Creamy, sticky, crunchy, smooth, sweet, zesty, tangy, tasty - cakes glorious cakes.
We all love to indulge once in a while, whether its over a coffee with friends, cozy on the couch watching a movie, or celebrating an occasion with loved ones.
And Melbourne's many cake shops will and certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. Here's where you'll find the yummiest sweet in Melbourne:
Brunetti
- In the City -Spend any amount of time wandering the streets and lane ways of Melbourne and you'll stumble upon more than a handful of yummy cake shops. The following are a few of my personal favourites:
BrunettiPasticceria, Gelateria, Paninoteca, Cioccolateria, Creperia, and then there's the bar. From drinks to danishes, slices and made-to-order cakes, Brunetti is Italian cafe culture at its finest.
With stores in
Carlton,
City Square,
Camberwell,
Fitzroy, and new prestigious location in
Myer Melbourne, there's really no excuse that won't do for a date with dessert.
LaurentHigh quality French cakes, pastries and breads, both sweet and savoury, have kept Melburnians queueing on Collins Street outside
Laurent for 18 years.
Laurent is incredibly popular with the upmarket city crowd for its charming decor and delicious bites - you'll feel like you've been whisked away to Paris for your breakfast, lunch or afternoon treat.
And pricey as it may be, with 16 pâtisseries spread out across Melbourne and Sydney, Laurent looks like its here to stay.
Le Petit GateauIf you've never sampled the sweets from Le Petit Gateau, you've never experienced 'don't care what it costs, don't care how many calories it has, give it to me NOW,' cake. And you'll want to, trust me.
Nestled on
Little Collins Street in the CBD, Le Petit Gateau offers tarts and cakes that are contemporary looking, and distinct in flavour.
Try their Peanut Jelly Cake, Crisp Lemon Tart, or my personal favourite, the Cosmopolitan - a carrot cake base, topped with white chocolate cheesecake, and raspberry jam.
International Cakes
The Greeks know how to bake, that's for sure. And if you love Baklava, you've got to stop in here. With sidewalk seating, and a huge range of baked sweets to choose from, you're sure to find something to satisfy any cravings.
Conveniently located on
Lonsdale Street, International Cakes is popular with city strollers, university students, and those wanting to grab a treat or two during their lunch break.
The Cupcake Family
Everyone loves cupcakes - from the generous dollop of icing, to the fluffy cake itself, these colourful morsels are the perfect accompaniment to a mug of tea or coffee.
Escape from the shopping crowds to The Cupcake Family, in the
QV Centre, and recharge those batteries with a hit of sugary goodness. My personal favourites include Lemony Sunshine, Coffee Crunch, and Deluxe Strawberry Crumb Cheesecake.
French Lettuce bakery/cafe.
- Out of the City -
French Lettuce
Renowned for their beautiful wedding cakes, tasty breads and sweet pastries, I doubt you'll ever hear a bad review of French Lettuce.
Bite in to one of their pistachio croissants and you'll realise why this cafe/bakery has been a buzz with customers since it opened 30 years ago on
Nicholson Street.
Stop in for lunch and finish on a sweet note with what The Age have concluded is "the best vanilla slice in Melbourne", or take away a bundle of baked goods to savour later.
Let Them Eat Cake
The name says it all, really. These guys are a creative, cake boutique in
South Melbourne, serving up cakes of every variety - birthday, wedding, novelty, corporate, cupcakes, dessert cakes, and more. Eat in, or order for an occasion, with theme and flavours at your request.
Vogue Entertaining, Gourmet Traveller, Harper's Bazaar and The Age's Epicure have even paid recognition to these guys for their contribution to the wonderful world of 'cake', so you know you're eating quality.
Balha's Pastry
Balha's is quite simply Lebanese pastry at its best. Syrupy, sweet, and so very bad for the waistline. But we wouldn't have it any other way, would we?
Extremely popular with the Brunswick Muslim community, and with wanderers like myself, their selection is seemingly endless. You may have to queue to order, but that will just give you more time to decide on a sweet, or three.
Hilltop Cake Shop
Specialising in Swiss and German sweets, you can tick two more countries off your gastronomic list at Hilltop Cake Shop in Surrey Hills.
Bite sized cakes perfect for entertaining, biscuits and truffles gorgeous with a hot drink, melt in your mouth croissants, and special occasion cakes to order - and with fantastic service, what more needs to be said?
Polish Cheesecake
- Ackland Street -
You can't walk down St Kilda's bustling Ackland Street without succumbing to one of its now 'famous five' European cake shops. Their warm interiors and mouth watering window displays are a tribute to the European and Jewish influence in the area since the 1930s.
Monarch Cakes
The first of the cake shops to open on the strip,
Monarch Cakes have been impressing the locals for over 75 years with their delicious sweets.
Many of their recipes have come to Melbourne from the original store in Poland, including their signature Polish Cheesecake, and Chocolate Kooglhoupf.
Europa Cake Shop
Europa Cake Shop's
St Kilda store is full of yummy European inspired treats for you to choose from.
Share a strudel, slice or cake over coffee with friends. Or, have one all to yourself.
Le Bon Continental Cake Shop
Le Bon Continental Cake Shop serve up some of the yummiest home made pies in Melbourne. French flavours in petite pastries - who could go past this one?
The Acland Cake Shop
Cakes, biscuits, slices, eclairs, meringues, macarons, pies, tarts - The Acland Cake Shop has one of the most impressive collections of sweets in the strip. If you can't find something that tickles your fancy here, you won't find it anywhere in St Kilda.
Cakehole Cafe
Newcomer on the Ackland cake scene, Cakehole Cafe lives up to the reputation the others have long ago established.
With some of the best coffee in St Kilda (tried and tested by yours truly), and cakes to drool over, there are at least two reasons you can use to keep coming back.
