“Let them eat cake!” is commonly yet inaccurately attributed to Marie Antoinette. Instead, it was likely coined by a revolutionary as a war cry of the French Revolution, highlighting how the rich were oblivious to the plights of the poor. The original phrase reads as “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche!” -- which traditionally translates to “Let them eat brioche!” But I suppose “cake” was just easier to articulate.
Memo Cakery
At risk of sounding like an out-of-touch princess, I must talk about Memo Cakery in Newmarket if we are discussing cake royalty. I have had the privilege of tasting their matcha-yuzu cake, as well as their take on the recent viral pistachio knafeh chocolate flavour. They have a few core flavours (dark chocolate, ube, matcha etc.), as well as seasonal ones (lychee strawberry, mango, pistachio knafeh etc).
These cakes are beautifully layered in cream/mousse and light sponge, each slice bursting with flavour and texture. But at a price point of $85-$99, it really isn’t a daily luxury (unless you are Marie Antoinette).
Memo Cakey
143 Carlton Gore Rd, New Market(Gilli Cafe)
Phone: 022 345 0401
Pickup Hours:
Monday - 06:30 AM - 04:00 PM , 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Tuesday - 06:30 AM - 04:00 PM , 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Wednesday - 06:30 AM - 04:00 PM , 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Thursday - 06:30 AM - 04:00 PM , 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Friday - 06:30 AM - 04:00 PM , 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday - 08:00 AM - 03:00 PM , 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sunday - 08:00 AM - 03:00 PM , 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Folds Patisserie
Another cake nobility is Folds Patisserie on Dominion Road. Folds Patisserie brings a clever fusion of East-West treats – among my favourites are the pandan lamington and the kaya croissant (which may have impressed Marie Antoinette). Other special mentions are the ube and pandan egg tarts as well as durian Swiss roll.
These cakes can be bought in individual slices which are beautifully displayed in a glass cabinet. They also do very instagrammable drinks in-store to pair with their sweet treats, and my favourite seat is the cosy booth at the back of the shop.
The cakes average at $12 a slice, and although still not at a price-point to have every day, could be doable as a somewhat semi-regular indulgence.
Check their Instagram for seasonal updates as they also organise high-teas and collaborations with other vendors.
Folds Patisserie
297 Dominion Road, Mount Eden,Auckland, 1024
Phone: +64 (0) 9 2189 085
Pickup Hours:
Monday - Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday - Friday - 9AM - 6PM
Saturday & Sunday - 10AM - 6PM
Butter Baby
Moving on from cakes to other sweet treats, we have Butter Baby, famous for their doughnuts and huge cookies. Their doughnut line up ranges from traditional Boston cream and raspberry and cream to nostalgic takes on childhood treats like Cornetto, Chocolate Fish and Fudge Sundae. They also have Asian inspired flavours such as pandan sago and ube. Their cookies also come in a variety of flavours – the staple chocolate chip, salted caramel and Biscoff. They also do luxe versions of pandan and ube cake slices.
At $5 a cookie and $7 a doughnut, it is a lot more palatable on the pocketbook! And if lucky, they sometimes do $4 mini doughnuts (which usually means I get myself two flavours for the price of slightly more than one).
Check out their Instagram for their line-ups at the Saturday Britomart market and their Westgate store.
They will also be at the Chow Luck Club Markets on Saturdays at 261 Morrin Road, St Johns from Jan 18 2025
Butter Baby
Unit 70, 11 Northisde Drive, Westgate, Auckland
Contact: https://butterbaby.co.nz/contact/
Pickup Hours:
Thursdays - Saturdays - 8AM - 1PM
Small Mercies
With all that talk on doughnuts, I must mention Small Mercies in Grafton, which is a very small detour on my route home after a walk up Mount Eden. Small Mercies serve a local take on kkwabaegi, which are twisted Korean doughnuts. The bread is made with glutinous rice flour, which gives it a soft, fluffy yet chewy texture. My favourite flavours so far are the OG and the lemon glazed (sometimes with a yuzu take). Also give the chapssals (mini doughnut balls) a try. They are soooooo addictive and best when they are fresh out of the fryer!
Small Mercies also do hot/cold drinks and have limited seating in the store. At $6-$9 per doughnut, it is a small mercy on the wallet and a bigger one after a hike up and down Mount Eden. I can’t wait till their seasonal pear soda is back on the menu!
Check their Instagram for their weekly flavours.
Small Mercies
7 Mount Eden Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023 Opening Hours:
Wednesdays - Fridays - 7:30AM - 5PM
Saturdays & Sundays - 8AM - 5PM
Yuan Taste
If you are looking for more variety at a more economical price point, then Yuan Taste is the place to go. They have three stores – one in the CBD, one in Onehunga and the latest in Albany.
Yuan Taste serves a variety of sweet treats – from their iconic egg tarts to sliced cakes to sponge loaf cakes. Their top sellers are their Auckland Iconic Eats Egg Tarts and the Japanese Chizu cake.
The sliced cakes flavours range from traditional chocolate mousse and Oreo cheesecakes to Asian-inspired coconut and pandan mousse cakes. The traditional sponge cakes come in a variety of flavours of well (OG, marble, chocolate, matcha etc).
At $5.90 for one egg tart and $21.00 for a box of 4, this must be the cheapest award-winning treat in Auckland. The sponge cakes range from $18-$25, depending on flavours and their Japanese Chizu cake is $15.00 for a small one and $38 for the large.
Therefore, in terms of taste and price point, I must say that Yuan Taste takes the cake!~~~
There are many more bakeries and cake shops in Auckland that deserve mention and further exploration, but not enough pages to fit them in. But believe me, my cake journey will continue, and in a completely different spirit to that of the French Revolution, I say “Let us eat cake!” 😊
Yuan Taste
CBD - 239 Queen St, Auckland Cbd, Auckland 1010
Albany - 7/25 Corban Avenue, Albany, Auckland 0632
Onehunga, Atrium on Elliott and Midcity Mall
