The Six Best Pies in Sydney

There's nothing quite like it sometimes, a good old-fashioned Aussie pie. The smell of hot pies straight out of the oven when you walk into a bakery is enough to send some of us into nostalgic meltdown. Whether it's a traditional meat pie or a chunky apple pie that tickles your fancy (no American Pie reference intended), we've got the pick of the pies this winter for when that yearning sets in. Complete with generous fillings, golden, puffy pastry on top and bottoms that remain miraculously un-soggy, come in from the cold this winter and warm up your belly with our favourites.

1. Bourke Street Bakery

CP pick: Chicken, sweet potato, pea and lime pickle $5

You can't really go wrong with any of the pies on the menu here. In fact, you can't really go wrong with anything here, fullstop. This place is an institution: sandwiches, sourdough loaves, sweet pastries, cakes, coffee and sausage rolls all walk out the door quicker than you can get in. But you really can't go past a pie on a chilly winter's day and we reckon that the chicken, sweet potato, pea and lime pickle is a winning combination. Be adventurous, get over you pickle fear and trust the experts: this amalgamation of ingredients is meant to be together.

All open 7 days: Surry Hills, Marrickville, Alexandria, Potts Point, Neutral Bay; (02) 9569 3225; www.bourkestreetbakery.com.au

2. Black Star Pastry

CP pick: Lamb shank and red wine pie $7.80

There's no doubting that pastry chef Christopher Thé is some kind of culinary-wizard. With consistent award winning left, right and centre, you'd have to be a fool to think otherwise when considering a pastry treat. Make it snappy though: the notorious menu item is a sell-out for a reason. Tender bits of shredded lamb are smothered in red wine gravy; miraculously, the surrounding pastry does not get soggy at all. Certainly worthy of all the attention it gets. If, however, for some catastrophic reason, there is a sell-out prior to your consumption, the back-up won't let you down either — trust us.

Open 7 days 7am-5pm; 277 Australia Street, Newtown; (02) 9557 8656; www.blackstarpastry.com.au

3. The Pie Tin

CP pick: The Pie That Ate Newtown - XL Apple Pie $10.50

This place just needs a flaky pastry for a roof and they can take their name to full literal meaning: warm and cosy inside and full of yummy goodness, it's nothing but pies here. Vegetarians are well catered for and carnivores can be seen eyeballing the Sunday lamb roast. Sweet tooths will be sent into dessert delirium when they see the options available, but The Pie That Ate Newtown will stop any apple pie fan dead in their tracks. This pie is extra large. No wait, it's enormous. Utterly bursting with layers of cinnamon-spiced apple, the pastry on top is crisp and liberally sprinkled with sugar. The depth of this pie is incredible and you could easily share a portion between three, or take the rest home for later.

Mon-Wed 10am-8pm, Thu-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun: 10am-6pm; 1a Brown Street, Newtown; (02) 9519 7880; www.thepietin.com.au

4. La Banette

CP pick: Ratatouille pie $6.50

It may be hard to bypass the front counter that is replete with pastries and cakes, but the pies that sit in the heating cabinet at the back must not be overlooked. Winter calls for something warming and wholesome and what better way to get your vege dose than a ratatouille pie? La Banette have made it lid-less for a reason: chock-a-block full of chunky vegetables, it might be a tad messy, but it's worth every napkin. Grab a coffee and dessert on your way out, and it's quite the steal.

Tues-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat & Sun 7am-5.30pm; 18 Glebe Point Road, Glebe; (02) 8095 9688

5. The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay

CP pick: Snapper Pie $48

The Boathouse has a reputation for luring people to dine on Australia’s finest seafood. Yet it's the signature dish — the snapper pie — that gets people talking the most. And yes, it's one of those pies: not only does it meet all the benchmarks of the perfect pie, but also it goes way beyond that. Ceremoniously served up on the plate in front of you by the waiter, the aromas are enough to send you into a gastronomic meltdown. It might set you back $48, but the succulent chunks of snapper engulfed in a light creamy sauce and topped with golden flaky pastry are worth every penny. Just ask for more bread so you can mop up the delicious juices. The Boathouse have nailed it: hook, line and sinker.

Lunch Thus-Sun 12pm-3pm, Dinner Tues-Sun from 6pm; End of Ferry Road, Glebe; (02) 9518 9011; www.boathouse.net.au

6. Harry’s Cafe de Wheels

CP pick: Harry’s Tiger $6.90

This place is over 70 years old — so clearly they're doing something remarkable. We reckon it's because they've maintained all their traditions and kept it simple since 1938: a refreshing change to the elaborate gastronomical contrivances that can be seen around Sydney. The signature dish is named after the founder Harry 'Tiger' Edwards and is a chunky lean beef pie served with mushy peas, potato and gravy. The generous portions on top are the ideal carrier for the peppery filling beneath, and it certainly calls for cutlery — unless you want to be wearing the Harry, it's not one for eating on the go.

Open 7 days: Woolloomooloo, Haymarket, Liverpool, Ultimo, Parramatta, Tempe, Burwood, Penrith; (02) 9211 2506; www.harryscafedewheels.com.au