Best places for pastries in Belfast

General Merchants is one of the most popular eateries in the city for those seeking great coffee, breakfast, and brunch. This laid back spot has a number of locations around Belfast with the most recent opening in the city centre. Alongside the impressive daytime menu, General Merchants also offers a delicious and ever-changing range of locally made pastries, cakes and other bakes, providing the perfect accompaniment to its locally roasted White Star Coffee. Choose from scones, croissants, tarts and more, baked by local suppliers from all around Belfast. There’s even a great array of pastries and bakes to suit all dietary requirements, meaning those with allergies or those following a particular diet don’t have to miss out.

Inspired by the unique coffee culture of Copenhagen, Kaffe O is a minimalist café serving a range of healthy and delicious dishes and bakes to accompany the Nordic coffee. With five locations around the city, this is the perfect place to stop for a quick caffeine hit and a sweet treat no matter where you find yourself. All pastries and cakes are baked in-house, meaning they’re as fresh as can be. There’s also a brilliant range of tasty vegan and gluten-free bakes, so those with specific dietary requirements don’t have to miss out on a tasty treat either. 

French Village is a laidback, yet elegant spot with three locations throughout Belfast offering delicious breakfasts, lunches, cakes, pastries and more. From the signature cupcakes to apple and rhubarb tarts, delicious doughnuts to the Northern Irish classic coconut finger, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Whether you choose to indulge in a buttery pastry with your tea or coffee at one of the café locations or decide to order a batch of delicious French Village bakes for an event, we can assure you the pastries from here will always be of the highest standard. 

One of the most understated spots in the city, Lazy Claire Patisserie boasts the title of most authentic French patisserie in Northern Ireland. Here you’ll find an impressive range of freshly baked in-house pastries that are sure to delight all. Located east of the city on the Castlereagh Road, this hidden gem has been a firm favourite among locals since opening back in May 2018. Having been nominated for numerous awards over its three years of operation, you can rest assured that the pastries here are not only some of the best you’ll find in Belfast but Ireland as a whole.

If you’re in the mood for coffee and a pastry to go, then the fabulous Coop Coffee van is a must-visit. Having opened in 2020, this gorgeous pink coffee van has quickly become a local favourite. Due to high demand, Coop opened a second coffee van in 2021 on the Lisburn Road to provide great coffee and bakes to the people of south Belfast. To accompany the delicious 3fe Coffee, Coop also serves a number of delicious pastries from local suppliers, including cinnamon rolls from Flour and Dough, pastries from Vittle Bakeshop, and more. It even offers adorable puppaccinos to delight your four-legged friends. 

Located on the Lisburn Road, Brew and Bake is a small café offering big flavours. Accompanying its menu of delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes, guests will also be greeted with a wide range of mouthwatering pastries as soon as they walk through the door. From Biscoff cinnamon rolls to an ever-changing weekend bake offering, there is so much to choose from here. Bakes and pastries sell out quick, however. So, if you want to make sure you get your weekend fix, pre-order your favourites from the Brew and Bake website, available for Saturday and Sunday collection.