Who doesn’t love a slice (or two) of cake? They are delicious, sugary treats that act as the perfect pick-me-up in the afternoon, or, if we’re being perfectly honest, any time of the day.
Luckily, for those who have a sweet tooth, Vancouver is sprinkled with a range of dedicated bakeries and patisseries whose sole mission is to craft a dazzling array of cakes, whether they be of the frosted, creamy, crunchy, smooth, sticky, sweet, or zesty variety.
When it comes to where to find the best slice of cake in Vancouver, we turned to Deanna Woo, the cake-obsessed woman behind the food-centric Instagram account @deannawoo, to curate her list of where to find the most delectable slices of cake in the city.
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We asked Woo what makes for a terrific slice of cake. Woo explains:
Whether it be a beautifully crafted individual sized cake or a more home-style slice of cake, my perfect piece is one that is not too weighty; it should be moist, and leave me craving for another bite. One of the worse feelings is not being able to finish a cake because it’s too heavy, too dry, or too sweet, so it’s important to find that right balance.
We absolutely agree. So without further ado, here are the eight best slices of cake in Vancouver, as selected by Deanna Woo, along with why she thinks they are worth enjoying.
Diplomat Bakery
“Diplomat bakery is a hidden gem near Steveston Village. It always seems to be busy no matter what time of day it is. My favorite item is the blueberry cream cheesecake. Since it’s made of whipped cream cheese, the cake itself is very light (which means you can go in for more cakes!) and the blueberry flavour is clearly present. The best part though has got to be the delicious shortbread crust.”
Address: 6111 London Road, Richmond
Phone: 604-241-9134
Trafiq Café and Bakery
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“The Salted Caramel Cake from Trafiq is one of my absolute favourites — the slices are huge and the flavours really stand out. I especially love when I go in for a bite and the salted caramel oozes out. It’s been my personal mission to introduce this cake to friends and family, and so far it’s been a big hit. I’ve debated several times whether or not to just buy a whole salted caramel cake for myself, because I can never get enough.”
Address: 4216 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-648-2244
Twitter: @TrafiqCafe
Sweet Obsession
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“Sweet Obsession is a wonderful place to bring a date not only because they’re open later than your typical cake store, but they also offer a huge selection of cakes. Although I adore their triple chocolate mousse cake, one of my new preferred items is the Mocha Buttercream Dacquoise. Composed of crunchy meringue and a smooth mocha buttercream, this treat is a cross between a cookie and a cake.”
Address: 2611 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-739-0555
Twitter: @Sw33tObs3ssion
L’Opera Patisserie
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“When you first step into L’Opera it feels as though you just teleported to Paris. One of my favourite cakes at this sweet looking bakeshop is called the Marigold. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but the combination of lemon curd with dark chocolate is the perfect balance between sweet and tart. L’Opera also offers a high tea service, which I’m dying to try out.”
Address: 5951 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond
Phone: 604-270-2919
Choco Coo Cafe
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“Choco Coo is my newest addiction. My favorite cake here has to be the matcha mousse cake. While the matcha flavour really stands out in this cake my favourite part is definitely the unexpected crunch from the middle layer. A close second here is the Red Velvet cake, which is light, moist, and simply addictive.”
Address: 501 North Road, Coquitlam
Phone: 778-355-5888
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Soirette
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“I am a longtime fan of Soirette. Although I originally came here for their macarons (which I’m also a huge fan of) I fell in love with their individual sized cakes. I can’t get enough of their cheesecakes, which change with the season. The texture of Soirette’s cheesecake is perfect, it doesn’t feel like you’re eating a brick of cream cheese, yet it’s not too light where the flavour is lost.”
Address: 1433 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-558 3308
Twitter: @LoveSoirette
Thomas Haas
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“Being a huge cake lover, I can honestly say that you can’t go wrong with any of Thomas Hass’ cakes. Yes, I’ve tried all of their cakes! One of my all time favourites is their chocolate caramel brownie cake. When you first dig in, you’ll be pleasantly greeted with a moist brownie center encased by an amazing caramel exterior, that’s not overly sweet. If you’re lucky you might even see Thomas Haas himself behind the counter.”
Address: 2539 West Broadway Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-736-1848
Address: Unit 128, 998 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver
Phone: 604-924-1847
Twitter: @thaaschocolates
Faubourg Paris
Photo courtesy of Deanna Woo
“Faubourg is my go to cake shop downtown for when I need a break from shopping. I’m not going to lie, I was originally drawn to their Green Tea Passion Fruit Mousse because of how cute it looked in the display case. However, the combination of green tea and passion fruit does not disappoint. The flavours blend surprisingly well together and the mousse texture adds another delicious element.”
Address: Locations in Downtown, Kerrisdale, and West Vancouver (check website for details)
Twitter: @FaubourgBakery
Keep up with Deanna Woo and her food adventures on Instagram.