Best places for cake in Belfast

General Merchants is a quirky coffee shop with four locations around Belfast — Ormeau Road, East Belfast, Stranmillis, and Forestside. They are known for their delicious, smooth roast coffee and impressive brunch menu, but they also prove a popular spot for those looking for a sweet homebaked treat. Open daily from 8am to 5pm and 9am to 5pm on Sundays, they offer a range of delicious and freshly baked goods to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. From cinnamon buns to chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter protein balls, and babka, those with a sweet tooth will be in heaven here.

Overlooking City Hall, Café Parisien is in the perfect location for those looking for an afternoon pick-me-up during a day of scouring the high street. This classy, French-inspired restaurant provides the perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee and a delicious slice of cake. Popping in for breakfast will be a treat as you enjoy a frothy cappuccino accompanied by a crumbly croissant. Or, for something extra special, you can opt for their fabulous afternoon tea. With gold dusted macaroons, mini choux pastries, and plenty more French delicacies, dining here is sure to be an unforgettably decadent experience.

One of the most popular cafes in Belfast, French Village Café and Bistro is a must-visit while you’re in the city. Alongside their three Belfast cafes – one on Botanic Avenue, one in East Belfast, and one on the Lisburn Road – they also act as a wholesale bakery supplying events and businesses throughout Northern Ireland. Working on the premise of serving ‘natural, uncomplicated, and utterly delicious food’, you can rest assured that everything you order from French Village will be fresh and high quality. Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, the French Village name has become synonymous throughout Belfast with a delicious range of homemade traybakes, cupcakes, doughnuts, scones, and more.

It’s hard to walk past Patisserie Valerie without gazing longingly through their huge windows at the abundance of cream-filled pastries on display. Mouthwateringly delicious, the treats on offer here keep customers coming back time and time again. The slogan of Patisserie Valerie is ‘Lovingly handmade since 1926’, and after trying your first bite of the cakes on offer here, it’s easy to see why this bakery has survived for almost a century. There is something for everyone here, from delectable double chocolate slices finished with lashings of chocolate buttercream to flavourful carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting. The most difficult choice you’ll face is deciding which slice you want!

Set on the busy Lisburn Road, Brew and Bake is open from Wednesday to Friday9 am to 4pm and Saturday to Sunday 9:30am to 4:30pm. As the name suggests, they specialise in delicious coffee and bakes, but they also offer an impressive breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu. With a frequently changing menu of freshly baked goods, it’s always a pleasant surprise to visit and discover the latest offerings. From fantastically decorated three-tiered chocolate cakes to an ever changing area of blondies and brownies, cream-filled cruffins, and an impressive range of vegan options, you’ll be spoilt for choice. With a friendly, local feel and attentive service, this quaint little café is the perfect place for a laid back catchup with friends.

Located on the Castlereagh Road, east of the city, Lazy Claire Patisserie is the kind of place you’ll want to get in early. This spot is well-known and loved by locals with a sweet tooth, so make sure to get there before the rush, so you don’t miss out. One of the most authentic French patisseries in Belfast, this fantastic spot specialises in delicious handmade pastries and desserts. Inspired by the decadence of French pastries, owner and head pastry chef Daniel C. Duckett has worked hard to bring an authentic taste of Paris to the streets of Northern Ireland. For delicious Saint Honoré, creamy Canelé, and more, you need to visit Lazy Claire Patisserie.