Until recently, the only way to try a Mali Bakes cake was to order a whole damn one to pick up from the appointment-only shopfront.

But pastry chef Patchanida Chimkire has made it easier to get your hands on a slice of one (or, likely, more) of her exquisitely retro, eye-poppingly colourful layered cakes.

Now, on Saturdays only, she’s selling a dozen or so of them by the slice from her sunny Thornbury space. (But you can still order whole cakes for pick-up and local delivery.)

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Turns out celebration cakes aren’t just for special occasions. She’s been pulling crowds.

A big red flower sign and greenery-filled frontage mark the spot. Inside, the infectiously cheerful cake shop is the stuff Saturday-morning dreams are made of. The space is as vibrant as the cakes it’s filled with – there’s a pretty-in-pink terrazzo cabinet, plus terracotta feature walls and cute baby-blue tables (get in early to snag one).

For her cakes, Chimkire draws inspiration from ’50s and ’60s cookbooks, and incorporates the vibrant colours of Thailand – as well as the world of Wes Anderson films.

Among the most popular flavours perched side-by-side in the cabinet are yuzu and poppy seed with strawberry preserves; chocolate with raspberry, cinnamon myrtle and toasted-white-chocolate cream cheese; and choc-peanut-butter cheesecake.

You’ll also find regularly rotating specials, chunky cookies and filter coffee.

Mali Bakes is open for slices on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. Otherwise, it’s appointment-only for whole cake pick-ups from Tuesday to Saturday; local delivery is also available.

Mali Bakes
627 High Street, Thornbury

Hours:
Sat 9am–3pm

malibakes.com