The best cake in Cape Town

In the heart of the vibrant East City precinct – check out our full East City guide here – Charly’s Bakery is Cape Town’s colourful theatre of confectionery. Since opening in 1989, they have become famous for their ‘Mucking Afazing’ creations. They take orders for custom bakes if you’re after something special, or simply pop in to see what they have on offer. There’s always a colourful array of cookie monsters, unicorns, and proudly Cape Town cupcakes and cookies waiting to be taken home. The best-seller is their Chocolate Fudge Brownie: a decadent Chocolate Brownie served drowning in delicious Brownie Sauce. We think Ox would approve.

36–38 Canterbury Street, District Six

Since 2015 Sweet Lionheart has layered craft and couture into every sweet morsel. Their all-time crowd-pleaser is the Giftable Mini Cakes, but for something with a little extra flair? The regal design of the Frilly Antoinette is a true showstopper. Their ready-to-go bridal cakes and made-to-order celebration pieces are Instagram-ready for all the right reasons.

Order online, collect in Wembley Square, Gardens (or pay for delivery)

Mixing things up in the bakery business is Cake Canteen, which is South Africa’s first artisanal baked‑goods marketplace. “Cake Canteen is the first of its kind, built on a spirit of collaboration over competition,” explains founder Jandri van Zyl. “We bring together some of the best cakeries and bakeries under one roof, celebrating variety and local talent.” And talented this city bakers certainly are! Online you’ll find handcrafted treats from cakes and cupcakes to nougat in one big sugar rush of culinary creativity. Velvet Cake is the signature, and available daily.

Order online, and collect from 10 points across the city and Winelands

What began in 1987 with Tessa Dasopatis baking from home has grown into a cheery Milnerton shop – with more stores in Riverlands Mall and Willowbridge – serving up a delectable collection of cakes for special events and everyday indulgence. There’s a small stock of cakes and cupcakes at each Tessa’s Bakery store, but for most cakes you’ll need to order in advance and collect. Their signature chocolate-drip celebration cakes and vivid unicorn macarons are almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Milpark Centre, Milnerton

Riverlands Mall, Observatory

Most of Cape Town knows Jason Lilley, simply, as Captain Bread. For many locals, he’s the OG of artisan baking in Cape Town, and is as famous for his sourdoughs and slow-fermented breads as his flipping delicious pie creations. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth, then you’ll be happy at Jason Bakery too. He’s the guy who brought us the ‘doughssant’ – the illicit love child of a doughnut and croissant – and his weekend doughnuts fly out the door. Get there early, is our advice. Best thing for Ox? It’s right across the road from the stadium.

83 Main Road, Green Point

In the Victorian streets of Little Chelsea, Four & Twenty Café brings Parisian charm to Cape Town’s southern suburbs, with a second branch open on Constantia Uitsig wine estate. Aside from great coffee and inspired breakfast plates, there are fresh cakes and bakes made in-house each morning so you can choose between red velvet cupcakes, gluten‑free chocolate tortes, lemon‑meringue pie and lofty lime cheesecakes. Speaking of cheesecake… It’s the signature and always worth a try.

23 Wolfe Street, Chelsea Village, Wynberg

This tiny Claremont store has become a neighbourhood hotspot where sourdough loaves, ciabatta and croissants fly out the door on a Saturday morning. Need to impress the in-laws for tea? Their range of miniature cakes and buttery patisserie are all next-level good. Ah, but you want a lifetime of calories in a single slice? Look no further than their artisanal take on the global TikTok ‘crookie’ trend. At Proof the Crookie starts with their signature croissant, sliced in half, then filled with raw chocolate-chip cookie dough both inside and on top. The Crookie is baked until just done, to allow for a little delicious gooeyness in the middle. With an all-butter croissant and premium 54% Callebaut chocolate in the cookie dough, this is one pastry to rule them all.

Belvedere Square Shopping Centre, Belvedere Road, Claremont

Limnos is where Mediterranean tradition meets Cape Town’s café culture, with elegant glass display cases filled with handcrafted gateaux, fruity tarts, and macarons. Family-owned and with multiple stylish cafés around the city, Limnos is the place for cake with a sense of class. The Viennese-style Sacher Torte is a perennial favourite, but Ox will likely be happiest with the Chocolate Fudge.

Multiple Cape outlets