Pistachio gelato and apricot jam tart. Finger bun croissant. Sydney’s latest pastry hotspot comes from a new, and unexpected, contender. Messina may be known for its gelato, but it’s showing Sydneysiders that it can create viral Viennoiserie with the best of them. 

The gelateria, which launched a thousand copycats with its salted caramel flavour, is applying its unique spin and tasty combinations to a pastry shop, Shadow Baking. It was the brainchild of three Messina head chefs, the ones who think up the fun and quirky flavour combinations for gelato, Bavarians and cakes. Their imagination now extends to pastries.

Credit: Messina

The trio did its due diligence and tested the water with a pop-up at Messina’s Marrickville HQ car park. The demand was there, so these decadent creations have graduated from the sweltering asphalt to an air-conditioned space inside Messina HQ, from Thursdays to Sundays.

As well as freshly baked pastries and exclusive gelato collabs, Shadow Baking will be serving coffee. 

Obviously, the marriage of caffeine and gelato calls for affogato, and you can upgrade yours here with your preferred flavour. It’s a case of vanilla, who? The options are endless, from baked caramel cheesecake or red velvet to peanut and and Nutella fudge gelato. There’s also a special pistachio praline and fudge affogato. 

Credit: Messina

You’d think a dedicated pastry shop would be enough, but no, Messina is also expanding into the wine bar world. 

The HQ’s former degustation space has been repurposed and renamed. Meet Erin. 

Named after Erindale, Messina’s farm in country Victoria, its Australia’s first wine bar and restaurant inside a gelato store.  So, what can you expect? 

Choose from a six-course set menu or a more casual à la carte experience, with dishes using the fresh produce from Erindale. In keeping with Messina’s roots, each dish will feature a frozen twist. Think gnocco fritto with jamón serrano and  parmesan gelato, Messina jersey beef tartare toast with parmigiano and jalapeno sorbet, and pork pie with wild mushrooms and ketchup gelato. 

Being a wine bar, drinks are also a focus. Gelato cocktails, anyone? As well as local wines and beer, it’ll be slinging a spicy watermelon margarita gelato, a ‘Nicky Glasses’ martini (salted caramel and coffee), a salted coconut and mango daiquiri and a pepperoni negroni.

If that wasn’t enough newness, Messina is also collaborating with Doom Juice to create its own wine. Moo-Tang is a smashable blend of gewürztraminer and vermentino. 

There’s a lot going on and it’s covering all bases, from those who fancy a mid-morning pastry or want to cool down with a few scoops in the afternoon to diners who prefer to settle in for the evening for a meal matched with drinks they can’t get anywhere else.