London's best cupcakes

The combination of sweet icing and fluffy sponge in an irresistibly cute package is our tea-time treat of choice. Here's our guide to the bakeries, cafes, tea rooms and coffee shops baking London's best cupcakes

  • London's best cupcakes

    © Elan Fleisher / Time Out

    • Photo for Bake-a-boo

      Bake-a-boo

      86 Mill Lane, NW6 1NL (020 7435 1666/www.bake-a-boo.com).

      This West Hampstead tea room taps in to the girlie side of things, even paying homage to Carrie from ‘Sex and the City’ with a cupcake flavoured with vanilla, cranberry and Cointreau – the ‘Carrie’ Cosmopolitan. There are gluten- and dairy-free creations too. Read more

  • Photo for Bea's of Bloomsbury

    Bea's of Bloomsbury

    44 Theobalds Rd, WC1X 8NW (020 7242 8330/www.beasofbloomsbury.com); 83 Watling St, EC4M 9BX (7242 8330).

    Best known for its light buttercream frostings, such as a deliciously tart raspberry number atop rich chocolate cake. Get your fix from either the Bloomsbury original or the new branch at One New Change near St Paul’s Cathedral. Read more

  • Photo for Crumbs & Doilies

    Crumbs & Doilies

    Partridges Fine Food Market, Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY (10am-4pm Sat/www.crumbsanddoilies.co.uk); Chocodeli, 24 Upper Tachbrook St, SW1V 1SW (9.30am-5.30pm Fri; 9am-5.30pm Sat).

    This market favourite is still going strong, trading in crowd-pleasing cupcake flavours from salted caramel (made with proper Maldon sea salt) to raspberry and white chocolate. There are vegan cupcakes, too.

  • Photo for Hummingbird Bakery

    Hummingbird Bakery

    133 Portobello Rd, W11 2DY (020 7229 6446/ www.hummingbirdbakery.com); 47 Old Brompton Rd, SW7 3JP (7851 1795); 155a Wardour St, W1F 8WG (7851 1795).

    For ultimate US-style cupcakes. They tend to err on the sweet side, but the range of flavours is a big plus. Strawberry cheesecake, for example, is vanilla sponge with strawberries, cream cheese frosting and a sprinkling of crushed digestive biscuits. It’s recently launched a ‘Made Without’ range, which means cupcakes made without gluten. Read more

  • Photo for Violet

    Violet

    47 Wilton Way, E8 3ED (020 7275 8360/www.violetcakes.com).

    Pastry chef Clare Ptak brought her beautifully made cupcakes to Broadway Market in 2005, and finally opened her own café in increasingly trendy Wilton Way, Hackney, in 2010. The signature is a candied violet cupcake, though we’ve a soft spot for the mellow coconut milk creation. The mini bite-sized cupcakes are perfect for a spontaneous treat. Read more

  • Buttercup Cake Shop

    16 St Alban’s Grove, W8 5BP (020 7937 1473/www.buttercupcakeshop.co.uk); 1/F (outside Habitat), Westfield London, W12 7SL (8746 0333).

    US favourites such as red velvet and banana split make up a good chunk of the flavours on offer here, but there are some British concessions, too, such as Bounty bar. The main shop is in Kensington but a kiosk at Westfield London provides sweet respite in between shopping sprees.

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  • I agree Ms Cupcakes cakes are AMAZING, really original flavours, moist! I'm not vegan either. Hummingbird cupcakes are dry, have too much icing and look like mass produced rubbish.

    Charlies Mon Mar 7 2011
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  • Sprinkalicious bakery do the best cupcakes in London hands down. I used to buy at Hummingbirds but find the cupcakes way too expensive and very dissapointing, I've tried Lola's but found them too dry and they just look too artificial. Buttercup cupcakes are way too big, more like a muffin with some frosting. Sprinkalicious have really good flavours and the best thing is that they are fresh moist and sooooo good! www.sprinkaliciousbakery.co.uk

    cakexpert Sat Mar 5 2011
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  • I've made my own cupcakes and always looking for great shop flavours, I was really looking forward to trying Hummingbird, but was very disappointed by both flavours and textures. Lola's are the best shop bought I've tasted so far.

    Michelle Sat Mar 5 2011
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  • Ever tried truly love cakes - lovely lovely and even more lovely!

    danny casca Fri Mar 4 2011
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  • No mention for the brilliant Ella's Bakehouse in Covent Garden? As well as the fantastically kitsch 50s decor (red leather and chrome stools and a vintage telephone on the wall), they also have a great tea and cupcake deal - less than £3, beat that Starbucks! - and sell mini cupcakes for those times when you can't eat a whole one but just want the taste for £1.

    Laura Thu Mar 3 2011
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  • KookyBakes at Brick Lane Market are the tastiest ever - not just cupcakes but bars and cookies, unusual flavours and great combinations! Yummy!

    natalie Thu Mar 3 2011
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  • Cupcakes-let's hope this trend dies soon. Overpriced, oversweet contributors to tooth-decay and obesity. A prettier version of that other crime against the taste-buds, "donuts".

    dee Thu Mar 3 2011
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  • Lola cupcakes is by far my favourite. Shame its not on here

    N Thu Mar 3 2011
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  • I always use Blossom Cupcakes for special occasions and also for work - so accomodating and so friendly.The attention to detail is amazing and sooo tasty!!

    Emma Thu Mar 3 2011
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  • Lainey's Cakes are the best cupcakes I've ever tasted. They come in loads of amazing flavours - oreo cookie, carrot cake etc etc and they just look and taste superb. She even gives each flavour names like Geoffrey (Spiced ginger sponge with lemon buttercream) and Brad (the oreo cookie version!)....too cute. http://laineyscakes.blogspot.com/

    Lesley Thu Mar 3 2011
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