About as classically Roman as carbonara, the Colosseum and the 1953 Audrey Hepburn film, cream-filled maritozzi buns are popping up in bakery cabinets and on menus across Sydney of late.
While the traditional take sees a brioche bun split and stuffed—often to a degree that seems to defy physics—with whipped cream, it’s common to see flavoured fillings, additions and dustings coming out of Sydney’s bakeries and kitchens.
The Italians aren’t purists, though, with Via Napoli owner Luigi Esposito recently adding a savoury breakfast maritozzo to the menu at his Roman pizzeria 170 Grammi on Surry Hills’ Crown Street. There, the bun is stuffed with mortadella and scamorza, or porchetta and pecorino cream. After dinner, maritozzi form the dessert offering at 170 Grammi, in traditional flavours or iterations inspired by tiramisu or Ferrero Rocher.
“I'm a huge fan of creative twists on the traditional maritozzi,” says Flavio Carnevale, the owner of Rushcutters Bay’s Marta (where maritozzi are a favourite item at the weekend Roman bakery, which he launched in lockdown) and Rose Bay’s Martina.
“Right now at Marta we're serving a meatball maritozzi sandwich with provolone,” he says. “At Martina, we offer a smoked salmon and scrambled eggs maritozzi with herbed cream cheese for breakfast.”
At North Sydney's Sol Bread and Wine, where the maritozzi come with a streak of cherry-raspberry jam, head of pastry Rhiann Mead says part of the boom could be the around-the-clock appeal of the treat.
“The best thing about [maritozzi] is you can have them for breakfast, you can have them for lunch, you can have them for dessert,” Rhiann says.
Here's where to find the best maritozzi in Sydney right now.
Marta
30 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay
Image credit: Marta | Instagram
When Flavio launched the bakery side of Marta during lockdown, he had no idea it'd become a mainstay.
Now, Marta sports a permanent Italian bakery lineup that sees sfogliatelle, cannoli and, of course, maritozzi served to the masses from 7am, Wednesday–Sunday. Marta's maritozzi are packed to the rim with whipped cream, and you’ll also find occasional special flavours like Nutella and pistachio.
Sol Bread and Wine
168 Walker Street, North Sydney
One piece of the Walker Street dining precinct that's also home to Genzo, Soluna and Una, Sol Bread and Wine is an all-day spot with a menu, beverage list, and bakery treats inspired by European bakery-to-bar dining culture.
Head baker Brendon Woodward fills fresh brioche with a house-made jam and creme diplomat (a blend of pastry cream and whipped cream) for the perfect treat to pair with a coffee, wine, or amaro.
Da Orazio Pasticceria
200 Euston Road, Alexandria
Image credit: Da Orazio Pasticcera | Instagram
Chef Orazio D’Elia's Italian bakery takes familiar favourites and delivers them with technical precision. As well as the classic (lightly flavoured with vanilla), you need Da Orazio Pasticceria's versions dipped in dark chocolate or pistachio cream, with special flavours like raspberry joining the lineup on occasions like Mother's Day.
Shell House Dining Room & Terrace
37 Margaret Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Shell House | Instagram
While head chef Brad Guest changes the menu at this stunning CBD restaurant regularly, you can always be sure of an elite selection of snacks. We're loving Shell House's savoury take on the maritozzi filled with goats curd and topped off with shaved Manjimup truffle.
Maggio’s
457 Miller Street, Cammeray
Image credit: Maggio's | Instagram
This Italian bakery, pasticceria and cafe in the Lower North Shore has been around for close to 30 years, and their maritozzi are an enduring favourite.
Grab one of Maggio's classic maritozzi—which they do in flavours like berry or hazelnut, too—and an espresso, and nab a table overlooking the corner for a little Italian escape.
170 Grammi
428 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: 170 Grammi | Supplied
If the pizzas come topped with porchetta, carbonara or Amatriciana, you know you're in the right place for Roman delicacies.
The maritozzi at 170 Grammi are massive, and come filled with the classic cream or in rotating special flavours like tiramisu, with savoury breakfast versions available from 7am Friday–Sunday.
Norcino
1 Saunders Street, Pyrmont
Roman deli and restaurant Norcino is committed to the delivery of Roman pasta, cured meats, wine and more goodies—including maritozzi.
Their buns come stuffed with the usual cream, with plain or chocolate custard, or as a savoury take with mortadella and truffle mayonnaise.
Want more sweet treats? Check out the best bakeries in Sydney.
Main image credit: Da Orazio Pasticceria | Instagram