Top 5 Best Bakeries in Gisborne

Every Gisborne local has a bakery.

Not necessarily one they think is the best.

The one they actually go to.

The bakery they stop at before work. The one they visit after dropping the kids at school.

The one they trust when they're buying pies for the rugby team, lunch for the office, or a loaf of bread for dinner.

Ask ten Gisborne locals where to find the city's best bakery and you'll probably get ten different answers.

That's because each bakery has carved out its own identity.

Some are known for artisan bread. Some are famous for pies. Others have become institutions simply because they've been consistently good for years.

In no particular order, here are the five bakeries that locals talk about most often.

Morrell's Artisan Bakery

Morrell's Artisan Bakery, Gladstone Road, Gisborne NZ

If Gisborne has an artisan bakery, this is it.

Morrell's feels different from the moment you walk through the door. The shelves are filled with handcrafted breads, pastries and baking that wouldn't look out of place in a much larger city. Yet somehow it still feels unmistakably Gisborne.

What many visitors don't realise is that Morrell's is also a regular fixture at the Gisborne Farmers Market, where locals line up on Saturday mornings for fresh bread and pastries.

The bakery has built a reputation around handcrafted loaves, rustic baking and quality ingredients rather than chasing trends.

Ask regular customers what they recommend and you'll hear everything from ciabatta and sourdough through to steak pies, savouries and sweet tarts. Morrell's is one of those rare places that does both artisan baking and traditional bakery favourites exceptionally well.

For many locals, this is where they buy bread rather than where they buy lunch.

That's probably the highest compliment a bakery can receive.

Bakery 22

Bakery 22, Palmerston Road, Gisborne NZ

If Morrell's owns the artisan space, Bakery 22 owns the pie conversation.

Mention Bakery 22 almost anywhere in Gisborne and somebody will immediately start talking about pies.

Over the past few years the bakery has built a near-cult following. The combination of generous fillings, quality pastry and consistently good baking has earned it a reputation that extends well beyond the city.

Bakery 22 has even been publicly voted Gisborne's favourite pie shop by locals.

The menu goes well beyond pies. Their cream doughnuts, donuts, sausage rolls and coffee all have loyal supporters. Yet it's the pies that people keep returning for, particularly the steak varieties, butter chicken and the occasional paua pie.

When Gisborne locals argue about who makes the best pie in town, Bakery 22 is usually where the debate begins.

Makaraka Bakery

Makaraka Bakery, Gisborne NZ

Makaraka Bakery occupies a special place in local life.

Situated just west of the city on the main route through Makaraka, it serves a different crowd from many central-city bakeries. Farmers, contractors, truck drivers, tradies and commuters all seem to pass through its doors at some point.

There's nothing flashy about it.

And that's exactly why people like it.

The bakery has built its reputation on hearty portions, reliable pies, sandwiches, slices and good value. It feels like the sort of bakery New Zealand used to have everywhere, before many towns became dominated by chain stores and franchises.

For many locals, a drive through Makaraka without stopping at the bakery feels slightly incomplete.

AJ's Bakehouse Cafe

AJ's Bakehouse Cafe, Gisborne NZ

AJ's sits somewhere between a traditional bakery and a neighbourhood café.

While most bakeries focus on takeaway food, AJ's has become a place where people actually sit down, have a coffee and spend some time.

Its central Gladstone Road location makes it popular with workers, retirees, shoppers and visitors looking for breakfast or lunch.

The cabinet is extensive, the coffee is dependable and the menu is broad enough that almost everyone can find something they like.

Locals often describe AJ's as a bakery you can meet people at rather than simply buy food from.

That distinction has helped it remain popular for years.

Gear Meat Pie Company

Gear Meat Pie Company, Gisborne NZ

Some businesses try to be everything.

Gear focuses on pies.

And that's why it has such a loyal following.

Located in central Gisborne, Gear has spent years building a reputation around traditional Kiwi meat pies. The emphasis has always been on generous fillings, solid pastry and flavours that satisfy hungry workers rather than impress food critics.

If Bakery 22 is often seen as the modern pie favourite, Gear is the established challenger that still has plenty of supporters.

Talk to long-time Gisborne locals and you'll find many who remain fiercely loyal to Gear.

Some pie debates in Gisborne have been running for years.

This is one of them.

Honourable Mentions

Cake & Donut Co.

If your idea of a bakery involves cream, icing, custard and sugar rather than mince and cheese, this is probably where you're heading.

Cake & Donut Co. has developed a strong following among locals looking for doughnuts, cakes and sweet treats rather than traditional bakery fare.

Lytton West Bakery

Every city needs a classic neighbourhood bakery.

Lytton West Bakery fills that role perfectly.

Early mornings, regular customers, hot pies and a cabinet full of familiar favourites. It feels exactly like the sort of bakery that has quietly served its community for decades.

Village Bakery

Tucked away in Whataupoko, Village Bakery enjoys the kind of customer loyalty most businesses dream about.

Many locals who live nearby rarely buy their bread anywhere else.

It's small, local and community-focused, which is exactly why people love it.

The Local Verdict

The best bakery in Gisborne depends entirely on what you're looking for.

For artisan bread and handcrafted baking, most locals point toward Morrell's.

For pies, the conversation usually comes down to Bakery 22 versus Gear.

For old-school bakery culture, Makaraka Bakery remains a local favourite.

And for those wanting a bakery experience with coffee and café seating, AJ's continues to attract a loyal crowd.

The good news is that there isn't really a wrong choice.

The bad news is that after visiting all five, you'll probably need a few extra walks along Waikanae Beach.