Jocelyn’s Provisions James Street

Jocelyn's Provisions opened its first store on James Street in Fortitude Valley in 1996 and has spent most of its existence on the street. During construction of The Calile Hotel it traded temporarily from a pop-up space before returning to James Street. Its flagship now sits on Ada Lane, the laneway that links James Street with Wandoo Street, where it was the first tenant to open. The business has since grown to four stores, in James Street, Albion, Camp Hill and Toowong, and describes itself as having a national reputation for cakes, bread, pastries and provisions.

The gold-trimmed cabinet is the main attraction. Bar cakes, chocolate roulades, cheesecakes, brownies and buttery tarts sit alongside biscuits and smaller sweets, and the bakery uses locally sourced ingredients and traditional recipes. On the savoury side, its pies and sausage rolls have won awards, and house-made sourdough sandwiches make an easy lunch. Ready-to-go meals, salads and provisions are also sold, and a gluten-free friendly range is available.

The James Street store opens from 7am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 2pm on Sunday, with public holidays excluded. Whole cakes and catering need to be ordered online in advance: orders close at noon each day, orders for Sunday and Monday must be in by noon on Saturday, and orders cannot be placed in store. The bakery also takes custom orders for occasions such as weddings and celebrations.

Jocelyn's suits anyone wanting a sweet treat or a picnic lunch, and it is a good place to buy a cake for a birthday or a gift while travelling. It is priced at the budget end, with individual sweets and savoury items rather than a full sit-down menu. Check the bakery's social media for any changes to trading hours.

Ada Lane connects James Street and Wandoo Street, so Bellissimo's Fortitude Valley cafe, on Wandoo Street, is close at hand for coffee. Same Same is at the same James Street address, and The Calile Hotel and Hellenika are across the road, which makes it easy to combine a cake run with lunch or dinner in the precinct.