The best cake delivery in Melbourne

If you want a showstopping cake look no further than Mali Bakes. Mali Bakes is a one-woman show in Thornbury, specialising in bespoke celebration cakes with bold colours and big flavours, that set out to bring back warm and joyful childhood memories. The chocolate, peanut butter cheesecake with pretzels and white chocolate ticks all the sweet-tooth boxes, whereas the olive oil, ricotta, blackberry, fennel, sea salt and honey cake caters to a slightly more savoury palate. Go to the website to get more info but trust us – they often sell out quickly. 

For the punny people in your life, look no further than the colourful lolly-laden cakes made by Miss Trixie Drinks Tea. Think a pastel pink cake studded with raspberry jellies embellished with the words "I Love You Berry Much", or a yellow cake with the words "Crazy Skittle Thing Called Love", topped with, you guessed it, Skittles. The flavours are no secondary consideration at Miss Trixie, with combinations such as chocolate sour cream cake with Biscoff and funfetti and coconut cake with lemon curd and blackberry on offer. See the full selection at the website.

In yet another exciting opening for the busy Swanston Street strip, cake enthusiast turned baker Tia Tan has opened the doors to her new studio Miilk. Inspired by Tan's Singaporean heritage, the family business offers Melbournians a taste of Southeast Asian dessert culture in the heart of the CBD. Expect classic French chiffon cakes and perfectly fluffy sponges piped with a delectable array of Asian-inspired fillings such as lychee, kaya coconut jam, green tea and much more. Most importantly, all these creations are based on recipes that have been passed down and developed in Tan's family for generations. 

In 2020, Audrey Allard was in need of something to keep her busy during the endless lockdowns, and so she began baking for her housemates. Not long after, she started her own desserts business Holy Sugar, slinging slices across Melbourne through her Instagram page. Word got out, and the people wanted more. Fast forward to 2022, after two years of delivering dessert boxes, and Audrey opened her very own shop in Northcote. Offerings on the day could include passionfruit, raspberry and lemon sponge, basque cheesecake, dulce pecan tart, or apple Tatin. Holy Sugar is open from Friday to Sunday from 9am until 2pm. And they certainly sell out quick – so grab whatever you can get your hands on.

Are you a fan of art that you can eat? Then you'll want to make your way to Le Yeahllow, a cake store on Little Collins Street specialising in surrealist desserts that look just as incredible as they taste. Just in time for the festive season, the retailer has unveiled an exciting Christmas collection – now available at its new flagship CBD location along with other cult favourite treats.  Bright aesthetic colours, whimsical designs and crowd-pleasing flavour combinations lend each unique creation the wow factor, making Le Yeahllow your perfect one-stop shop for birthday cake ideas and celebration desserts that impress.

You know what? Let's cancel the cake and opt for a tart instead because the ones at Tarts Anon are just the bee's knees. Sold in whol portions only and available year-round, the sweet creations from this cult fave are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, date nights and everything in between. Though the menu rotates, right now there's a gorgeous Saint Honoré tart, inspired by the classic French pastry, featuring a hazelnut caramel base, baked vanilla custard and vanilla crème diplomat, adorned with caramelised profiteroles filled with vanilla crème patissiere. Sound too fancy? Satisfy your inner child with a rainbow-hued peanut freckle tart instead!

Ladybird Cakes specialises in classic, elegant and simple yet stunning celebration cakes, including breathtaking wedding cakes. Think soft pastel colours, flowers, intricate icing patterns and gold leaf. The cakes come in an extensive variety of flavours, that all emphasise simple, yet bold and well-loved flavours. The red velvet cake is filled with moreish cream cheese icing, the banana cake is layered with toffee buttercream, and the ever-popular white chocolate and raspberry mud cake is layered with coconut buttercream. Hot tip: order online well in advance (with specific time guides available on the website), as the available time slots often sell out quickly. Check the website for detailed information about pick-up and delivery options.

Local gelato purveyor Pidapipo has opened Pidapipo Laboratorio, a fabulously fun and Willy Wonka-esque destination for dessert devotees. One of the leaders of the gelato revolution in Melbourne, the brand has stayed true to its ethos of experimentation, now carrying this over to a glorious range of seven different gelato cakes. Expect the likes of twists on tiramisu, a Fererro Rocher replica, a Bombe Alaska extravaganza and a banoffee pie showstopper. You can pre-order inline, or collect one from the Laboratorio, Carlton or Windsor stores on your way to your next celebration. 

Gelato Messina looks more like a nightclub than a purveyor of gelati. Music pumps out of the giant glass doors and no matter what the weather, there is a constant crowd flowing out onto the street – we've even seen a queue on a ten-degree rainy night. But though this spot may be known for cones of frozen yumminess, don't look past the celebration gelato cakes. Not only are they something to behold visually, they're delish as all heck and a cult fave for a reason.