Babycakes - a boutique coffee shop in East Sheen - most certainly lives up to its name: it welcomes babies and it serves cakes. Of course you don't have to have a baby to eat cake here, but it helps.

Babycakes exterior
Babycakes only opened recently, in December 2012, but already it has become a very popular place for mums and their young to hang out and meet other mums and their young. In fact it was opened for that very purpose by a mum who could find no such hang-out in the area herself. The whole place is set up with this in mind: the tables are spaciously spread (perfect for maneuvering buggies around), there's a comfy sofa, ample highchairs and a baby-change station in the clean, roomy toilet. Across the shop, little details have been carefully considered: look closely and you'll notice the lampshades resemble metallic cake cases, the sugar pots have colourful (edible) crystals amid the white granules and when you order a coffee or a tea, the milk is served in a fun cow jug. The bright walls are dotted with a range of cheery gifts and cards, that will be sure to catch a little one's roving eye.

Tea and cake at Babycakes
As well as a good selection of cakes, there are a range of gourmet sandwiches, healthy salads and tasty soup on the menu too. The sandwich choices include smoked salmon & cream cheese, chargrilled aubergines, peppers & mozzarella with pesto or prosciutto, goat's cheese & honey. Prices range from around £4.50-£6.00 and all the sandwiches come served with a little side salad (and a big smile from the friendly staff).
If it's a sunny day there is some seating at the front where you can watch the world go by over a chin-wag and a cappuccino; the coffee shop is on a busy main road, so it won't be peaceful, but there's plenty to take in. Situated on the South Circular between Richmond and East Sheen, Babycakes is easily accessible to those living in, or visiting, the South-West London area. It also holds private kids' birthday parties and baby showers.