We’ve found the best August treat, ready to transport you to France

That Place Patisserie goes classic for their August special.

There’s something about a perfectly made French pastry that can instantly transport you to Rue de Buci (one of the most famous strips for dining in Saint-Germain-des-Prés). A bite of buttery viennoiserie, a swirl of delicate cream, the crackle of caramelised sugar, and suddenly a busy corner of Belmont feels polished and Parisian.

This August, That Place Patisserie & Café is leaning into that feeling with its monthly special, the Saint Honoré, a timeless French dessert and a personal favourite of French-trained pastry chef and owner Ashlea Allen.

That Place Patisserie & Café

Where: 110B Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont VIC

When: Monday-CLOSED, Tuesday-Friday 7AM-3pm, Saturday 8am-3pm, Sunday-CLOSED
Breakfast from open, Lunch from 11.30am

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

 

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An elegant celebration of classic pâtisserie, the Saint Honoré brings together rich vanilla bean custard, Chantilly cream, choux buns and glossy toffee in a dessert that balances texture, sweetness and refinement. It’s a fitting choice for a pastry chef whose career has been built around respecting traditional French techniques while finding ways to make them feel at home in Australian café culture.

Since opening in 2017, That Place Patisserie has become a Belmont favourite, earning a reputation for its handcrafted pastries, thoughtful seasonal menu and unmistakable French influence. Located on Mt Pleasant Road, the neighbourhood patisserie is a little slice of Paris tucked into Geelong’s everyday rhythm, whether you’re stopping in for a morning coffee and croissant or picking up something special for the weekend.

The story behind That Place is just as impressive as the pastries themselves. Before swapping a lab coat for a toque blanche, Ashlea Allen worked as an exercise scientist before following her passion for pastry all the way to France. She trained at L’ecole Grégoire-Ferrandi, one of France’s leading culinary schools, before working under acclaimed pastry chef Philippe Conticini at La Pâtisserie des Rêves, followed by Le Grenier à Pain.

Returning to Australia, Allen brought those experiences home, first taking on the role of head pastry chef at Tivoli Road Bakery before opening That Place and creating a venue that blends the precision of French pastry with the warmth of an Australian café.

While the Saint Honoré is stealing the spotlight this August, That Place’s signature croissants remain the cornerstone of the menu. Made fresh in-house, they showcase the skill behind every bake, with crisp, golden layers giving way to a soft, delicate centre. The same attention to detail flows through the rest of the offering, from sweet pastries and cakes to a rotating breakfast and lunch menu built around seasonal ingredients.

 

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That Place also produces its own sourdough breads, brioche, yoghurts, muesli, granola, pickles, jams, sauces and more, with a takeaway shop allowing visitors to bring a little of the patisserie experience home.

That Place recently joining forces with nearby Mt Pleasant Road Brewers for a collaboration that pushes pastry into the world of beer. The limited-release That Nitro Pastry Stout features a dozen of That Place Patisserie’s famous Pain Au Chocolat folded into the brewing process alongside the grains, creating a rich, chocolate-forward stout with a smooth, creamy finish thanks to nitrogen pouring.

The philosophy For That Place is simple: take the complexity of French pastry and let quality ingredients shine through a well-honed technique. It’s clearly working as That Place stop-ins have become a ritual not only for Belmont residents but drawing in Geelongians, and travellers near and far.

The Saint Honoré is a must try this month but That Place will always be that place to find a slice of France close to home.

Find out more about That Place Patisserie here and be sure to stop in this month. That Place is open Tuesday – Friday 7AM-3pm and Saturday 8am-3pm.