It’s been a long week for most of us, but maybe yours has just begun. Either way, everyone deserves to splurge and treat themselves now again. And what better extravagance is there than cake, or ice-cream, or sweets, or waffles, or another cake, can we just order one of everything, please? Whatever your mood, whatever the weather, there’s always an excuse for pudding. That’s why we’ve rounded up eight of the very best places you can get your just desserts. Let them eat cake!
1. LA-POP!
Gelato is done differently at this Edgbaston gelateria. Instead of scoops of Italian ice cream, LA-POP! transforms the traditional dessert into popsicles. These are a feast for your eyes as much as your mouth and are exploding with flavour. There are over 700 combinations on offer, which change with the seasons, but with little chance of going wrong. Just choose flavour, pick your toppings – anything from coconut to fudge and candy pieces – and enjoy. If you’re not in the mood for gelato, there are cheesecake pops and chocolate-covered strawberries on sale too. Delish.
38 Islington Row Middleway, Village, Birmingham B15 1LD
2. The MilkCake Man
Tucked into the neighbourhood of Kings Heath, The MilkCake Man specialises in deluxe soft-serve ice cream and offers some of the most unique flavour combinations out there. You’ll find everything from bubblegum to piña colada, matcha to charcoal coconut. And while they taste amazing, the aesthetics are the real draw. They’re eye-poppingly beautiful. The real speciality is, of course, the milk cake, however. Fluffy sponges ranging in flavours from Biscoff to pistachio, Nutella to rose, with flavoured milk poured over the top. Yum.
Unit 3 Kings Court, Rear Of 90 High Street, King’s Heath, B14 7JZ
3. Jam Jar Desserts
There is a wide selection of desserts on offer at Jam Jar. From waffles to crepes, sundaes and milkshakes, there’s a mouthwatering selection available. But it’s the baked cookie dough that stands out the most. Gooey. Crumbly. These desserts are irresistible. Each order also comes with a side of ice cream for that added mouthfeel. Your eyes will feel bigger than your stomach when it arrives, but it’s surprising how easily you can wolf one down. You’ll be pondering whether to order another before you’ve finished the first.
418 Coventry Rd, Small Heath, Birmingham B10 0UF
4. Henley Ice Cream
If you do want something a little more traditional, look no further than Henley Ice Cream. The ice cream parlour has served up scoops since 1934, after two brothers started experimenting with the leftovers from their milk round. All the classics are here, with a focus on high quality ingredients rather than flashy flavours – although a few, like the jaffa cake flavour, will raise some eyebrows. It’s some drive out of the city, but well worth a visit. There’s a reason this place has stayed in business for 90 years. If it ain’t broke, as they say, don’t fix it.
152 High St, Henley-in-Arden B95 5BS
5. Caffe Chino
Located in Birmigham’s Chinese Quarter, Caffe Chino might be the strangest tea room you have come across. It is nothing like the traditional English tea rooms you have seen before. A distinctly Chinese taste, it serves beautifully handcrafted, bespoke cakes, which you can order with a side of bubble tea. Honestly, the cakes look almost too good to eat, although you’ll struggle not to. The cheesecake is a particular speciality. They also make cakes to order, including eggless and wedding cakes, to serve any special occasions coming up. More excuses for cake!
70 Hurst Street, Arcadian Centre Unit B107, Birmingham B5 4TD
6. De La Crèm
Candy floss and ice cream, you say? Sign us up. These desserts are made for Instagram, but they’re just as good for eating too. They serve all sorts at this café, from cheesecakes to crepes, but their blossom tree desserts are the real scene stealer. Soft serve ice cream, topped with Oreo crumbs, with a cloud of vanilla candy floss held in place with a chocolate flake. The flavours change regularly with seasonal dishes added with the changing of the weather. So you’ll have to keep returning to get a true picture of what De La Crèm has to offer. Not that we need to convince anyone of that.
6-8 Temple Row, Birmingham B2 5HG
7. Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shop
A step into Mr Simms is a step into the past. It sells a taste of childhood with its old fashioned selection of sweets. Red vines, fizzy bottles, licorice and bon bons, there really is any type of treat your heart could desire. For younger taste buds, there are plenty of modern, American styles to purchase too. They even have their own range of Blackpool-style rock to bring a taste of the seaside to Brum. There’s something for everyone here – catering for vegetarians and vegans too with the pick ‘n’ mix.
Unit 34 Great Western Arcade, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QD
8. The Waffle Project
Are waffles dessert or are they breakfast food? When they taste this good we don’t really care. And this list is all about treating yourself, no matter what time of day it is. As the name would suggest, The Waffle Project has a range of options to order. You can have it American-style or Belgian, with a wide range of toppings to choose from. Brownie and Bounty, mango and marshmallow, have it any way you want. You can also swap out the waffle for a crepe or cookie dough, and make your own milkshakes to wash it all down with. Leslie Knope would be proud.
1156 Stratford Rd, Birmingham B28 8AF