There’s no shortage of treats in Phnom Penh for those who want to have their cake (and ea it). From street food to fancy French patisseries, there’s a sugar rush waiting to happen in just about every corner of the capital. If cakes are your thing as they are mine, these are some of the places you need to know about.
The showstoppers from Love & Cakes just might be too beautiful to eat.
Elena Tumanova is the confectioner par excellence behind this exceptional home bakery where each cake and cookie is a work of art. You name it, Elena and her team will bake it — and present it so beautifully you hardly dare eat it. From madeleines and marshmallows to bento cake boxes and beautiful occasion cakes. Hand-rolled mochi is a melt-in the-mouth speciality. Contact them via facebook or WhatsApp (+855 96 978 8955) to make your order.
Spoiled for choice at Muffin Man in Phnom Penh.
Top muffins and more from this Aussie-inspired bakery, shop, and cafe in Toul Tom Poung. Owned by Khmer entrepreneur, Dieng Dorm, who learned his baking skills from his Australian ‘mum’ and mentor, Muffin Man arrived in Phnom Penh from Siem Reap last year to a rapturous welcome, not just for its amazing cakes but also for its wholesome savory pies. Their bread and butter pudding cake is — for this Brit anyway — the ultimate comfort food. There are plenty of vegan options, and the coffee is particularly good too.
The long-established bakery and training NGO formerly known as Bloom has relocated to Toul Kork, where it continues to make the most delightfully-decorated cupcakes in the capital, much loved by young customers. Glow specializes in sugar art, the craft of creating elaborate icing sugar decorations, and their bespoke celebration cakes are genuinely awesome. The company also runs cake decoration classes so you can try your own hand at the skills involved.
Cheap, cheerful, and lots of choice at East West Bakery.
East West Bakery
This old school favorite on Street 310 (it moved 500 metres across Monivong Boulevard a few years ago), as its name suggests, was an early merger of Asian and Western bakery styles and ingredients and it’s still a great place to hand pick and mix your cheap and cheerful confections. Fill your tray for less than $5!
Tatie’s is a little taste of France near the National Museum across from the excellent Pepe Bistrot under the same ownership. Buy from the shop or linger in the bijou cafe over Tatie’s artisan confections that include butter-rich croissants, choux pastry concoctions, and tempting fruit tarts. For companions with a more savory palate, the cheese selection is highly recommended.
Is this Phnom Penh’s finest pumpkin cake?
This highly popular BKK1 courtyard restaurant more generally known for its fresh, healthy Khmer and western dishes made the list on account of its pumpkin cake, surely the best in the capital. All of Eleven One Kitchen’s desserts, cakes, and cookies are pretty good though, so leave room for more when eating there. Or choose from the cake cabinet and take a treat or two home.
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