Cartoonishly colourful candy-topped cupcakes in Covent Garden.

The Venue
Located on the lower level of the Piazza, Candy Cakes’ Covent Garden branch is a girly hideaway. It feels like an intimate cave, albeit one painted in sea green, with bricked arches and low ceilings. Bright pink, squashy stools surround low tables and intricate paintings by independent artists line the walls. In between the arches are a few counters where you can order gelato, drinks and, of course, cupcakes.

The cupcakes are the stars of the show at Candy Cakes, and their brightly coloured, candy covered tops line the windows and draw in passing tourists. From deep chocolate brown to bright blue and yellow, the cupcakes’ icing is extraordinarily eye-catching and there’s usually a small knot of people standing outside the shop pointing at all the different choices in the window.

The Atmosphere
As their target audience for cupcakes is teenage girls, young women and small children, you can expect all of the above and more in the shop. The sugar-sweet decor means indulgent dads and boyfriends might be able to stay for a few minutes but anything more would probably be pushing it – luckily there are quite a few tables outside if you’d rather have a bit more space whilst you eat. On the weekends queues to buy cupcakes are out the door, but if you can’t find a seat you can take them away in a little green bag or a large green box – takeaway prices are a bit cheaper.

Candy Cakes also offers a bespoke service, based out of their Goodge Street shop, where they can customise cakes to your liking. They’ve provided cupcakes for Madonna’s 50th birthday party and Nelson Mandela’s 90th – and if that’s not celebrity endorsement enough, Helena Bonham Carter and Kate Moss have also been spotted at the other locations.

The Food
Although their shop on nearby Monmouth Street offers sandwiches, salads and paninis, it’s all about the cupcakes at Candy Cakes’ Covent Garden location. That’s not necessarily a problem though, as they’re quite large and the dense, muffin-like cupcake is pretty filling. Add a milkshake and you’re good to go for lunchtime. For those who aren’t cupcake fans but still want a sugar rush, swirly lollipops and candy canes are available from the Natural Candy Shop and Gloucestershire along with Italian gelato.

There are two striking things about the cupcakes at Candy Cakes, the icing and the toppings. Each cupcake has a signature colour, so bright it’s almost fluorescent, but the icing is actually made with natural ingredients so you don’t have to worry about E numbers. Every one is topped with a piece of candy – everything from Haribo fried eggs to wrapped chocolates. The flavours change all the time, and all have cute names based on what they look – and taste – like. A blueberry cupcake, topped with a pretty pastel purple icing and yellow sugary gummy candy, is incredibly rich with tiny blueberries laced through. The Berry Burst has a bright magenta icing topped with pale pink circular candies and has a creamy, cheesecake-like centre. Each cupcake is priced differently, but prices start at about £2.50 and it’s less expensive if you have it to go.

The Drink
Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are available along with teas for about £2. Ice cream milkshakes are also on offer for about £3.50, and you can choose your favourite candy (of course) from a list and have it mixed in. A Malteasers shake is one of their most popular sellers, and it’s sweet, chocolatey and thick with tiny chunks of Malteasers throughout.

The Last Word
If their cupcakes catch your eye, don’t resist – it’s the perfect way to return to childhood for just a few pounds.

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