Ilo Bakehouse set to bring pastries, coffee and community vibes to Wynnum’s esplanade
Joy by the water is the guiding idea behind Ilo Bakehouse, a new coffee and pastry destination opening on Wynnum Esplanade this August. From the team behind Sister and Alby’s, the Scandi-inspired spot will pair specialty coffee and house-made baked goods with sweeping bayside views. Here’s what we know …
One of Brisbane’s most seasoned cafe operators has set his sights on the city’s bayside. In August, Daniel Bowles of Sister, Butter Cafe and Alby’s fame will add a new concept to his portfolio, teaming up with Sister’s longtime manager-turned-pastry chef Tram Phan to open Ilo Bakehouse on Wynnum Esplanade.
The duo has taken over Island View Cafe near the Wynnum Wading Pool and will soon commence work transforming the old-school fish and chipper into a striking Scandi-inspired coffee and pastry spot.
According to Daniel, the tandem identified Wynnum as an area with potential after noticing an uptick in Sister customers making a weekend pilgrimage from the bayside.
“We’ve seen a trend over the last four years that a lot of our regulars, particularly the younger regulars, are all moving out towards the bay – between Hawthorne and here,” says Daniel.
“This spot became available and we both knew straight away that it could be something pretty great.”
At its core, Ilo Bakehouse is a concept with personal meaning for Tram, who has dreamed of opening a small bakery-style operation as a way to help foster and give back to the local community.
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“‘Ilo’ means joy in Finnish,” says Tram, who also reveals it was originally a contender for her daughter’s name. “We just want something that feels more personal. We want people to walk past and say, ‘Oh, that’s Ilo’s place – let’s go have a coffee or a pastry from Ilo’s house’.”
Though baked goods will form a core part of Ilo’s offering, the duo is hesitant to label the concept as a pure bakery, hinting that the eventual offering will be more diverse than that of a simple pastry slinger.
“We didn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into a bakery,” says Daniel. “That’s why we call ourselves a bakehouse – we feel like it gives us scope to do whatever we feel like, in a sense.”
“We just want to keep it very broad, so we’ll be able to bring some seasonal products in,” adds Tram. “We don’t want to be tied to one set menu.”
While Tram and Daniel confirm the bakehouse will serve croissants and kouign amanns alongside specialty coffee from Single O, we’re told that the menu will be fluid.
“In addition to pastries, we will have focaccia slabs, which will be seasonal and forever changing,” says Daniel. “We’ll also have sandwiches and a small menu, but it won’t be like poached eggs or anything like that.”
With keys to the building now in hand, Daniel and Tram will commence work on Ilo Bakehouse’s fit-out this week. The first order of business is clearing out Island View Cafe’s retro-tinged interior, replacing it with a chic and minimal design scheme based around reddish-clay and cream hues, slick tiling, warm timbers and stainless-steel accents.
“In terms of the fit-out, it’ll probably feel quite polished, but we also want it to feel warm and inviting and really emphasise community,” says Daniel.
While the interior will be dominated by the pastry display and coffee counter, approximately 30 seats will be spread across the inside, a small courtyard and the footpath. Though guests are welcome to linger if they can snag a stool, Daniel and Tram envision Ilo Bakehouse as a pit stop for those keen to maximise their time by the water.
“There will be a heavy focus on utilising the esplanade,” says Daniel. “Bring a rug, come in, grab some things, take them across the road and sit on the grass.”
Ilo Bakehouse’s imminent arrival marks the latest chapter in Brisbane’s ongoing bayside boom. Both Tram and Daniel are eager to be a part of Wynnum’s evolution, with a long-term goal of becoming a community fixture.
“So many people come past every day – it’s part of their morning routine,” says Daniel. “We want to add to that routine, so they can come get a coffee and continue on.
“There are some great operators in Wynnum who are doing a great job – we feel that we can really add to what’s already here and have our unique spin on things as well.”
Ilo Bakehouse is targeting an August opening date. The venue’s progress will be documented via its social media pages – keep your eyes peeled for more.
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