Uncle Leo's Bakery is a French bakery and patisserie at 305 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai, Wellington, describing itself as "a piece of France in New Zealand." The bakery offers a variety of artisan breads, sweet treats and barista-made coffee, with everything made 100% by hand.
The bakery's own story describes humble beginnings growing into what it calls the most beloved bakery in Wellington, built on passion, dedication and a love for creating fine baked goods. Alongside the bakery counter, Uncle Leo's runs its own specialty coffee collection, sourcing single-origin beans from Ethiopia, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, each suited to different brewing methods.
Customers can also purchase gift vouchers in a range of denominations, making it easy to share Uncle Leo's baking with someone else.
Uncle Leo's Bakery sits at 305 Evans Bay Parade in Hataitai, describing itself simply as a piece of France in New Zealand. It's a French bakery and patisserie built around artisan breads, sweet treats and barista-made coffee, with a philosophy of baking with love to spread happiness.
According to Uncle Leo's own story, the bakery grew from modest roots into what it calls the most beloved bakery in Wellington - a journey the team frames as one of passion, dedication and a genuine love for creating fine baked goods. Everything at Uncle Leo's is described as 100% handmade, reinforcing the artisan, small-batch character of the bakery rather than a mass-production model.
What sets Uncle Leo's apart from a typical neighbourhood bakery is its dedicated coffee collection, sourcing single-origin beans from several countries and pairing each with a recommended brewing method. Sunrise Serenade, from Ethiopia, is suited to pour-over and drip brewing, with citrus acidity, floral and jasmine notes and a fruity sweetness. Caramel Cascade, sourced from Colombia, is smooth and nutty with a caramel sweetness, and works well for espresso or French press.
Nutty Nirvana comes from Honduras and suits moka pot or espresso brewing, offering nutty, almond and pecan notes with medium acidity and a smooth finish. Hazelnut Harmony, from Guatemala, brings hazelnut and milk chocolate notes at medium acidity, also suited to moka pot or espresso. For a richer cup, Cocoa Bliss from Nicaragua leans into dark chocolate, caramelised sugar and a hint of berry, recommended for espresso or French press.
Uncle Leo's also sells gift vouchers in four denominations - $30, $50, $60 and $100 - making it straightforward to introduce someone else to the bakery's breads, pastries and coffee, whether for a birthday, a thank-you, or simply to share a favourite local spot.
The bakery is located in Hataitai, on Evans Bay Parade, and can be reached by phone on 04 333 2988 or by email at [email protected]. Uncle Leo's also maintains a presence on Facebook and Instagram, where the bakery shares updates and seasonal offerings, including Christmas picks and other limited-time items.
For anyone in Wellington looking for genuinely handmade French-style baking alongside a thoughtfully sourced coffee programme, Uncle Leo's Bakery offers both - a rare combination of artisan bread-and-pastry craft and specialty-grade coffee knowledge under one roof.