Get Local: The Hideaway Bakery & Cafe

Walk into the Hideaway Bakery & Cafe any morning apart from Sunday (when it's closed) and you'll see it's not as hidden away as its name would suggest. The joint is jumping, and for good reason.

Situated a half-block up from Okanagan Lake Beach on Winnipeg Street, Hideaway is a bright and airy place that's just a short walk from the downtown core and a short drive from anywhere else in Penticton's burgeoning north side.

But being in the right spot isn't the only reason Hideaway is a local favourite.

Some of the folks we spoke with say the big draw is the food. Owner Hardy Sauter also owns one of Penticton's most popular bakeries, Wouda's Bakery, and every day he makes at least one run from bakery to cafe with tray upon tray of goodies.

The display cases are loaded with paninis, sandwiches, breads, and some of the prettiest baked goods around - pastries, cakes, muffins, croissants, brownies, cookies, pies, and more. Yum.

Judging by our own experience though, many customers clearly come for the coffee. Hideaway brews their own - called, appropriately enough, Hideaway Coffee - and offers an abundance of ways to drink it. Everything from basic coffee through to lattes and macchiatos and all things between, including iced variations.

Joy and her mom Carol of Okanagan Falls dropped by while we were there, and walked out ten minutes later, arms filled with bags and boxes and cups. "We go to Wouda Bakery quite often when we're in town," said Joy. "We've seen Hideaway and not stopped until today. Then we realized they have the same items here that they have at Wouda. It's great!"

Running the shows this Friday morning was Courtney, a young woman who not only multitasks at light speed, but also really seems to care about the people who walk in the door. She knows some of them on a first-name basis, and she strikes up conversation with those she doesn't.

That she happily offered directions and advice to a group of tourists while simultaneously pouring coffees for other customers came as no surprise.

"I love this place," she said, "The owner is amazing. People come in because they say they heard the coffee is great. Others come in to grab a cookie or a snack. The atmosphere here is really good."

Owner Sauter, who bought the space just 14 months ago, has big plans ahead - particularly for Hideaway's patio space. It's nice enough right now with tables and chairs and a view out to the lake, but he says next spring it'll really be something.

He envisions a trellis and a metal railing all around with two entrance/exit points. More "Okanagan-y" he laughs. He's currently waiting for approval.

In the meantime, he's one happy dude. "We really do appreciate the support we've gotten from the community, the small businesses, and the people living in the area. They've really supported us, and for that we thank them."

You'll find the Hideaway Bakery & Cafe on the ground floor at 93 Winnipeg St. It's open 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.