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

© Elan Fleisher / Time Out
- 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

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

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.

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

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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(1 rating)

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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Errrrmmmm.... Time Out gave Cox Cookies and Cake a 2 / 5 star review and it is in this article as one of London's best cupcake shops? Seriously?

Leigh Thu Mar 3 2011
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What about the cupcake queen - Ms. Cupcake of Greenwich Market and Brick Lane Tea Rooms?? Don't let the fact that they are vega fool you - seriously the best cupcake I've had in London. And I've had A LOT!

FK Thu Mar 3 2011
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I ve always felt a little let down buying cupcakes from a shop - its all a little impersonal - i ve found some of the best cupcakes come from people working from home - Lucy at the The littlest cake shop makes some amazing cakes - and is really lovely as well

Stephen Wed Mar 2 2011
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Ms Cupcake! Greenwich Market on a Friday and at 408 Coldharbour Lane in Brixton on Saturdays and Sundays. Up until last week she was also in Greenwich market at weekends but they market have decided not to allow her to trade there for reasons known only to them. They really are the naughtiest vegan cupcakes in town. I myself am not vegan but you really would not know that these gorgeous creations contain no dairy or eggs. www.mscupckae.co.uk

Keith Wed Mar 2 2011
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I don't rate the cupcakes at Hummingbird - they taste artificial and the texture was all wrong. Very disappointing.

Cathrine Wed Mar 2 2011
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I must say that the first comment on this thread was really surprising to read. Not only are the Hummingbird Bakery cakes the best I've had in London, but the one thing that always sticks out to me, whether I order over the phone or in store, is the customer service. It's a shame, but in most retail establishments these days the staff seem to be disinterested and bored, however at Hummingbird I am always greeted with a smile, served quickly and sufficiently and the staff really know their stuff. They also up-sell in a brilliant way, none of this obvious money grabbing sales you get elsewhere, but they really take into account what you want and need. I work in events and most themes are fashion or beauty, so I often order large amounts of the Hummingbird cupcakes for the events - usually at the last minute (isn't that how everyone works?!) and each time I have gone back to Hummingbird as they have always executed my requests in a professional, happy and sufficient way. I have ordered the same amount as the first commenter and never had any problems whatsoever. They seem happy to be serving 1 cupcake or 100 - I don't think the size of the order is an issue at all. I'm really glad Hummingbird are in this category as to me, they really are the best cupcakes (and service) around. I need a red velvet now...

Camilla Wed Mar 2 2011
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Amy's Little Cupcakery does THE BEST Cupcakes i have ever had. Support Local Business: http://www.facebook.com/amyslittlecupcakery go on - you wont be dissapointed!

meggz Wed Mar 2 2011
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London's best cupcakes

Bake-a-boo

Bea's of Bloomsbury

Crumbs & Doilies

Hummingbird Bakery

Violet

Buttercup Cake Shop

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