Penny Fours in Leichhardt – it’s a great ally for anyone seeking a sugar fix in an area known for its forkfuls of pasta and oven-hot pizza slices. Recently opened by Penelope Ransley (whose flour-dusted CV includes Tetsuya’s, Sepia, Iggy’s Bread), this patisserie has a small – but excellent – selection for your sweet tooth. The Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies ($2.50) are a total surprise: as soft as butter, and a double hit of cocoa and nutty crunch. Similarly, the Chocolate Tart ($4), adorned with floral white-choc curls, is a lovely meeting point between sweet and not-quite-bitter, in a shell that is a crumbly delight. You can work your way around the pastry counter: there’s Sour Cream Brown Sugar Brioche ($3.50), Berry Frangipane Tart ($2.50), classic Snails ($3.50) and more. There’s a small savoury menu, too (which is likely to be extended with bread and sandwiches soon), and the Pumpkin, Ricotta, Spinach Quiche ($5) is also another one to take you aback. I expected the usual brick-slab of hard egg, but this was a cloud of light flavours, grounded by a satisfying crust. Lovely.

It’s worth putting your money on Penny Fours, especially as it extends its menu. Also, pop your head into Ragamuffin, which is a few doors down and known for its one-of-a-kind muffin flavours (Strawberry Milkshake, Banana Sundae, Garlic Potato, and so, deliciously, on).

Penny Fours, 141 Norton Street, Leichhardt NSW (02) 9572 8550