This map is for those avoiding diet culture’s “new year, new you” nonsense. Multi-layered, fancily decorated cakes tend to be reserved for special occasions but there’s no reason why this has to be the case. Take a fork to the superb slices on this list on any ol’ day because life’s too short not to. From seasonal specialties to remastered classics, here now are 17 fabulous cakes in Los Angeles.
Read MoreWhere to Order a Single Perfect Slice of Cake in Los Angeles
Scrumptious slices worthy of a sugar high for any occasion
Chocolate Cake at Cindy’s
The three-layer chocolate cake at Cindy’s is a wonder to behold and a pleasure to eat. The cake is moist and deeply chocolatey, while the frosting is velvety and rich. Taken all together, along with the diner’s energetic room filled with smiling patrons, it’s a satisfying combination that takes care of one’s sweet tooth and sense of community, too. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Mousse Cakes at Patisserie Bluejay
Pastry chef Jay Chen’s line of delicate cakes is ideal for those who think they don’t like cake. Texturally lighter and less sugary than average slices, the mousse cakes at Patisserie Bluejay come in flavors like mango yuzu, peach oolong, and even tom yum. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Seasonal Cake Specials at Proof Bakery
Look no further than this worker-owned cooperative bakery for some of the finest cakes in town. From the chiffon with lemon curd and fresh meringue to the dark chocolate raspberry torte, the flavors change with the seasons — and all are expertly baked with the deftest of hands. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Blum’s Coffee Crunch Cake at Valerie Echo Park
Valerie Confections bakes up an impressive line of vintage cakes including Blum’s Coffee Crunch Cake, an iconic slice of sponge cake with coffee whipped cream and bits of honeycombed crunch. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Mini Layer Cakes at Cake Monkey Bakery
Dynamic duo Lisa Olin and Elizabeth Belkind are the two creative forces behind Cake Monkey, a beloved purveyor of nostalgic, personally-sized desserts. Hone in on the mini carrot cake with caramel cream cheese frosting and spiced pistachio topping or the Funfetti-esque one made with vanilla cake, rainbow sprinkles, and Tahitian vanilla buttercream. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Slab Cake at Quarter Sheets Pizza
Pastry chef Hannah Ziskin is making some of LA’s choicest cakes at Quarter Sheets in Echo Park. Cake flavors and compositions change from day to day, so check Instagram for the latest offerings and reserve a slice online because these coveted sweets can sell out fast. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Green Tea Mille Crêpes at Lady M Cake Boutique
Since opening in New York City in 2004, Lady M has grown to 30 locations globally. While just about every dessert looks picture-perfect in the display case, it’s the green tea crepe cake that’s best. The magic of slicing through 20 delicate crepes filled with matcha-infused pastry cream never gets old. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Milk’N Berries Cake at Porto's Bakery and Cafe
With the Milk’N Berries cake, Porto’s Bakery levels up its classic tres leches with layers of whipped cream and a bevy of berries including blueberry, strawberry, and blackberry. The entire creation, spiked with just a bit of brandy, is finished with more whipped cream, additional fresh berries, and powdered sugar. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake at Phoenix Bakery
When Phoenix Bakery first opened in 1938, the shelves were mostly lined with traditional Chinese pastries. Throughout the years, the selection has evolved to include the bakery’s famous fresh strawberry whipped cream cake — a not-too-sweet slice that brightens any celebration. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake at République
It’s futile to resist the charms of Margarita Manzke’s salted caramel chocolate cake. Imagine two layers of chocolate cake with plenty more chocolate-caramel ganache and salted caramel too. It’s a deeply satisfying creation. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Vanilla Maple Cake at Sweet Laurel Bakery
Sweet Laurel has been serving the Los Angeles gluten-free/dairy-free set since even before it opened its Pacific Palisades storefront in 2018. Its cakes, also free of refined sugars, are infinitely kid-friendly, as well as kind to those who have specific allergen sensitivities. Whole cakes for order here in flavors like vanilla maple and chocolate caramel are good for toddler birthday parties, but the rosy shop also offers slices for sale at its counter. The vanilla maple cake is as the name describes: a sweet, but not too sweet, almond flour confection swiped with a dreamy maple buttercream. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager
Green Tea Mille Crêpes at Lady M Cake Boutique
Since opening in New York City in 2004, Lady M has grown to 30 locations globally. While just about every dessert looks picture-perfect in the display case, it’s the green tea crepe cake that’s best. The magic of slicing through 20 delicate crepes filled with matcha-infused pastry cream never gets old. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Cheesecake at Yangban
While it’s tough to hold back on the savories at Yangban when there’s a bevy of banchan and rich hunks of short ribs to be had, room must be saved for dessert. The buffalo milk soft serve goes down easy, but it’s the namesake cheesecake that deserves to be savored last with its coconut biscuit and brown butter crust, coconut cream base, and gooey strawberry jam topping. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
7-Up Cake at 27th Street Bakery
Open since 1956, 27th Street Bakery still resides in its original location on Central Avenue. While most are familiar with the shop’s sweet potato and pecan pies, don’t overlook the 7-Up Cake that’s chock-full of buttery goodness and uses 7-Up soda in place of sugar. The result is a lemony, slightly sticky pound cake that’s worth buying whole versus just a single slice. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Princess Cake at Copenhagen Pastry
This delightful slice of Denmark comes from owner Karen Hansen, whose plucky baking team prepares raspberry jam-filled danishes and cakes like this Princess cake (admittedly, borrowed from nearby Sweden). Covered in a beautiful pale green marzipan and layered with whipped cream, jam, and custard, it’s hard to resist a slice in the mornings or afternoons with a strong cup of coffee. — Matthew Kang, lead editor
Tres Leches at Atla Venice
Good tres leches cakes abound in Los Angeles’s diasporic Latin American restaurants. But finding a great tres leches slice that also caters to the gluten-free crowd is rarer. Enter: Atla Venice. The gluten-free tres leches cake at Enrique Olvera’s Abbot Kinney Boulevard all-day restaurant is so soaked with its namesake milks and piled with fresh fruit that its middle quivers under the weight when it lands on the table. This is a cake that is meant to be shared, but even better if you claim the full slice to yourself. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager
Red Velvet Cake at Sweet Red Peach
Find Los Angeles’s finest red velvet cake at Sweet Red Peach in Inglewood and Menifee. Owner Karolyn Plummer’s recipe is so popular that customers line up daily for a slice of the bestselling dessert. The cake, which comes in a classic red hue or vibrant blue, is moist with generous layers of cream cheese frosting. — Mona Holmes, reporter
Paradise Cake at Kings Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant
Transport your taste buds straight to Hawaii with just one bite of the ever-popular Paradise Cake. It’s a three-layered triple threat of guava-, passion fruit-, and lime-flavored cake with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and peach filling interspersed between plush chiffon. Fruity glazes echoing the three primary flavors add the finishing touches. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor