Miss Mustard’s Sweet Treats have been voted some of Canberra’s best dessert’s in Canberra. Photo: Supplied.
Ah, dessert. An indulgence and often the perfect way to end a meal. Whether it’s ice cream, a gourmet delicacy, decadent slice or scrumptious cake, there really is a dessert out there for everyone.
If dessert is “your thing” and you want to end a dining experience with something special, you’ll want to choose a café or restaurant that offers super yummy options. Or you might want to head to a patisserie, specialty dessert shop or an ice creamery or gelato shop.
Great desserts don’t have to be super expensive, but they definitely need to look as delicious as they taste.
In this article, we’ll outline the qualities to consider when choosing a dessert establishment, and share where to find the best in Canberra.
What makes a great place for dessert?
If you’re a dessert fan, choosing the right dessert place can make or break your experience.
It can be helpful to keep the following in mind when choosing a dessert place, whether that’s a restaurant, café or takeaway operation.
- Variety. If you’re going out for dessert, you’re probably looking for something special. That’s something you might not ordinarily whip up at home. A great dessert place has stunning looking, exciting and interesting options. Variety is the name of the game, including with flavours.
- Cost. Desserts range wildly in price. Some restaurants that create extra-special desserts, charge more. This is because their amazing desserts are made only with top-quality ingredients and take time to create. For something less complex, you can always grab something sweet and simple to enjoy with a cuppa, like a good old slice.
- Dietary. If you have special dietary requirements, you may want do suss out the dessert place before arriving. Most cater to dietary requirements. Examples are places that make vegan, gluten-free and even dairy-free desserts. If you have allergies, however, be sure to tell staff before you order.
- Beauty. They say we eat with our eyes first. This is very true in dessert land. A quality dessert looks as wonderful as it tastes.
- Service. To top off your dessert experience, you’ll want friendly and helpful service. That includes in a restaurant or café. It also includes in places where you take away your dessert.
The best places for dessert in Canberra
Riotact’s editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.
To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on Riotact and Facebook as well as maintaining a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.
Miss Mustard's Sweet Treats
Miss Mustard’s Sweet Treats is a small-batch kitchen that handcrafts each cookie with love. These free-range cookies are guaranteed to make you do a happy dance. Every bite of every cookie is crumbelievable. Miss Mustard’s Sweet Treats sells 4, 6 and 12 packs, as well as custom cookie cakes.
Regular cookie flavours include white chocolate and macadamia, double chocolate fudge, salted caramel and raspberry, and fairy bread. Also, chocolate mint fudge, peanut butter chocolate, gay time, hazelnut fudge, and chocolate chip. Every month, Miss Mustard’s Sweet Treats creates special flavours, like Strawberry Dreams and Caramel Chai Latte, and bakes vegan and gluten-free cookies.
Cookie cakes are 22 cm and, on each one, Miss Mustard’s writes a custom sweet message in a Vanilla Bean icing.
Miss Mustard’s Sweet Treats are ‘feel good’ too – $2 from every order is donated to a mental health organisation through the company’s ‘OK CoOKie’ program.
Clients love filling their crumb craving with Miss Mustard’s Sweet Treats. Local delivery and shipping Australia wide are available.
Luke Anderson wrote on Google, “These cookies literally blew my socks off. The flavour combinations are truly intelligent. Will order again and again and again.”
85 Degrees Café
85 Degrees Café’s mission is “sweeten your life.” The bread line includes croissants, Danish custard and French donuts. Cakes are created for all occasions and beautifully decorated. Select from 6”, 8”, 10” and 12”. Traditional and specialty flavours available. Also sweeten matters with 85 Degrees Café’s handmade biscuit range, cupcakes, rolls, bites and more.
Vai Soni wrote on Google, “I ordered black forest from this place. It was delicious. Even the packaging was so cute. Prices are also very affordable.”
Sucré Salé
For high-quality desserts, have a look at Sucré Salé’s unique grazing boxes. Best sellers include Choccy Madness and Lolly Overload. Gluten-free boxes can also be ordered.
All dessert boxes come in small, medium and large. Customised and corporate dessert boxes are available. Sucré Salé also works with customers to create unique boxes that include branded cookies or cupcakes.
Kate Stanley wrote on Facebook, “Received a grazing box whilst in home isolation … The box was overflowing with goodies, which looked and tasted delicious.
Gelato Messina Braddon
Another on the list of late-night dessert venues, Gelato Messina has become one of Canberra’s most popular destinations for delicious ice cream whether it’s during the day or late at night. With dozens of original flavours and a selection of gelato cakes, nothing is ever made with pre-made bases or mass-produced flavour paste, and Messina even sources their dairy products from their very own farm – so you can rest assured that the gelato at Messina is of the highest quality possible.
As Facebook user Ricardo Vargas Flores writes, “Delicious ice cream; the perfect place for sharing relaxing good moments!”
Space Kitchen
Space Kitchen is renowned for gorgeous-looking cookies, celebration cakes and desserts that taste incredible. Select something sweet with a coffee or tea or order a full cake or selection of goodies for a group. Think opera cake, almond croissants, lemon meringue and Nutella cookies. Afternoon high teas available. Order a cake today and pick up tomorrow.
On Google, Judy Cunningham wrote, “Popped into Space Kitchen for special morning tea. The array of cakes, pastries and biscuits, is amazing!”
Supersweet Café
Sweet breads, muffins, cookies, brownies, cakes and other desserts are what attract customers to Supersweet Café. Popular patisserie items include Portuguese tarts, pistachio cake, black sesame crepe cake (40 layers), honeydew shortcake, and secret cheesecake. Order in advance for any occasion.
Jacob de Keijzer wrote on Google, “Eating the watermelon cake as I write this review ... it's so delicious and made with love. I know it’s been a bit of a trend, but every time I’ve tried it elsewhere I’ve been disappointed.”
Goodberry’s
Goodberry's Creamery, Erindale and Belconnen, are locally owned and operated creameries providing fresh, tasty frozen custard concretes, sundaes, cups and cones. Also, fruit crushes, low-fat smoothies, shakes and more. Goodberry’s ingredients are milk, cream, egg, pure cane sugar and honey. No preservatives, stabilisers or artificial ingredients. Just pure, wholesome custard, made as it has been for over 70 years.
On Google, Phil Ebbott wrote, “Great desserts. Fast service even though it was busy. A Canberra classic.”
If you’re looking for more information on decadent dining in Canberra, you might like our articles on the best dessert delivery, best cake shops, best birthday cakes, and best cupcake shops and best bakeries that Canberra has to offer.
Your experience with dessert restaurants in Canberra
Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback, if you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.
Have you had experience with any of the dessert places listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dessert restaurant?
A dessert restaurant is a place that specialises in sweets. Usually they’re open late, and their menu features a wide range of cakes, sweet treats, and ice creams.
Can I go into a restaurant just for dessert?
This depends on the restaurant. Some welcome diners who just want coffee and dessert, especially towards the end of lunch or dinner when tables aren’t full. It’s good etiquette to ask the restaurant by calling ahead or enquiring at the front door.
What cuisine has the best dessert?
This depends on your taste. Every cuisine is famous for its own type of desserts. The Swiss, for example, conjure up images of decadent chocolate desserts. The French for pastries. The Italians for desserts like coffee-soaked tiramisu.
What makes an amazing dessert?
Pastry and dessert chefs say that quality ingredients are key to amazing desserts. High-end, artistic and stunning-looking desserts also require skill to create.
What if I have dietary requirements?
Most dessert places automatically cater for a range of dietary requirements. Gluten-free desserts can be delicious. Vegan ones too. If, however, you have very strict dietary requirements, such as allergies, make sure you tell the dessert place about these before you order.
How much do desserts cost?
So much goes into determining the price of a dessert. Certainly, desserts created by highly experienced dessert and/or pastry chefs tend to cost more. This is because they only use high-quality ingredients, which can be expensive to buy. It’s also because these chefs take a lot of time, and put in a lot of effort, into designing and making desserts.
Loading ...
