Let’s be real here for a minute. No matter how much we profess to love clean-eating, low-carb, paleo, or sipping on triple-distilled unicorn tears, we’ll always find room (or excuses) for cake. After all, a party without a cake is basically a meeting and a bad one at that. So, with that in mind, we’ve decided to create the ultimate ode to cake, with our list of the best cake makers and dealers that Melbourne has to offer.
Dentists, get ready to weep, here are Melbourne's best cakes.
Mill And Bakery
Docklands
Mill and Bakery is your ultimate vintage-style patisserie, filled to the brim with artisanal bread, pastries and cakes and other stuff you know you shouldn’t. With their daily selection of sweet treats, plus cakes made to order for weddings, you’ve got all your Melbourne cake needs covered. Who knew Docklands could be so delicious?
Bibelot
Forget the petite gateaux, we're heading straight for the Grands Gateaux at Bibelot, South Melbourne's premier dessert bar and cake shop. Each of these works of art is created by hand using French pâtisserie techniques, with rare ingredients imported all the way from Europe. Prices can range p to $160, but you get what you pay for at Bibelot. Drop one of their glossy passionfruit chocolate cakes on the table, or the delicate hazelnut praline crunch, and you'll be a party hero for decades. In a world of same-same, Bibelot makes statements. The statement being: 'We make the best damn cakes in town.'
Tidbit Cakes
Richmond
Melbourne’s latest vegan haven is here and it’s sweeter than ever. A dedicated vegan bakery and patisserie, Tidbit Cakes offers bespoke, whole cakes to order as well as a range of daily rotating treats. Raw cake slice options may include raw salted caramel, raw snickers, or caramel tahini. Instagram-friendly slices of cheesecake, pastel pink macarons and cupcakes topped with intricate designs (think: gold dusted strawberries, roses made from icing and edible flowers) beg to be eaten from the glass cabinet.
Atomic Cakes
Caulfield North
To take advantage of the amazing cakes behind the doors of Atomic Cakes you'll have to make an appointment, but a meeting with Gav is absolutely worth your time. Atomic Cakes is a go-to amongst some of Melbourne's best-known celebs, and they're probably one of the most creative cake makers in the city. Absolutely nothing is off limits, the team will work with you on creating the perfect cake for any occasion that will absolutely be top notch Instagram fodder.
The French Lettuce
Carlton
When a business has been around the Melbourne food scene for 35 years, you’re pretty much guaranteed they know what’s up. Whether it’s a giant showstopper wedding cake or something more low key, The French Lettuce will work with you to customise the perfect cake. Special shout-out to their raspberry flourless cake. Soooo dreamy.
Proof Is In The Pudding
South Yarra
You’ve got to give these guys props for mad innovation. Dessert bento boxes? Done. Made to order choc chip cookies? You betcha. Proof’s cake selection is equally outrageous—everything from Turkish Delight cheesecake to an almond ganache tort that’ll make you believe in God. Definitely swing by next time you’re in South Yarra.
Armageddon Cake
Geelong
Armageddon Cake...geddit? Ahhh, good times. These guys might not technically be in Melbourne, but we feel Geelong is worth the drive, especially for cakes of this magnitude. Armageddon only opens at night. They’re kind of a dessert bar—wicked cups of your Nan’s tea plus confections like Gummy Bear-infused rainbow cake with Italian meringue buttercream.
Burch And Purchese
South Yarra
With a name that is almost synonymous with the Melbourne dessert scene, Burch and Purchese are a Melbourne classic. If you haven’t tried their mirror glazed cakes, you haven’t lived. You’ll find them tucked next to a construction site on Chapel St, near the river. Fun fact: they also make a wicked cheese toastie.
Cake Ink.
Melbourne
Cake Ink. specialises in cakes and stationery, which is a pretty sweet combo when it comes to say...wedding catering. You can order custom stationery for your wedding, birthday, baby shower, or christening, and a delicious cake to go along with it. How’s that for a business model? Personally, we’re partial to their Neapolitan ice-cream drip cake (just check out the pics).
Miss Ladybird Cakes
McKinnon
Using locally sourced products and making everything on-site, Miss Ladybird Cakes are pretty much cake magicians. They make gorgeous, traditional buttercream-iced cakes, from buttercream and fondant, naked or semi-naked, as well as novelty cakes. Check out their wedding cake gallery and weep, that’s all we’re saying.
Nectar And Stone
Melbourne
Serving up (almost) too-pretty-to-eat macaroons, colourful pyramid-shaped chocolate creations, or incredible cakes, Nectar and Stone are your one-stop-shop for all things sweet. If you’re organising a Christmas party, you NEED to order a tray of their snowman and Santa cupcakes. Honestly, dying inside.
Bad Love Club
Footscray
Footscray’s boozy new jaffle bar and cocktail lounge might not seem like cake paradise, but owner Sarah Ryan comes from a long line of bakers, and her pecan pie is a thing of beauty. Swing by Bad Love Club after dark and check out what’s cooking in the big glass cake cabinets. Cross your fingers for Sarah’s signature strawberry and Prosecco cheesecake...
Blackbird Cakes
Woodend
One more reason to load up the car for a Woodend road trip (as if the gorgeous countryside wasn’t enough). If you’re after a cake that involves a bit of nature, look no further than Blackbird. Their cakes are often decorated with real flowers to provide a gorgeous rustic look, perfect for country weddings. Our favourite? The chocolate chilli mud cake. Don’t even get us started...
LaManna Direct
Essendon Fields
Ever wanted one of those cool unicorn cakes? Or a cheeseburger cake? Or a cake topped with giant lollipops and colourful chocolate shards? ‘Course you have. Look no further than LaManna Direct, then. You can find all this more at this epic Melbourne cake shop.
Bake and Co.
Bentleigh
From ‘naked’ cakes topped with flowers, to Katherine-Sabbath-inspired cakes, to cakes literally dripping in ganache and topped with an explosion of chocolates, praline shards, and everything in between, Bake and Co. is the place to go. Specialising in only custom cakes, cupcakes, and biscuits, no celebration is too big or small for Bake and Co.
Brunetti
Carlton & Flinders Lane
A Melbourne institution, Brunetti has cakes for every occasion. From cakes for every celebration from birthdays, to christenings and beyond, they can also sort you out with wedding cakes and in any way, shape, or form that you desire.
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Image credit: Griffin Simm