Birthday cakes near you in Canberra

Our guide

There are three ways to get a birthday cake in Australia. The fastest is a ready-made cake from a cake shop cabinet – mud cake, cheesecake, sponge or ice cream cake – often personalised with a message while you wait. The second is a patisserie entremets, smaller and more refined. The third is a custom cake ordered days or weeks ahead: number cakes, drip cakes, character cakes and smash cakes.

Share your location to see the cake shops, patisseries and bakeries closest to you. Each listing shows whether it is open now, so you can tell in seconds where to pick up a cake before the party.

Our directory lists 66 places to buy bread, pastries and sweet treats in Canberra: 55 bakeries, 6 cake shops and 5 patisseries.

Opening hours are known for 31 of them. 29 trade on Sundays (94%), and 4 open their doors by 6:30 am on a Tuesday – good news for early starters. On average they are open 57 hours a week.

The busiest strips for baked goods: Benjamin Way (5). Handy if you want to compare two pies a few doors apart.

You will recognise Bakers Delight (6), The Cheesecake Shop (2), Sonoma Bakery (1), Breadtop (1); still, 53 places are independently run.

Specialities on record in Canberra: french (5), pie shops (3), german & european (2), vietnamese (2).

Same-day birthday cakes

Cake shop chains and many independent cake shops keep a full cabinet of ready-made cakes. Ice cream cakes are kept frozen and can be bought on the day too. Ask for a plaque or piped message – most shops write it in a few minutes.

Custom cake lead times

Allow about one week for a custom birthday cake, two weeks for sculpted or tiered designs, and more around Christmas, Mother’s Day and school holidays. A deposit is usually required.

Typical prices

Ready-made cakes usually cost $30–$70 depending on size. Custom cakes often start around $120 for a small design and increase with tiers, figurines and fresh flowers.

Dietary needs

Gluten-free, egg-free, vegan and halal cakes are widely available on order. For coeliac guests, ask whether the cake is made in a shared kitchen.