Tasty European treats arrive in Newcastle West
Tucked on the corner of Union and King Streets in Newcastle West, Liebe is the latest addition to our region’s growing pastry scene. With a focus on European-inspired pastries, owner Craig has brought a fresh perspective to Newcastle’s bakery offerings.
Moving to Newcastle from Canberra around five years ago, Craig’s journey to launching Liebe is far from traditional. Before venturing into the world of pastry, he was a professional poker player. However, a love for the kitchen and the sisterly connection with Jacqui of Sprout Catering gave him access to a commercial kitchen to learn the art of pastry.
Craig
“I originally started doing it purely for a bit of fun. Then I kept practicing and actually got really good at it. Generally speaking, how bakers learn is that they’ll do an apprenticeship with someone, but for me, I wanted to learn directly from the best person I could. I researched how I could learn from the best and it was all online,” Craig said.
After honing his skills, Liebe first launched to the public with a stall at Newcastle City Farmers Markets where Craig’s baked goods were selling out well before the day was over.
“The markets were definitely the boost we needed to get started.”
Deciding to utilise the empty cafe space that was out the front of where the commercial kitchen was set up, renovations began and the bricks and mortar space for Liebe started to form.
Come December 23, 2024, just two days before Christmas, Liebe was open.
Unlike many patisseries in Australia, which lean heavily on French traditions, Liebe takes inspiration from all across Europe.
“My partner is German, and that was one of the reasons I started baking. I was in Germany for Christmas in 2023 with her, and I was eating a lot of pastries. I would have been eating two pastries in the morning alone.
“There was so much variety and I knew that if I was to do something, I wanted to drift away from the standard and start doing things differently and products you might not find elsewhere in Newcastle.”
Each week you can expect some fresh offerings on the menu, ensuring a dynamic selection of baked goods, while always offering three core staples. This alongside a small lunch offering with fresh baguettes and focaccias will keep you coming back for more.
As for coffee, right now, Craig has kept it simple with old-school drip and cold brew coffee.
The space itself reflects Craig’s approach, featuring Scandinavian design elements with a simple flat display of the daily offering and a clean, simplified, and minimalist interior.
Liebe is a true passion project, born from curiosity, experimentation, and a love for European pastries. With its ever-changing menu, it’s already carving out its niche in Newcastle’s foodie scene.
