The Village Bakery and Cafe is a bakery and cafe at 258 Spa Road in Tauhara, Taupō, with a Google rating of 4.4 from 101 reviews. Reviewers mention the pies, especially the steak and cheese, along with the mochaccino, the caramel brownie and the blueberry muffins.
A good village bakery is judged on its pies first, with pastry that holds its shape and a filling that tastes of what it says. Sandwiches and sweet bakes are a useful second test, since they show how fresh the bread and fillings are. Regulars often try a few different pies over several visits, so the range matters. When you choose a bakery, look at how the pies are displayed and whether the cabinet is restocked through the morning.
For a steak and cheese pie or a mochaccino on the way through Tauhara, this Spa Road bakery is a convenient local stop.