I learned that this adorable little town has a bakery that conjures up the fantasy world of Kiki’s Delivery Service, so I decided to stop in. The actual name of the shop is the Ross Village Bakery. Japanese people sometimes refer to it as Kiki’s Bakery, since it was said to be the inspiration for the bakery where the protagonist Kiki works. It’s a deeply meaningful site for fans of the film.
You only have to take one step into Ross to be completely caught up in its charm. The quiet rows of stone buildings make it feel as if time has simply stopped. It’s a tourist town, but without the bustle and full of nostalgic streetscapes. It absolutely looks like the setting for Kiki’s Delivery Service. It was a mild day when I visited, and almost nobody was out on the streets, making it feel as if the entire town was quietly breathing in and out.
Ross Village Bakery is in the center of town, looking exactly like it belongs on a movie set. Even the outside has a storybook feel, intensifying your excitement even before you step through the door. Once you’re inside, you’re enveloped in the smell of freshly-baked bread, with simple breads, cakes, and baked treats lined up neatly in the case. Everything looks good, making you want to eat it all, but the large portions mean that you’ve got to fight to narrow down your choices.
I definitely didn’t want to miss out on their famous Vanilla Slice. When I took my first bite, the rich cream and crusty bread married beautifully in my mouth, and I broke into a smile without even realizing it. It wasn’t too sweet, which allowed the flavors of all the ingredients to come out. It was delicious down to the last bite and went amazingly well with coffee. The perfect rest stop on our trip.
I’ll never forget that little bakery in the adorable storybook town of Ross, like stepping right into the Kiki’s Delivery Service film.
If you go to Tasmania, make sure to stop by the Ross Village Bakery. It’s a place you’ll always remember.
The word that best describes Ross is “peaceful." There aren’t many shops there, but you can stroll along the river and enjoy the clear air and the quiet. It’s the perfect environment that lets you experience the richness of the ordinary and feel like you spent time wrapped up in a fairytale.
