Hitting the sweet spot

It is 9.30pm, and there is a patient, gregarious crowd outside the newly opened LICK in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar. Must-have: Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Kunafa Tart, inspired by the viral chocolate bar Can’t Get Knafeh of It MUMBAI TWENTYSEVEN BAKEHOUSE Bandra West and Mahalaxmi, Mumbai View Full Image Choux at TwentySeven Bakehouse There’s something about the hands of pastry chef Rachelle Andrade who heads the kitchen at TwentySeven Bakehouse. Must-have: Toffees named Beta Bites, Cacao Terroir Bars, Classic Hot Chocolate, Podi Milk Chocolate Almonds, Sourdough toast with assorted chocolate spreads CHENNAI FINALE PATISSERIE Alwarpet, Chennai View Full Image Macarons at Finale Patisserie A small space with a large communal table and a larger kitchen in the heart of south Chennai’s Alwarpet, dessert at Finale Patisserie is all about style and presentation. Must-have: Any gelato HYDERABAD MANAM CHOCOLATE KARKHANA Banjara Hills, Hyderabad View Full Image The cafe at Manam Chocolate Karkhana Named one of TIME magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places 2024", the “chocolate karkhana" run by Indian bean-to-bar chocolate company Manam is a truly wondrous space where you can watch every step of the process of converting cacao beans into the rich, magical product we know; attend chocolate-tasting workshops, including making your own signature chocolate bar; shop for Manam’s huge range of cacao products; hang out at the lush cafe; and taste their chocolate-based desserts made fresh every day, ranging from single-serve pastries to loaf cakes, tarts, layered cakes, macarons and an assortment of Viennoiserie. Must-have: Fig & Mascarpone Tart MYSURU SAPA BAKERY Gokulam, Mysuru View Full Image Raspberry mousse, raspberry gel, and coconut whipped ganache Eclair While this German bakery, started by Dina Weber in 2019, is best-known for its Christmas stollen, it puts out a weekly menu on its Instagram page that includes treats like Strawberry Cream Cheese Doughnut, the Linzer Torte, Passion Fruit Milk Chocolate Choux and Viennoiserie favourites like the Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish.