Marvel Cake

About Marvel Cake

Marvel Cake is a boutique patisserie and cafe at 250 University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. Maryam Menbari founded the business in 2009. The company says it began in her home kitchen with cakes and cupcakes for friends and family. It grew by word of mouth into a Bay Area brand with a production kitchen and several shops. Besides Palo Alto, it runs cafes in Campbell and Walnut Creek. It now offers franchises too.

The company describes itself as a place for elegant cakes, refined pastries and coffee, with attention to presentation and packaging. Custom orders are handled by the owner and the pastry team.

Cakes, pastries and drinks

The website groups the menu into cakes, cupcakes, macarons, patisserie, viennoiserie and drinks. Highlights include:

• Daily cakes: 6 inch and 8 inch cakes for small gatherings. Popular flavors include chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, vanilla cake with fresh strawberries and Bavarian cream and classic red velvet.
• Flat phyllo cakes: number cakes layered with pastry, cream, berries, macarons and flowers, made as party centerpieces.
• Cupcakes and macarons: sold individually and in larger quantities for events.
• Viennoiserie: croissants and other laminated pastries, including a spiral croissant listed on the home page.
• Coffee drinks: the shop calls itself a boutique cafe and serves artisan coffee alongside the pastry case.

The menu shifts with the seasons and holidays. A high tea service is listed on the website as coming soon. Check the menu page for the current selection before you go.

The pastry case

Beyond cakes, the menu page describes a full French-style pastry case. Examples include an opera cake of almond joconde, coffee buttercream and chocolate glaze; a pistachio tart; an ube tart with a jasmine dome; a strawberry tart decorated with Persian dried rose; a fruit tart over frangipane; and a creme brulee tart. There are vanilla and chocolate eclairs, cream puffs, a Napoleon with whipped cream and pistachio, tiramisu and a Swiss roll. The Bisou layers pistachio cake with lavender cream and rose water. Macarons come in classic flavors such as vanilla, salted caramel, chocolate, raspberry and pistachio. Cupcake bouquets, arranged like flowers, are made for gifts.

Ordering custom and wedding cakes

Custom cakes are a big part of the business. The bakery asks customers to send two or three photos of cakes they like with the order form, then works out the design and price by email. Price depends on size, design and detail. Plan ahead. The FAQ asks for at least two weeks' notice and the contact page suggests two to three weeks. Orders placed less than three days ahead carry a rush fee. A 50 percent deposit is required to start.

Wedding cakes can be booked up to a year ahead. The bakery offers cake tastings on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., scheduled by phone or email.

Read the policies before you order. The bakery does not make gluten-free, eggless or dairy-free cakes, explaining that it has no dedicated gluten-free kitchen. Changes are possible on orders with 8 to 10 days' notice. Deposits are refunded only when an order is canceled more than 14 days before pickup. Delivery is offered based on availability and is mainly reserved for wedding cakes, which usually need setup. Cake stands can be rented.

Corporate and large orders

Marvel Cake takes large orders of cupcakes, tarts and desserts for office parties, fundraisers and corporate events. It says it has worked with Silicon Valley companies and with hotels, wineries and wedding venues. Use the corporate events page to request a quote. Gift cards are also sold on the website.

Tips for visiting

For everyday treats, you can walk in or order through DoorDash, which the website links for the Palo Alto shop. For anything custom, order well ahead, especially around graduation season in June and the winter holidays. Note that the website lists one shared phone number for all three cafes. The shop is a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Our bakeries and desserts guide lists more sweet stops. If you are planning a party, see our birthday party ideas. The downtown guide covers the rest of University Avenue.

Location and getting there

Marvel Cake is at 250 University Avenue, Unit 107, Palo Alto, CA, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

What is nearby

• Nola, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Citibank University Avenue, service business, under 0.1 mi
• De Novo, store, under 0.1 mi
• Forest Spa Boutique, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
• The Wine Room, bar, under 0.1 mi
• University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
• Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi
• Cogswell Plaza, 0.1 mi

Other bakeries, ice cream and sweets nearby: Salt & Straw (under 0.1 mi); Alegio Chocolate (under 0.1 mi); Timothy Adams Chocolates (under 0.1 mi); Scoop Microcreamery (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full bakeries, ice cream and sweets list.

Before you go

• Popular items can sell out by early afternoon, especially on weekends. Go early for the best choice.
• Many bakeries take orders for cakes and large quantities. Allow a few days' notice for special orders.
• Seating is often limited, so plan to take treats to a nearby park if the shop is busy.

About this listing

Checked October 30, 2026 against Marvel Cake official website; About us; Menu; FAQ. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions