The 10 best cake shops and cake bakeries in Princeton

No small talk, just great pastries. I missed their famous croissants, but enjoyed a mini cheesecake and a pistachio cream. Amazing and artfully constructed. Be advised: cash only and no utensils. Very, very good!

Delicious croissants probably the best in the region. come early because sometimes they are all sold. croissant flavors change daily. the baker is passionate about his work and the service is great. cash only. limited parking. today i had almond croissant and coconut toast. amazing quality especially for the price point. croissant was buttery flaky and flavorful while the coconut toast was custardy and delicious. both were not to sweet, perfect.

Pouchon is by far the best pastry chef in that area. His pastries are not only crafted with love but as well with exceptional skills.

Pouchan is a genius and taking a bite of one of his chocolate croissants is to experience perfection

Croissants are unique and should be experienced by all. One of the light-haired male employees (not the owner) can be very rude and discourteous — beware!

The éclairs are heavenly! There’s a lot of comments on the owner/chef’s attitude, to be honest, he was not rude or impatient, why on earth should he smile if he can provide the area such sublime treats, you don’t ask your Bentley to smile at you, do you? Why don’t we just leave the chef alone and enjoy what his craft can offer.

If you look for croissants like you can find them in France, then this is the place. Stop by and make you a favor in this little shop. There can be a long wait, but it is worth (funny to see people asking if people are waiting for the barber?). Note that only cash and checks are accepted, forget your credit or debit card. And opening time can vary…

I really enjoyed the persimmon flavored ice cream. However, the coconut one barely had any coconut flavor—it was hard to notice it at all. The dark chocolate and strawberry flavors were just average. The avocado-lime flavor, unfortunately, tasted quite unpleasant. There was a long line outside the shop, and a staff member at the front managed the queue and let people in. Inside, there were plenty of staff and service was fast—both taking orders and serving the ice cream. Honestly, I don’t understand the hype. I’ve had much better handmade ice cream at many local places. This one didn’t live up to the reputation.

Amazing Ice Cream! I had the Alphanso Mango and Dark Chocolate mix and it was very good. The texture of the iced cream was brilliant and I recommend this place for anyone who is interested. They offer vegan ice creams as well. They have freshly baked cookies. Usually crowded during the evening’s and night.

This place is always busy, and we had to wait in a long line to get in. They have so many flavors, and we tried pistachio, passionfruit, vanilla, and chocolate. All of them were really delicious and unique. I enjoyed them a lot. Definitely a must-try spot for ice cream lovers

The experience was ok, we have had more fun at some other ice cream pubs in and around Princeton. The staff is polite, Ice creams are yummy. Somehow the vibe just did not click. They do have a style of serving cups. They also have a funny rewards program where you need not give any personal details, they hand out a card where they punch it every time you have ice cream here. After a certain number, you get a free ice cream. Pretty cool, one extra star for this. :-) the place without doubt is famous.

It’s always worth waiting in line at the Bent Spoon!! My go-to order for this season has been Alphonso Sorbet and Dark Chocolate. I also started adding a cone on the top so it doesn’t get soggy before I finish both my scoop!! Love this place!

I enjoyed bent spoon. Some of their ice cream flavors are unique whereas others are traditional and yet the consistency of the ice cream is throughout all of the flavors. Some of the flavors can be on the sweeter note but I enjoyed the Alphonso mango sorbet and strawberry ice cream scoops I got. It was about $8 for two scoops in a cup. Would definitely visit again! Went again 7/26/25 and this time I ended up getting the banana pudding flavor. If you have a sweet tooth this place if definitely for you. A unique flavor for sure

The line was out to the road when we got there, but it moved fast so the wait wasn’t bad at all. We tried the pistachio, pink rose, and vanilla bean, and all three were decent.

Very cute spot! Stopped here after small world coffee (can never get enough caffeine) and also got a little cake and it was delicious. The inside is very cozy, bright, light, and lots of two tops to enjoy a little afternoon break solo or with a friend. We sat up front by the window and had a great time sipping on coffee, people watching, and taking a little break from all of the holiday hustle and bustle. Coffee was tasty, piping hot and the chocolate cake was rich, creamy, and delicious. The line moved quickly and the staff was pleasant. I'd return if I pass through Princeton again.

Cute little bakery with good herbal tea and coffee. Croissant was probably not made the same day. It's chewy instead of crispy on the crust. The center is also chewy instead of soft/buttery. But, it's only my personal opinion. Cakes looks delicious and beautifully decorated. Didn't get to taste it. Next time!

I spent the day with my daughters and decided to go to Chez Alice on a recommendation from my cousin. Very charming and good atmosphere. The service was awesome, I wasn’t sure if they had refills on regular coffee so I asked a gentleman who said that he would bring it to me at the table when he did bring the coffee to the table he apologized for what he thought his response to my initial inquiry as abrupt, he was not at all but nevertheless he felt the need to apologize. Great place and the service is outstanding… Service like this is hard to get these days…

If you’ve ever wondered where there’s a bakery that could give you a hallmark level experience in real life? Look no further than Chez Alice. I’ve never had such delicate and delicious cakes in my life. Everything was as moist as could be while perfectly Fluffy and balanced and full of flavor. The customer service was as top notch as their pastries and I most certainly will be returning. 💕

Chez Alice Patisserie in Princeton, NJ feels like stepping into a dream filled with warmth and sweet smells. The atmosphere is cozy and elegant, like a charming café from a fairy tale. The staff is incredibly friendly and treats you like royalty from the moment you walk in. Every pastry looks beautiful and tastes even better—especially the buttery croissants and rich chocolate éclairs. I love this place, and my family will definitely be back next time we’re in town!

One of my favorite coffee shops in Princeton -- a beautiful, elegant and quaint Parisian cafe. I love when I am greeted by Kris (sp?) who prepares my coffee and small bites with such love. I stop by this shop when I'm in town and always feel so well taken care of in her presence. They also have incredible macaroons and cakes. Thank you Chez Alice.

My daughter and I stopped into this lovely bakery today and we were so glad we did! The croissants and pastries were absolutely delicious fresh, flaky, and full of amazing flavors. There were so many tempting options to choose from. What made the experience even better was how friendly and gracious the owner was. I visit Princeton often, but somehow had never tried Chez Alice before now I wish I had discovered it sooner. We’ll definitely be back again soon!

What an amazing lunch! We loved everything about this little market, deli, and pizzeria! Staff are incredibly friendly and helpful…we felt so welcome! We got a wrap, pizza, cannoli, assorted cookies, and focaccia. So delicious! The pizza was a special surprise: the absolute best sauce I’ve had in ages. We will be back next time we’re in town!

Phenomenal environment!! The staff came around and asked my team and I how the food was, and were very pleased to hear how much we enjoyed it. All the pastas, sandwiches, drinks, pastries, etc. were all delicious. Highly recommend this spot for anyone in the Princeton area!!

*Best spot to have lunch in Princeton* They have selections for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters. I brought my family in today and I had the pastrami, wife had the gnocchi, son had pizza, daughter had penne and we all had dessert! Say hello to Joey's Angels when you're checking out!

Had meatball parm wish it had a little more mozzarella but was still pretty damn good also ate some artichoke salad too which was also good. Would eat here again

This place is great!! Princeton's own little slice of Italy! The food is delicious, a ton of their products are made in house and amazing. Joe is so accommodating and knowledgeable AND he makes amazing fresh mozzarella! He got me to try new foods that I didn't like in the past and I really enjoyed all of it! Hoss is also marvelous and gracious! The pizza guy is spectacular, he's always smiling and after having his specialty pizza, I have a smile on my face! The ladies are incredible. The price is more than reasonable especially considering the quality of their ingredients. Me and my wife go there daily now. Thank you again JOE for expanding my food palette.

A great old school Italian market in the heart of Princeton. I walked in on a Sunday afternoon and was hit by all the wonderful food cooking inside. The menu was huge, and I wanted one of everything. I haven’t seen shrimp parmigiana hero on a menu since my days in NYC. So I had to order it. The guy behind the counter went to place the order and came back and told me they just ran out of shrimp, but if I waited 15, that would fry some more up for me. Yes, please!! It was just as I had remembered. Nice and fresh crispy shrimp, house-made mozzarella, and some great gravy. The missus went with classic prosciutto, fig, and Gorgonzola on a new roll. She enjoyed it and saved half for the next meal. If you are in the area or not even close, it’s worth the drive for a quality made hero.

I've had more bad than good meals in Princeton, including at Italian restaurants. (I grew up in Utica, NY, and had plenty of good Italian food there, where they don't confuse with "family-owned" with "as generic and bland as possible.") D'Angelo's is not a fancy restaurant -- as its name says, it's really a deli/market with tables you can eat at -- but I have always had really good pizzas and pastries there. Also, the people there are nice. So I have learned my lesson: next time I am in town and want pizza, I will skip the other places and go straight to D'Angelo's. They deliver what the other places in town only promise.

Great brunch on weekends. Very friendly service. Outdoor sitting is charming and enjoyable in good weather. Buffet selection is good and includes fruits, cheese, pastries, omelets, eggs, juice, cold cuts, bread and preserves, etc.

All the food is SOOOO good and soooo fresh. Coffee is perfect in giant mugs. Friendly staff

Nice desserts. Best strawberry roll cakes in town! The only minus point is that seats are limited.

Great location, ambience and service. I had an omelet with chorizo. It was delicious.

pretty good omelet! I reccommend the berliner. However, the cheese in the hawaiian omelet was too strong, and my friend had to wait for her omelet for twenty minutes.

Ordered a vegetable omelette today, and I will say I was impressed. So much better than PJ’s pancake house (their omelettes are not good). Although I like my vegetables cooked into the eggs, the omelette here was very good... probably the best I have had in a long time. Somebody there knows how to cook. Vegetables and eggs were seasoned perfectly, and it came with a nice small salad and good quality toast. The owner is also a friendly, nice man. A little pricey in my opinion, but I will definitely order here again when I am in the area.

Had breakfast at Cafe Vienna on Sunday morning, apparently there are new owners and they were very welcoming. The fresh squeezed OJ was delicious. The food came quickly and my omelette was great. I would definitely recommend this place nice atmosphere and a great location. Looking forward to coming back and checking out the lunch menu.

Small but cozy place. Got the vanilla skim latte and egg and cheese on an everything muffin. Sandwich was ok, but I would probably try something different next time

All I can say is WOW. I always pass this place going to physical therapy but they usually close pretty early. Today I had a morning appointment and decided to go in. I had the lemon lime lillicake, lemon cheesecake and chocolate chip cookie, and nothing made it back home. Usually lemon desserts aren't tart or lemony enough for me and this surpassed all my expectations. The flake salt on the chocolate chip cookie was top tier; I've never had a more perfect cookie! I will definitely be back soon, I just wish they had longer hours so I could go more often!

This first started because I wanted to make sourdough, but didn't know where to start. LiLLiPiES was kind enough to supply me with a bit of sourdough to make a loaf on the first try! I also got the pizza quiche and passionfruit mini tart. The Pizza Quiche was SO GOOD, and I will definitely be coming back soon to get more. The passionfruit dessert was also very good, just a bit too sweet for my preferences. The interior was bright, lively and clean. I loved the merch that was going on, and the display for it. The staff was incredibly nice, cheerful, and helpful. Definitely worth the hype!

I am not fully sure if this is a good review for LiLLiPiES or for the excellent service provided by Nina, a store employee. I visited the store with high hopes and higher expectations after stumbling upon it in Google Maps. I entered the store while on the phone (rude, I know) but as the phone call concluded, patiently waiting was Nina with a bright smile. I asked for help, overwhelmed with the euphoric smells and the sight of the pastries in the display case. Nina quickly went through the lineup of handcrafted pastries, but I wanted to get to business. I asked what Ninas’ favorites were, and she replied with the apple pastries (Apple Turnover and Apple Scone) and the Salty Pretzel Cookie! Obviously, with the rapport Nina quickly built with me, I added them to my basket. Nina artfully assisted me with deciding my next few pastries. As she helped me another employee delicately packaged my choices. I checked out and headed home (expectations higher than ever after such a great in store experience). I unleashed my beast (boyfriend) on the pastries. After we sampled each one, you could hear a pin drop… on carpet. We were speechless.. This bakery is from now on our all time favorite. Thank you, LiLLiPiES. Thank you, Nina. Life changed.

We ordered LiLLiPiES miniature pies for our wedding rehearsal dinner. We were having BBQ and thought pie would be the perfect ending to the evening! The Key Lime pie made my husband's day since it is his favorite. The peach pies were perfect and the chocolate chess and cherry pecan were crowd pleasers as well. I'd love to get a set of these in the fall/winter and try those flavors out as well!

Great coffee and apparently the pretzel cookie is worth trying! (not pictured, but it’s a different type of cookie) Lemon tart was recommended as well!

Overall a BIG fan of LiLLiPiES. I have had really delicious food from here. Everything is made in house and has great ingredients in it. Love and Recommend!

Thank you to everyone at Thomas Sweet for making the delicious truffles that were nicely boxed as table gifts for our wedding at the Nassau Inn! My husband and I loved them as well as our guests. I’ve been going to Thomas Sweet for almost 30 years for special sweets and strongly recommend stopping by for a bite of chocolate or for gifts to your loved ones!

Really enjoyed the chocolate here! Stopped by while walking around Palmer Square because the Christmas window display caught our attention. Very wide selection of chocolates, got to try the pecan cluster as well as a champagne chocolate bite and one with rum in the title - can't remember the exact names - but all were pretty good.

The two women working today were not professional. They did not greet me nor offer any help. I asked for sample since the sign said sample available. And the woman says there are none today and still did not offer any help. I left, please train staff to be friendly to paying customers! I have visited in the past and spent a lot of money on this local chocolate shop to support local businesses. The two women working today ruined the brand reputation, very unprofessional. ***I was not greeted and was not assisted even after standing in the shop for a few minutes .. this was not a matter of me not “hearing the greeting” . The staff was unhelpful and didn’t want to assist it’s that simple.

Charming little chocolate shop in the heart of Princeton! Beautiful decor & set up. Lots & lots of home made chocolates for your sweet tooth!

I am visiting a friend and she insisted if I want something sweet that Thomas Sweet is the place to go! I see they have an ice cream shop (which I plan on stopping by tomorrow) but tonight it was a chocolate night. As soon as I walked in I was greeted immediately and asked if there’s anything I needed help with do not hesitate to ask. I felt comfortable right away. The smell as soon as the door opens was just Devine. The young lady at the front was very helpful, knowledgeable and took her time explaining everything to me and was patient with my questions. I will absolutely be back the next time I visit. The coffee cream truffle was a win for me! * I just had to update , it would’ve been 5 stars except I went in really looking for dipped strawberries, but unfortunately they did not have any tonight 😢

I purchased 2 boxes of chocolates as gifts. The boxes were dirty and the chocolates inside were cut in all different sizes and sloppy. Very disappointing.

Wide range of extremely tasty chocolates! Also check out the ice cream store!

I was visiting Princeton from Boston area and stopped in. Bought a half dozen to take home. These are honestly the best cupcakes I may have ever had in my life. Flavors are amazing and so moist! The rainbow cookie cupcake was incredible and so unique. I wish I lived closer!!

These cupcakes are unlike anything I’ve had elsewhere. The cake is so light and fluffy and every flavor is delicious. A trip into Princeton isn’t complete without a box of cupcakes to take home. I love when the cupcake truck is at my local shopping center.

loved their vegan offering!! very fast checkout process. Highly recommend red velvet vegan cupcake. Gluten free options are available however they come with egg. I wish that was not the case though. Friendly people at the checkout counter, seating was readily available. The place was very clean! Highly recommend their vegan cupcakes

My son and I were trying various restaurants near the Princeton campus when we found this cupcake shop. We decided to give them a try. When we walked in, we were surprised to see the number of cupcake options available. I didn’t count, but based on the photo, there are close to 50 varieties! That’s impressive. We ended up getting one each. I took the cinnamon bun, and my son picked crème brûlée. They don’t offer a lot of seating, but while during our visit, we found ample seating. I liked the frosting on my cupcake, but my son thought his was too sweet, so he scraped some off. The cupcakes were moist, maybe a bit on the dense side, but delicious nonetheless. If you look closely at the photos, you can see some descriptions of the cupcakes. However, I wish they’d offer a bit more detail about the type of frosting, particularly since I’m not a big fan a cream cheese. I’d much rather have a buttercream selection. Putting that info on the card would be nice. They are open later most evenings, usually 8:30 or 9:00, so if you’re looking for a snack, this place offers a quick option. And the cupcakes are just $3.25 or so. Also, note the sign they have up near the door - they won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network back in 2011! As with all shops around this area, street parking can fill up quickly during busy times. There is a nearby parking garage as well. I look forward to coming back and trying more flavors.

Absolutely loved it! Great selection of cookies and Cupcakes!

I have been on the hunt to find THE best cupcakes ever since the small owned bakery I used to get cupcakes from closed down. This past weekend I think I found the cupcakes to beat all cupcakes as my boyfriend and I visited the House of Cupcakes Princeton location. Generally, we try to get a half dozen because 12 cupcakes between two people is a lot (we split each one so we can both taste each flavor) but since the shop is a bit of a distance (roughly an hour and a half from where I live) and due to the wide variety to choose from we decided to go for a full dozen. Never have I been happier with our choice to go big! We sampled 8 of the 12 thus far and every one was moist, flavorful, delicious and unique! The fact that the frosting for the red velvet differed from the strawberry shortcake and the salted caramel, the density of the cake varied, the flavors were bold and distinguishable but not one was too sweet, or overpowering. There wasn't a single one we've tried thus far that wasn't a 10/10!!! When I say there were different varieties of frosting, I mean there was a light whipped frosting on the lemon raspberry, a mild cream cheese on the red velvet and a rich and decadent fudge on the espresso brownie, each one is well thought out and compliments the cupcake in the best way possible. The filled cupcakes are incredible as well with the perfect amount of filling that is enough to enjoy without making the cake soggy, wet or syrupy. I had to tell the world how great they are so everyone can know about the hidden gem that is House of Cupcakes! Thank you for putting an extra sweet spot in the world with your delightful treats!

Loved this place. Beautiful aesthetics and so many dessert options. You can find almost all the possible flavor options in the cupcakes. Apart from cupcakes they have decorated sugar cookies in all shapes and forms. They're taste really really good. And looks so pretty as well. Chocolate covered decorated pretzels and cakes and cake parfaits. It so much deliciousness in a small cute stop right in the heart of Princetons busiest street. Highly recommend this place. The staff is very patient and nice and so courteous.

The food here is great and fresh. They have a wide variety of grab and gos items and some made to order. Their #8 is amazing. Buttery roll, fluffy egg with oozing cheese served hot... 😋 Yum! Recently I tried their chicken sandwich. While more salty than what I am used to, the toasted sandwich with the green sauce, chicken and cheese was an appetizing combo. Since I recently moved to Princeton I have yet to try everything on their menu but what I have seen is worth your buck.. it's not cheap but compared to Princeton prices, you can get a lot of hot items 10 or under. The staff is super nice. Rush times can mean your order is going to take between 10-15 minutes but it's worth the wait. About 3-4 stools to sit inside and about 3 tables with approx sitting of 10-12 people outside weather permitting.

They have many food options, you order at a counter and they call your number You get a warm sandwich and you have to find a table outside to eat

Olives has great food all around. The sandwich corner and the muffins are a highlight for me!

Usually the food I get there is great. Not this time. The kale salad with chicken had mayo for the dressing. Horrible. Will be tossed out. The chicken roasted veggie salad had like vinegar dressing. Awful. Just about zero chicken too. Other stuff I has was okay. The Cuban sandwich was good. Carrot muffin was fantastic as usual. Felt though like I wasted a lot of money.

Normally love olives but had to wait 50 minutes for online order to be fulfilled during lunch. Online orders are fulfilled last and behind everyone in store. Poor customer service

Olives is a family owned catering and takeout food deli located in the heart of downtown Princeton New Jersey, on Witherspoon Street near Princeton University. It’s a great place to grab a delicious lunch or contract for catering services. The choices seem endless and the food is fresh and delicious. You will find all types of American food favorites along with Greek specialties. They have a wide selection of soups, salads, entrees and sandwiches along with healthy choices and delectable desserts including their famous cookies and brownies. The food is homemade and the staff is very friendly, efficient and attentive. They also have outside seating on the sidewalk.

Genuinely my favorite breakfast sandwich ever! Get a bacon egg and cheese w/ salsa verde & avocado... it's a game changer. Also, the Santa Fe chicken sandwich w/ chipotle mayo is incredible. Their souvlaki-style chicken is to die for. Great service every time! One of the highlights of visiting my boyfriend in Princeton.

This is my first time visiting. I got bread and few other croissants. The bread was really good, but all other stuff wasn’t as expected. Chocolate almond croissant was saggy and very soft, the chocolate filled croissant was way over filled and filling wasn’t smooth. It says Nutella filled but it doesn’t taste or look like one. Everything but the bread was disappointing. The cafe interior looks nice.

Amazing bread 🥖 quality and lot of variety of savory and sweet options, they had selection of jams too , very clean and friendly staff .

Super saddened to say that the croissants are no longer the same quality they were a couple of years back. Bought 2 this morning and they’re no longer flakey, instead they’re a bread-like, dense quality.

A limited assortment of breads. Purchased a baguette and a croissant, the baguette was severely lacking. One of the worst I have ever tasted, we through it away. The croissant was better, yet the whole experience was disappointing. They offer small cafe type seating inside, a sidewalk bench right outside. Parking is very hard to come by.

Haven’t been here in 5 years. The croissants now are bland, not much different to what you get from your local supermarket. In no way up to the standards of the other local pastry shops. No crunch on the outside, plain doughy on the inside, and tasteless. What happened to this place?

Since they have re-opened they keep selling croissants as freshly baked that morning, that is what they say when one asks them. And one can smell the aroma when one is in the shop on an early Saturday morning. Regrettably though the croissants they sell to customers who come to the shop are not the ones they baked that morning. I have been there when they have opened at 7:00 and been sold croissants that were not freshly baked; i have been there at 9:00 and the same result. Been there three times in the last 5 weeks or so, and the same result. This is a shame!!! I have had their freshly baked croissants - they are fluffy, flaky and simply delicious.

I've been there twice. The first time I ought bought pastry with a nut filling. Very disappointing. When I cut into it, it had barely been brushed with the filling. It was dry and there wasn't much flavor. I gave the shop one more try and bought a loaf of bread. When I got it home, it was completely raw inside. Disgusting.