{"id":21904,"date":"2026-09-19T11:54:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/19\/melbourne-gets-australias-first-dedicated-bougatsa-shop-thanks-to-kosta-kostidis-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T11:54:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:54:12","slug":"melbourne-gets-australias-first-dedicated-bougatsa-shop-thanks-to-kosta-kostidis-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/19\/melbourne-gets-australias-first-dedicated-bougatsa-shop-thanks-to-kosta-kostidis-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne Gets Australia\u2019s First Dedicated Bougatsa Shop, Thanks to Kosta Kostidis \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A beloved Greek pastry is making its way into the Melbourne food scene, with Kosta Kostidis opening what is described as Australia\u2019s first shop dedicated entirely to bougatsa.<\/h3>\n
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Kostidis and his mother, Martha Oplopiadis, are behind Bougatsaki<\/strong>, a small shop on Sydney Road in Brunswick serving flaky filo pastry filled with sweet semolina and vanilla custard.<\/p>\n

For Kostidis, bougatsa is more than just another Greek dessert. It is a taste of home and a family tradition passed down by his grandfather.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s like a Greek vanilla slice,\u201d Kostidis says, describing the pastry to explain its appeal to Australian customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Greece you see it at every corner shop. Every corner shop is its own little bougatsa shop. I wanted to bring something like that down here.\u201d<\/p>\n

From family recipe to Melbourne shop<\/h2>\n

Kostidis began making bougatsa at home using a recipe from his grandfather after a back injury forced him to step away from his work as a plumber.<\/p>\n

His grandfather had been a baker in Greece and came from Serres in northern Greece, a region closely associated with bougatsa.<\/p>\n

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What began as home baking soon turned into a business.<\/p>\n

About a year ago, Kostidis took Bougatsaki to the Northcote Festival, where the pastries sold out within five hours.<\/p>\n

The success led to regular appearances at football matches, markets and festivals across Melbourne, but Kostidis eventually realised that the mobile setup was limiting the business\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

The opportunity to open a permanent location came through family connections to the Melbourne based LaManna fruiterers.<\/p>\n

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Bougatsaki now operates from a small tenancy inside Italiano\u2019s Fresh Produce on Sydney Road, Brunswick.<\/p>\n

The pastries are prepared at a food production facility in Footscray, using filo pastry imported from Greece. Kostidis then collects the bougatsa and bakes it fresh at the Brunswick shop.<\/p>\n

Traditional bougatsa and Melbourne twists<\/h2>\n

Customers can order the traditional version, finished with icing sugar and cinnamon.<\/p>\n

Bougatsaki also offers variations including Nutella, Biscoff and honey and walnut.<\/p>\n

For those who prefer savoury flavours, there is also a spinach and cheese version inspired by gozleme.<\/p>\n

Despite the modern variations, Kostidis says the family connection remains at the heart of the business.<\/p>\n

His grandfather, who taught him the recipe, has been especially proud to see the idea grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s over the moon,\u201d Kostidis says. \u201cHe kind of lives through me now. The biggest thing is that I put a smile on his face.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a Greek community that has long embraced loukoumades, galaktoboureko and other traditional sweets, Bougatsaki is introducing another classic to a wider Melbourne audience.<\/p>\n

And Kostidis has a simple ambition for the business: to make bougatsa as familiar to Australians as it is to Greeks.<\/p>\n

Bougatsaki<\/h3>\n

Address:<\/strong> 403 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Melbourne
Phone:<\/strong> 0402 517 737<\/p>\n

Opening hours:<\/strong>
Wednesday and Thursday: 9am to 6pm
Friday and Saturday: 9am to 8pm
Sunday: 10am to 5pm<\/p>\n