18 absolutely to-die-for cupcake spots around SA

Cape Town

Lazari, Vredehoek
Lazari has been the neighbourhood’s favourite café for over a decade. Their cupcakes have been a fixture for just as long, sticking to the same fail-safe recipes that create the most fluffy and delicious cupcakes. Their signature is the white chocolate pink cupcake as well as the red velvet. Beware, once you have tried these, cravings are sure to set in.

The Velvet Cake Co., CBD and Durbanville
The Velvet Cake Co. started from humble beginnings in what was once called the Treat Kitchen. In 2012 The Velvet Cake Co. opened its doors in Durbanville and last year expanded with a store in the CBD. The CBD store is a clean minimal space that shows off the beautiful, on-trend cakes and cupcakes they have on show. The original branch offers a bit more seating. Order your cupcakes online or grab one in the store. Try the milk tart cupcake or the red velvet, obviously.

Four & Twenty, Wynberg
Aside from serving creative café and bistro dishes, Four & Twenty offer insane cake creations that are not be missed. They play with flavours to make sure their cakes and cupcakes are always unique, just like their savoury food. Expect celebration cupcakes like these Easter one’s below.

Tessa’s Bakery, Montague Gardens
Tessa has been baking for over 25 years, so she knows a thing or two about how to make exceptional cake. This family business is all about celebrating those special moments in life with beautifully hand-crafted, and mind-bendingly delicious cakes. Their cupcakes are little works of art and will most certainly brighten someone’s day, like this Somewhere Over the Rainbow cupcake.

Queen of Tarts, Observatory
The quaint Obs café is well known for their signature meringue cupcake topping, amongst other things. They serve lovely salads too so try one of those and then treat yourself to a white chocolate cupcake. Queen of Tarts also creates celebration cakes and cupcakes from Movie animation themes to perfect pretty wedding creations.

Joburg

Cupcake Boutique, Lonehil
This spot has a huge variety of cupcakes at reasonable prices. They all promise to be moist, light and fluffy and can be ordered online. Choose your cupcakes from different ranges like the designer range, the wedding range or the deluxe range, or visit the shop and buy one ready made. We recommend the Bar One cupcake and the Peppermint Crisp cupcake.

Puly’s Kitchen, Riverlea
Puly’s serve hand-crafted cupcakes that are meticulously created so they all look perfect and matchy. You’ll find classic frosted cupcakes, creative fondant cupcakes and crazy flavours like the caramel bacon donut cupcake and crumbled Oreo and caramel cupcake.

Roast Café, Melrose Arch
Roast isn’t essentially a cupcake café but that’s not to say they don’t make a mean red velvet. The café specialises in comfort food and of course the cupcake fits nicely into this category. Part of the Goliath Comedy Club, Roast offers a contemporary, trendy space to indulge at any time of the day. They’ve mastered the red velvet, as well as the black velvet oreo cupcake.

Belle’s Patisserie, Sandton
Belle’s has three branches, one in Sandton and the other two in Clearwater Mall and Bluebird Mall. All branches sell the quality cupcakes that Belle’s is known for. Using the finest ingredients and a real care for the patisserie art form, Belle’s creates inventive cupcakes that are ready to grab or prepared on order. Try the salted caramel popcorn cupcake – you won’t be sorry.

Dolci Café, Craighall Park
A stylish, white finished café, ideal for brunch, lunch or an afternoon high tea. They strive on the luxury of eating decadent and beautifully prepared food. Go and enjoy a glass of bubbles with a handbag embellished cupcake

Pretoria

Schweet Emporium, Centurion
Schweet Emporium has gained a loyal following in the Pretoria area. Customers have come to trust their consistency and creativity for any occasion. Schweet will materialise your imagination into your ideal occasion cupcakes, whether its Louis Vuitton handbags you’re after, or minions.

Delicious Dreams Cakes & Cupcakes, Waterkloof
This spot specialises in the baking of cupcakes, and oh my do they know how its done! Their Facebook images are sure to spark an immediate desire for cake. They basically take the best sweet treats and turn it into a cupcake, like caramel popcorn, choc chip cookies and Flake chocolate. Try the Fererro Rocher cupcake, yes you heard us!

Delicatess Cake Boutique, Faerie Glen
Delicatess specialises in special occasions. They carefully create little works of art inspired by customer’s special requests. They’ll provide custom designed cup cakes to match your party theme. Contact them on delicatess@afrihost.co.za.

PE

Cupcake Love, Walmer
As the name suggests owner Jacki loves cupcakes, and with some help from her daughter, they create some of the most eye catching cupcakes in PE, and serve a really loyal customer base. Their passion enables them to create really intricate cakeS and cupcakes that include many animated scenes from well known films. Cupcakes are made to order: orders@cupcakelove.co.za.

Eat Cake Confectionery, Walmer
These guys make cupcakes to order and don’t have an actual café or shop. You can however find them at The Food Shed Market. Their cupcakes have a lovely homemade quality, in a variety of flavours, topped with rich butter icing. To order email at natassja@eatcakeconfectionery.co.za.

Durban

So Whipped, Umhlanga
Situated inside Gateway Mall, So Whipped will provide you with all your cupcake fantasies. You can order a batch for a special occasion or pop into the store for a sneaky cupcake, ready-made. Their creations vary from simple chocolate cupcakes to delicate icing flower embellished white and pink cupcakes. To keep things exciting, So Whipped also does limited edition flavours like this tiramisu one.

Kupcake Heaven, Umhlanga
A really popular cupcake spot, where you can either take-away or have a sit down cupcake. If you are requiring around more than half a dozen after 12pm then it is best to make an order. Their cupcakes are really beautiful and some of the best in Durban. They are moving soon to a new location so watch this space for details.

Spoonful Eatery, Glenwood
Owned by quirky Master Chef contestant Roxi Wardman, who has a passion for sweet treats. Roxi provides the leafy suburb of Glenwood with the most decadent and oh-so-sweet cupcakes. We recommend the Nutella or the Milky Bar.