Four of the best: Bread bakeries

Wild Wheat specialty bread shop at 811 Mt Eden Rd, Auckland. Photo / Greg Bowker

1. Zarbo
24 Morrow St, Newmarket, (09) 520 2721. Open: Mon-Fri 6.30am-6pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 9am-4pm. 116 Parnell Rd, Parnell, (09) 377 5550. Open: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, closed weekends.

TV judge and author Dean Brettschneider has created an instore micro artisan bakery at Zarbo. Watch the daily baking of the handcrafted breads and pastries. Signature loaf: tangy, slowly risen pain au levain sourdough.

2. Pyrenees
87A Vauxhall Rd, Devonport, (09) 445 0021. Open: Wed-Sun 8am-5pm, Fri until 6pm. 756 New North Rd, Mt Albert, (09) 846 8561. Open: Mon-Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 8.30am-5pm. 371 Remuera Rd, Remuera, (09) 520 2900. Open: Tues-Fri 7.30am-3.30pm, Sat and Sun 8am-3.30pm.

Each shop has its own specialities. Ask for vacuum-packed partly baked breads to finish at home.

3. Wild Wheat
811 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden, (09) 631 7012. Open: Mon-Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 7am-4pm. 1/67 Lake Rd, Belmont, (09) 446 1091. Open: Mon-Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 7am-4pm. 166 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, (09) 489 8248. Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat and Sun 7am-4pm.

Artisan baker Andrew Fernside opened his first shop in 2004 and uses only traditional starters and ingredients.

4. Diehl's German Bakery
5/65 Hillside Rd, Glenfield, (09) 443 7992. Open: Wed-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat 7am-1pm.

You know it's good when people troop in from all over town to buy their bread.