379359 Fri Mar 09 16:58:33 -0800 2007 20 57 Western Canada 0 2371279 I am a big fan of cake, and while I know where to go out for lovely desserts, I can never think of a good bakery in this city to buy a cake from. All that comes to mind are Chinese bakeries (which, while delicious, I'd rather stick to getting pork buns from) and the really cheap kinds of bakeries that mostly sell danishes and edible-oil-filled long johns. Lots of good chocolate shops, no good cake shops that I know of. Any recommendations? Fri Mar 09 16:58:33 -0800 2007 70813 lotuskitty 1 2371300 Try Senses in the Crowne Plaza hotel downtown, they make beautiful and delicious individual little cakes, and sublime chocolates. Fri Mar 09 17:08:32 -0800 2007 2371279 81419 rubyrocket 1 2372388 Are you looking for somewhere to just stop in or would you order one in advance? Sat Mar 10 08:11:20 -0800 2007 2371279 69941 jewels_vancouver 1 2373668 GANACHE - in Yaletown. Outstanding cakes & pastries. http://ganacheyaletown.com/index.html?home.html# Sat Mar 10 18:52:10 -0800 2007 2371279 15845 JWh 1 2375792 Try Liberty Bakery at Main and 21st...... Sun Mar 11 19:43:41 -0700 2007 2371279 11946 shazzer65 1 2377993 Trafalgar's Sweet Obsession at 16th & Trafalgar Mon Mar 12 13:15:57 -0700 2007 2371279 13666 islandgirl 1 2378306 The Cupcake Shop! on Denman Mon Mar 12 14:23:21 -0700 2007 2371279 69079 starlady 1 2379666 Sweetie's in Kerrisdale... but it's wise to go early or order in advance. Mon Mar 12 21:07:57 -0700 2007 2371279 75441 meganw 2 2396886 I second Sweetie's, and agree that Liberty is nothing great. They focus more in baked goods versus cakey confections, and their stuff tends to be dry. It's better for lunch than bakery. Sun Mar 18 09:04:12 -0700 2007 2379666 17714 alex8alot 1 2394814 Oh no, I hate Liberty Bakery. I used to work across the street, and it was the closest lunch/coffee option on our way-too-short 30 min lunch breaks. The service was agonizingly slow, it's cash only, I never found the food too special, and the service...is...AGONIZINGLY...slow. (Yes, worth repeating.) Thanks all. I also heard that Goldilocks, a Filipino bakery on W Broadway, has amazing cakes. Sat Mar 17 08:57:34 -0700 2007 2371279 70813 lotuskitty 2 2398714 Yup - I agree with you about the agonizingly slow service at Liberty (perhaps trying to compete with the Naam in this category? dunno...) but their cakes are great! You can preorder and get exactly what you want...he is very accomodating (as long as you are not in a hurry) Sun Mar 18 21:28:37 -0700 2007 2394814 11946 shazzer65 1 2415310 Fratelli Bakery on Commercial and 2nd has fantastic cakes and tarts. Their tarts are German dough (like shortbread) filled with nuts and fruit. To die. Fri Mar 23 14:41:48 -0700 2007 2371279 21922 kellyoyo 1 2421881 Notte's Bon Ton is one of the oldest bakeries in Vancouver, and famous for its traditional, delicious buttercream diplomat cakes (I prefer the 'Religious' version, without alcohol, just layers of cake, buttercream, and crispy pastry). Le Beau is a Belgian bakery that makes a wonderful Carmelita cake (haven't had it for a long time, so hope they still make it). Capers makes the best old-fashioned chocolate cake, best cupcakes, and lots of their baking includes organic ingredients. La Petite France makes the most authentically French croissants in town (I used to love their Chausson aux pommes, but I think they stopped making these), and Trafalgars makes a tasty galette (pear?). All of these places are quality bakers, using only 'real' ingredients, sooo good! Mon Mar 26 11:10:15 -0700 2007 2371279 85899 Celena 1 2423996 Of all the bakeries and/or patisseries that I have tried in Vancouver over the years there are only 3 that I can recommend...each for a specific reasons: 1. Maxim's Bakery in Richmond Center, Richmond, BC Chinese....v. good sponge/fruit cakes + assortment of other Chinese sweets and BBQ buns...reasonable prices. 2. Patisserie Bordeaux, 3675 10th Avenue West, Vancouver, (604) 731-6551: French...never had a "bad" experience...top ingredients...v. French....expensive but well woth it.... 3. Polonia Bakery, 2436 E Hastings, Vancouver, BC, (604) 253-2400 Polish...deli on one side...bakery on the other...v. good Polish jelly donuts (v. often sell out)...."old school" poppy seed / cheese cakes (that is "heavy")...v. good breads...reasonable prices... Mon Mar 26 21:07:32 -0700 2007 2371279 19117 Pollo 1 2432998 Diplomat Bakery on Moncton Street and No 1 Road in Richmond is one of the best places I've found for cakes. Ganache on Homer Street north of Drake is more elaborate. Try their Sechuan peppercorn chocolate pyramids! Thu Mar 29 13:35:43 -0700 2007 2371279 71010 Florentine 1 3591581 I totally relate to this nonesense about no interesting cake shops in this city. When I thought I moved to the food awareness capital of canada....I realised that, in terms of dessert, most of what there is to find is so traditional. I might be your solution to great cakes. I bake from home, and I just began a little biz here. i love to bake a variety of kinds including simple classic baking, and French pastries but i specialise in vegan, raw desserts. I like to use completely natural and fresh ingredients. makes all the difference. Sun Apr 13 23:43:56 -0700 2008 2371279 183377 virtuosobaker 1 3591726 To add to the list of shops already on this thread: Thomas Haas in North Van Sweet Obsession in Kits Mozart in Langley La Baguette and L'Echalote at Granville Island Pacific Culinary Institute at Granville Island Butter Bakery in Dunbar Sen5es is gone (Thomas Haas was their exec chef) Mon Apr 14 04:41:27 -0700 2008 2371279 145820 fmed 2 3592957 I recently compiled a list of Vancouver cake shops for a friend whose husband was turning 40; I've only included the ones I would personally recommend, and of course it depends what kind of cake one is after: Of the places already mentioned upthread, I concur with Thomas Haas, Sweet Obsession (got my wedding cake there -- mmm, lemon curd and butter cream!) PICA on GIsle, Butter Bakery, Liberty (wonder if they still have the Princess Cake?), Fratelli, Notte's (Diplomat Cake, religious version or regular, oh yea), Sweet E's, choc cake at Capers but again it depends what kind of cake rings your bells. One other place to consider might be Pastry Club 2430 West 41st (604) 264-8741 Mum and Dad go here a lot; I’ve been twice and found their desserts to be excellent. The woman who owns it is super nice and everything is made from prime ingredients but I think their prices are still good. Mon Apr 14 11:30:22 -0700 2008 3591726 169233 grayelf 1 5151298 Apparently there is a good cake place on 49th and Fraser. It is open 24 hrs a day. Anyone know something about this place? Tue Nov 03 02:51:09 -0800 2009 2371279 1096197 jahvay 2 5151673 It's called Breka http://www.breka.ca/ Good-decent bread and pastries - but not really a cake place. Tue Nov 03 07:14:59 -0800 2009 5151298 145820 fmed 1 5152824 I love Ganache and Thomas Haas Latest discovery is Mix Bakery Chocolate Cake Tue Nov 03 12:59:21 -0800 2009 2371279 1116076 urbanchowlover