slice £3.50, Pwdin Bara £3.50, total £11.50.
Atmosphere: Bun appetite!
Car Parking: Ample car parking spaces available in the large car park near the beach.
Disabled Access: Takeaway only.
Service: Plenty of patience from the staff, as we deliberated over which sweet treat to choose.
In summary: The prize-winning bakery that's causing a stir with its buns, sparking the latest 'bakery tourism' trend.
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