The Hummingbird Bakery

spokane12

I will be back 3rd September 2008

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This place is yummy. If you take kids - they will absolutely go crazy for the variety. They are rich but not overly sweet. I think they are the right size - you want to enjoy and not gorge on these delights. Take your time when choosing. It is hard because this place always seems really, really busy. It is worth taking your time as you really can't eat two. Or take a friend and share two between you - or take four friends and share four. Even better. I remember they had a red velvet cupcake I think that was very good. This place really inspires you to check through your cookbooks for your old cupcake recipies and give it a go - can't be that hard (and will be a lot cheaper).

josieloves

A taste of New York... 3rd September 2008

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If you've heard of Manhattan's infamous Magnolia Bakery then this is the closest thing to it that you will find in London. Initially, it was a little hard to find as it's buried among boutiques and antique shops on Portobello Road. On a weekend however, you can't fail to miss the iconic Hummingbird logo above the heaving throngs of people all desperate for a piece of (cake) the action!

Once inside you'll find a tiny bakery with a few tables for those lucky enough to be able to eat in. The cupcakes themselves are generous in size usually with a large helping of the All-American frosting. Large cakes and slices are also on offer along with pies and brownies. You can also purchase drinks from teas and coffees to Root Beer and Milk! Plus all cakes and pies are available to order.

I absolutely adore all the food here but my only criticism is the price. It's quite galling paying £1.95 for a cupcake given that it's American counterparts charge the same in dollars. However, for an occasional treat it's worth it - the cakes of gorgeous and it's a fun experience. Definitely somewhere fun to go with gal pals and nieces a like!

sue

Small and (too) Sweet 20th July 2008

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Just happened upon the Hummingbird Bakery one afternoon and couldn't resist having a closer look. I had heard about it before - reading horror stories about horrendous queues at the South Kensington branch, and so-so cupcakes.

Was thinking about sampling some cupcakes there with a cuppa, but the shop was not an inviting place to linger, so decided to buy a couple of cupcakes to take home instead.

I was pleasantly surprised that the price per cupcake was cheaper than ones I usually buy, but on closer inspection realised that these Hummingbird cupcakes were smaller. I was disappointed by the range of flavours - basically vanilla or chocolate cake with a few different icing options. Oh well, I had to try some.

Ended up buying a chocolate cupcake with green icing and sprinkles, and a vanilla cupcake with meringue icing. The cake part was ok, but nothing memorable. The icing on both was way too sweet. Not worth the calories.

Dharminder

I like cup-cakes 27th June 2008

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I like cakes, and for a few years now i've been getting Cupcakes from here. Yes they ain't cheap, but then again they are quite 'rich' and even for a man with my appetite, i can't really eat more than one in a sitting.

Tip: Avoid (or remove) the silver balls on some of them, unless you have very good dental insurance. This things would break Superman's teeth.

The plainer ones i find are nicer than the fancier ones.

VictoriaR

frustrating 2nd March 2008

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Manhattan has been in the vanilla-flavoured grip of cupcakemania for a good five years now, led by the Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich village, where the Sex in the City girls pretended to eat cake, and its spin-offs Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Buttercup bakeshop, etc. The Hummingbird Bakery is the nearest London has to the New York cupcake experience, and it certainly delivers an authentically American selection of flavours. Red Velvet cake - bright red sponge with a light chocolate taste and cream cheese frosting - is delicious, as are the pies - pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue, Mississippi Mud, and more. Everything looks fresh, and the coffee isn't bad either.

BUT (always a but, huh?) the super sweet cakes are let down by a couple of less than sweet details. For nearly £2 a throw, the cupcakes are veeeerrry small, and didn't we abandon silver ball cake decorations back in the 70s, in the wake of a thousand birthday party teeth accidents? Service at the Portobello branch is fairly fast moving, but twice now I've gone into the South Ken branch on Old Brompton Road, only to leave fifteen minutes later, unserved and frustrated by the shambolically crowded shop, total lack of queue organisation and unbelievably casual service behind the counter. Don't bother popping in if you can see more than three customers in there already; do think about ordering ahead and getting a box for a special treat.