Madrid is well served when it comes to bakeries, but cakes and cheesecakes aren’t usually the best thing on offer – La Merendona is an exception.

This small, welcoming Colombian-owned cafe-bakery has fresh homemade cakes every day, and the most tempting window display I’ve seen in a long time! Lemon merengue pies, orange angel cake with cream cheese frosting, cheesecakes with chocolate, forest fruits and dulce de leche toppings, carrot cakes and chocolate cakes all beautifully decorated with fresh fruit and flowers stop passersby in their tracks!

You can eat in and have breakfast (they have great coffee!) with croissant or some other pastry, cereal bowls and fresh juice, or enjoy a light lunch – they have a very good sandwich selection as well as quiche, Argentinian empanadas and savoury pies.  They also have cookies, brownies and bread.

For me though, these all play a supporting role in what’s on offer – the stars of the show are the cakes!