German cakes have a special place in my heart. Or should I say stomach? Light, creamy and sweet but not too sweet is how I like my cakes and thankfully the Germans make them just the way I like them. The afternoon ritual of going out for coffee and cake is one I could easily get used to. In Dresden I sought out one of the oldest, most traditional cafes in the city for my afternoon treat, Grand Cafe Coselpalais, where they serve both French and German style cakes as well as light meals.
Originally built in 1765, the building was destroyed during the war and then rebuilt in the original style before finally reopening in 2000. I love the baroque building and in summer you can sit out on the terrace and admire the beautiful Frauenkirche located just opposite.
As soon as you step through the entrance you are presented with a huge glass showcase with cakes and desserts. This is the hard part. Do you want chocolate cake, vanilla, something fruity? In the end I went with a light yoghurt lime slice, the kind of thing I always choose.
Service was swift and my pretty (and tasty) dessert was served on Dresden’s famous Meissen porcelain. Nice touch. I can’t speak about the coffee because I don’t actually drink coffee. I don’t know why I always say I’m having coffee and cake when I skip the coffee part but I do.
I felt like I had gone back in time at the Grand Cafe and I could have lingered for hours (and ordered another cake) if I hadn’t been in a hurry to head off and visit the Christmas markets.
Now that Dresden is my new favourite German city (it changes each year) I will be heading back soon and back to the Grand Cafe Coselpalais as well as a couple of other traditional coffee houses I spotted around the city.
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