It had been a while since we last swung by Dempsey, so the husband and I decided to make a morning of it. Burnt Ends Bakery had been on our radar for a bit, and brunch at Dempsey Hill felt like the perfect excuse. If you’re hunting for a quiet, low-key bakery spot away from the usual café crowd, Burnt Ends Bakery fits the brief — at least on paper.
Finding Burnt Ends Bakery at Dempsey Hill
The bakery sits at Block 7, Dempsey Road. Don’t look for a grand entrance — the bakery entrance is tucked around the side of the block. Easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Seating is entirely outdoors, so keep that in mind before you make the trip.
The good news? They’ve got air coolers set up outside, which actually do a decent job of keeping things bearable. We arrived just before 11am on a sunny day and managed to stay comfortable throughout. Lucky timing.
How Ordering Works at Burnt Ends Bakery
Pick your bakes at the display counter first, then head to the cashier counter for drinks. You pay, then collect everything yourself when it’s ready. Simple enough, but note that the drink wait was on the slower side — even with barely anyone ahead of us. Worth factoring in if you’re in a rush.
The bakes on display when we arrived were mainly doughnuts. Not a huge selection. We asked a staff member if there was anything else coming, and they mentioned that sandwiches come out at 11am — good to know if you’re after something more substantial.
What We Ordered
Drinks
Latte – $6
Balanced and smooth. Not overly acidic, which I appreciated. A solid, no-fuss coffee.
Matcha Latte – $6
Milky and creamy with a good aroma of matcha. More on the subtle side, but pleasant.
Bakes
Canelé – $5
The outside had a proper caramelised crunch, and the inside was soft and moist. It’s rum-infused, which adds a nice depth. Textbook canelé execution.
Milo Dinosaur Doughnut – $6
Brioche dough filled with Milo ganache and Milo biscuit crumble. Very soft and pillowy, with a sugary outer crunch. The Milo flavour is more of a background note than a statement — tastes more like a decent chocolate donut than anything distinctly Milo.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie – $4
Soft cookie, slightly melty chocolate chips, genuinely rich tasting. One of the better things on the table.
Savoury
Mushroom Pizza – $12
Chewy bread base with a decent flavour. Nothing to shout about, but not bad either.
Chicken Sandwich – $12
Comes assembled in an unpretentious, homely way on thick toast. Loaded with sauce, crunchy onions and lettuce, plus cherry tomatoes.
They use chicken leg meat which I like — but there’s quite a lot of skin and it skews quite salty. Ordinary, honestly.
The Vibes vs. The Food – Burnt Ends Bakery Verdict
The setting is genuinely lovely — a quiet pocket of Dempsey that feels like a hidden gem. We even had a pair of zebra doves wander right up to our feet, and of course I couldn’t resist tossing them a few crumbs. If you want a peaceful weekend breakfast spot away from the noise, Burnt Ends Bakery delivers that atmosphere well.
The food, though? Largely forgettable. Nothing hit that mark where you’d put your fork down and go “wow.” Everything was average for the price point. Prices lean on the higher side for what you get. It’s a place worth stopping at if you’re already in Dempsey — but not a destination worth making a special trip for on food alone.