The best cake shops in Melbourne

From iced gateaux to cream-filled sponges, tempt your tastebuds on a tour of the city’s best patisseries.

Le Petit Gateau

For visual and gastronomic treats à la française, visit Le Petit Gateau. The sleek brownie gateau is iced with flawless mirror-glaze chocolate. Inside are delicious tiers of passionfruit custard, chocolate mousse and mango jelly on a brownie base. If you don’t want to share, try a mini cake with coconut dacquoise, mango cream and yuzu white chocolate mousse.

Le Yeahllow

Delightful decadence awaits at Le Yeahllow. This beloved cake shop has expanded with a second location in Driver Lane. Playful creations include a lifelike mandarin and the modern art 'balloon puppy' cake. The mango chiffon is a must-try for cheesecake lovers, decorated with tiny dollops of yoghurt mousse and mango coulis.

TangMama

This hidden gem in Docklands is slinging colourful Chinese desserts. The star of the show at TangMama is the Teochew-style "thousand layer" mooncakes. The flaky rainbow pastries come with a variety of fillings to choose from. Go with the classic purple taro filling or bite into chewy mochi.

KOI Dessert Bar

Cake enthusiasts are in for a treat at KOI Dessert Bar. Indulge in a classic Basque or wow your loved ones with an elevated celebration cake. Of little surprise, the strawberry lychee is the store's best-seller. Adorned with fresh fruit and flowers, this hot pink showstopper tastes just as good as it looks.

CBD Bakery

Craving the comforts of a country-style bakery? Enjoy old-school baked goods in the heart of the city at CBD Bakery. Grab a slice of apple cake or try the glazed doughnuts. The vanilla slice, hedgehog and iconic lamingtons are as Aussie as it gets. Sweets are baked fresh in-house every Monday to Saturday.

TamiSweet

Home to the famous salted egg yolk cake, TamiSweet is serving up an abundant dessert menu. Think watermelon cake with a mix of rose cream and roasted pistachio. Or cheesecake topped to the brim with fresh strawberries. Pair your slice with a salted cream Vietnamese coffee for the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

LeTAO

One of the world's most famous cheesecakes has landed in Melbourne. LeTAO is a chic Japanese cake shop serving decadent Hokkaido style delights. Think rich cream, mascarpone and locally made Australian cream cheese. The base is light and fresh, while the crumbly no-bake outer layer is a beautiful snowy sensation.

Miilk Cake Studio

Craving a sweet treat? Just look for this neon-lit cake shop on Swanston Street. Despite its futuristic vibes and sleek silver interiors, Miilk Cake Studio is charmingly old-school. The cakes are made from treasured family recipes, handed down over generations. Order favourites like the fluffy lychee and strawberry 'first love' cake. Or try inventive flavours like mini taro and vanilla chiffon cakes and pandan sponges.

Kudo

Kudo isn't just one of Melbourne's best hidden laneway bakeries. It's also 100 per cent gluten-free! Run by a husband and wife chef duo, this blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot is located in the Windsor Hotel’s heritage wing. Their signature cake is a chiffon style slice, made with rotating seasonal flavours. Think pomelo and honey, black sesame and pandan kumquat.

Tori’s Melbourne

Melbourne has been blessed by another adorable laneway cafe. Tori's is cute as a button, and so are the treats. Cakes come whole or by the slice. Think burnt Basque cheesecake (strawberry or matcha), chocolate rum cake and banoffee pie. Just try to resist the exquisite Madeleines, too.

Brunetti Classico

There’s Italian bakery bling to delight all your senses at Carlton's Brunetti Classico. Cabinets of cakes welcome you at the door, and showcases of pastries vie for your attention. Grab a table, order a latte and make your decision at the counter. A pistachio éclair and several vanilla cannoli? Molto delizioso indeed.

Sweet Canteen

France meets Asia at Sweet Canteen, with delectable results. Try a melt-in-your-mouth flaky mille-feuille, oozing vanilla-bean custard with every bite. The team are equally proud of their Portuguese egg tarts, and slices of strawberry sponge. When the occasion calls for something special, order a personalised cake with your portrait in icing.

Tea Rooms 1892

Cakes are always on the menu at the fabled Block Arcade location, Tea Rooms 1892. Admire the Insta-worthy window displays, and choose a slice to enjoy with a cuppa. Or opt for an elegant high tea in the gilt surrounds of the Art-Nouveau wallpaper and mirrors. Whole cakes can be pre-ordered.

Millé and B

Millé and B’s party trick is that decadent extravagance, the multi-layered crepe cake. Twenty delicate crepes are squeezed into each slice. They’re sandwiched between pastry-cream flavours like strawberry and matcha. For a special occasion, take home a whole custom crepe cake topped with fresh berries or flowers.

Marie Antoinette

Enjoy a baked treat from this North Melbourne patisserie. Famous for its indulgent cakes, Marie Antoinette is where the locals go for a sweet treat. Think generous slabs of tiramisu, ruby red velvet and fan favourite choc brownies. There's also a range of biscuit-infused cookies from KitKat to Tim Tam slams.