I travelled an hour just to try this place out, rural veg places are sort of rare and so I decided to see what this place had to offer. Given I am rural, I am used to menus that have - if I am lucky - 1-2 vegan items available. I almost wept when I looked at the menu here and saw options for: Vegan, Vegan Option Available, Dairy Free etc... SWOON. Not a lot of room but worth the wait.
The Himalaya are a cafe and bakery. There are about 6 tables, some bar seating at the window and a lounge area with a low table at the back. They serve pies and pastries for take away for about $5-$6AU. The pastry is made there, everything organic. Pies include smoked tofu, mexican bean, curry veg, potato and ricotta (?) with caraway. They also have a sit down menu. The menu changes but the salads are fresh and seasonal, the soup is amazing, served with bread. They also serve a good fair trade coffee and organic drinks such as ginger beer. There are vegan options. I am impressed because teh ingredients are all high quality, teh food is delicious and it is also obviously prepared with care. Service is pragmatic and careful if not especially warm. The bread is amazing too (good to take down to the lake for picnic). Fresh fruit pastries and cakes are to die for. Price: about $40 for 3 courses incl. drink.
Pros: Great food, healthy and delicious, Good choices, Seasonal, organicMainly vegetarian but the place is very busy. Reason? They make great bread. Full Stop.
Try their rich Hot Chocolate. Coffee's pretty good too.
Great food. Price wise though, it's ok.
I've paid more for a lot worst.
Great ambience with a nice little corner couch with you want to get cozy with that special someone.
When we spent a few days in Daylesford - Hepburn Springs recently, we made sure we had accomodation with a full kitchen so we don't get stuck without food in a town with only one vegetarian bakery / cafe.
Well, we shouldn't have worried so much...
The Himalaya Bakery kept our vegan bellies full for breakfast / lunch and even a (very) early dinner. Our favourite was the vegan burger.
And of course we had to stop for morning / afternoon tea as well, because the vegan sweet treats were so yummy.
The freshly baked breads were also very delicious.
I was glad to see that this small cafe was always packed when we were there. That means it's here to stay. Too many veggie cafes, especially outside the big cities, are doomed because they are too alternative and only attract vegans/ vegetarians and not the broader crowd.
The hard working staff were very friendly and did a great job keeping everybody happy. They always took their time to explain which breads, dishes etc were vegan.
I will gladly walk the 4 km from Hepburn Srings to Daylesford again to get my vegan weekend breakfast rather than opting for the token vegan dish offered in other closer cafes.
(I'm glad though, that there is the occasional bus on weekdays : )
This place has been around for a long time, once had a fire and re-built itself from ashes. While the food is fresh, and the vegan pies are exceptional, I feel it lost a bit of it's soul after the fire. The old place I recall was small and cozy, with a few random tables, and freindly personal service. While the service is OK, it's not the same. The prices are now quite quite steep and I might have paid more in the days when vegan goods were rare. Still worth visiting for the breads, and range of vegetarian foods, as anyone whose vegetarian knows, it's a legendary bakery. They do breakfasts too. But there are many other options around now, so there is no longer the feeling of being held to randsom to get a bit of vegan cake!
Pros: smoked tofu pie, vegan options, Fantastic breadsFresh bread, All vegetarian and most items can to vegan. Fairtrade chocolate and coffee used in all items. items such as sandwiches with mock bacon or roast vegetable focaccias, vegie pies and vegie burgers... more!!
Great quality food, very tasty.
The freshy baked bread can also be gluten free.
Some desert are vegan and also gluten free.
Pros: many items vegan, centeral location, friendly and informed staff
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