The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Those who delight in sugary treats and find themselves within Jakarta's city limits are most fortunate, as the capital boasts an abundance of patisseries and bakeries offering an incredible selection of savory pastries, cakes and bread. Here are 10 of Jakarta's finest patisseries, all worthy of a visit.

PAUL Bakery & Patisserie

With strategic locations scattered across prestigious malls in Jakarta, PAUL offers croissants, éclairs, and waffles that are highly esteemed by many. While its prices may be somewhat high, they are proportional to the quality of the treats.

“I've tried its croissants, éclairs, and I really recommend the waffles. Their pastry is among the tastiest, and the price is just right,” said Dimas Fernanda Mahardika, a 25-year-old barista and cafe hopper from South Jakarta.

“I’ve visited the branches in Plaza Senayan and Pondok Indah Mall. [Both] places boast a fancy French style. Usually expats come to have their meetings there, but it's also suitable for hanging out or brunch.”

UNION by The Union Group

UNION is a popular joint where people can enjoy various hearty foods, but it is also known for its sweets, Recommended treats such as carrot cake, red velvet and donuts are available at the patisseries located at Pondok Indah Mall, Grand Indonesia East Mall and PIK Avenue Mall.

Pondok Indah offers the ultimate venue to savor these treats, with its spaciousness and snug ambiance that offers a leisurely pace of enjoyment. The service is also impressive.

“Most people come for a big meal [when they dine in] and the cakes or pastries are usually bought to go,” said Dimas.

BEAU BAKERY

Located in Panglima Polim and Cikajang, this patisserie leaves a lasting impression with its tasty bagels. Despite being more affordable than PAUL and UNION, the pastries offered at this bakery will still enchant with their scrumptious offerings.

“I [really recommend] their bagels,” Dimas said. “The bagels were so popular I think the owner opened a special shop for bagels in Kemang.”

The bakery's ample space makes it an ideal venue for communal gatherings, despite its decor not being overly extravagant. The menu also offers an impressive variety of breakfast and lunch options, including main courses that are simply delicious.

Almondtree Cakes by The Harvest

Located in Tebet and Ampera, it has an array of desserts on offer, from macarons to red velvet, strawberry cheesecake, mixed fruit cheesecake and the highly recommended triple chocolate. The desserts come at an affordable price, yet their flavors are truly delightful. The ambiance of the shop, though not grand, provides limited seating options for customers to indulge in their treats.

“There is a place for dine-in but not suitable for hanging out,” said Dimas. “It is not as luxurious as the others [in this list], because generally more people come to buy cakes and take them away like a regular cake shop.”

Exquise Patisserie

Located in Menteng, this patisserie beckons with its irresistible croissants at reasonable prices. These flaky pastries are a favorite among patrons. The orange cake is another must-try that comes highly recommended.

For those feeling adventurous, the Adeline cake, Laurent cake and butterscotch latte are all worth a taste. The ambiance is warm and welcoming. It also has a cute design that is adorned with many flowers.

The Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop

Indulge in a culinary adventure by exploring the four distinguished menu items from this cake shop situated in Menteng, known for its charming packaging and welcoming service. The top pick is the cheesecake, a must-try for cheesecake enthusiasts looking for a unique taste experience.

Chocolate aficionados can pamper their taste buds with American Chocolate, known for its heavenly flavor. The American Chocolate croissants make for a delicious choice, but it, unfortunately, have a long wait time.

Honeydew Bliss, adorned with fresh honeydew, is Dore's latest creation for Mothers' Day. (Dore by LeTao/-)

DORÉ by LeTAO

DORÉ by LeTAO is renowned for its appetizing cheesecake. Try its signature Original Fromage that boasts Mascarpone cheese mousse and baked cream cheese layers on a fluffy sponge cake base. To top the fragrant yet smooth cheese flavor, the cake is topped with mashed sponge cake to further enhance its texture.

The cake shop is also known for its penchant for special celebrations. To celebrate International Mother’s Day, DORÉ has introduced a new addition to its DORÉ Lite series, its special series of less-sugar cakes. Enjoy the freshness of honeydew mixed with subtly sweet sponge cake, and a hint of tanginess from its yoghurt honey mousse. Named Honeydew Bliss, this special edition cake will be available for a limited time only, starting from May 14.

Surely Someday Kitchen

Based in Cipinang, the cakes from this bakery boasts an exquisite blend of delicate and bold flavors. Their modest size of around 13 cm in diameter make them ideal for serving a party of eight, while the intricate details in the design and packaging are a testament to the bakers' unwavering commitment to their craft. Its cakes are enjoyed by people of all ages, including the older generation.

Among the bakery's most popular cakes are the Midsummer cake, with its scrumptious lemon curd base, the Mad Love cake that masterfully combines chocolate and raspberry, and the August Blue cake, with its bold yet soft flavor, a perfect complement to tea.

Mad Love from Surely Someday Kitchen is a decadent chocolate cake, hidden under light raspberry swiss meringue buttercream. (Origin Hope/-)

AMKC Atelier

AMKC is likely an abbreviation of the owner's names, Andhika Maxi and Karen Carlotta, invoking an air of familiarity and personal touch. The true highlight of this place is the signature Es Teler cake, a must-try for any cake aficionado. The cake's texture is soft and velvety, with a luscious creaminess that lingers on the palate. Its sweetness is perfectly balanced, evoking the essence of the classic es teler dessert.

This premium cake shop is located in Thamrin. It may be slightly overpriced in comparison with other similar bakeries. However, for those seeking an adventurous flavor experience, the Baileys Mocha Crunch is a delightful choice as it has a strong Baileys flavor. The atmosphere is ideal for a relaxing tea time or casual hangout.

Cake Lab (Cake LAB & Kaffein)

This Tebet-based patisserie offers great café latte and tiramisu. It also has a line-up of cute cupcakes.  “I’ve visited the branch in Tebet and tried the strawberry cheesecake, which was so-so but the price is affordable,” said Dimas.

As for the ambiance, the establishment's small dine-in space offers little room for lingering, and most customers take their treats to go. However, once you are settled in, it is easy to imagine spending a few hours enjoying its cakes.