From Seoul to Sicily: Delhi’s cafés serve up the internet’s hottest desserts

Scroll through Instagram in Delhi and food often arrives before hunger does. Thick chocolate cascades, coffee melts into cones, and desserts are shaved, baked, brewed, and plated with cinematic flair. What once lived only on international food reels has quietly made its way into neighbourhood cafés, dessert bars, and bakeries across the capital and NCR. These dishes are not just about flavour. They are about texture, spectacle, and the small thrill of watching indulgence come alive on your screen before it reaches the table.

From velvety cheesecakes to espresso-soaked gelato, here are seven globally viral dishes that Delhiites cannot seem to stop chasing.

Soft, burnt, and unapologetically rich, the Sebastian cheesecake has become a global dessert obsession, and Delhi is firmly on board. At The Melt House in GK II, it arrives tall and creamy, with a caramelised top that cracks gently under the spoon. What seals its viral appeal is the warm sauce poured over it, turning each bite into a silky, slow-moving indulgence. Heavy, luxurious, and unashamedly decadent, it is best shared—or devoured solo without guilt.

This dessert looks like snow and melts like cream. At The Cloud Cup, Japanese shaved ice cream is made by shaving frozen milk into feather-light layers that pile up into a cloud-like mound. Unlike crushed ice, it dissolves instantly on the tongue, making it both delicate and refreshing. Paired with subtle flavours and minimal toppings, it is as gentle to eat as it is pleasing to photograph.

Few combinations travel the world quite like strawberries and chocolate. At Waffle De Paris in Gurugram, fresh strawberries are drenched in glossy, melted chocolate and served in clear cups, finished with generous pours of warm sauce. The appeal lies in its simplicity—bright fruit balanced by deep cocoa richness—making it both nostalgic and indulgent.

Hot chocolate gets a theatrical twist at Breakin Brew, where solid blocks of chocolate are shaved directly over steaming milk. The curls melt slowly, releasing layers of aroma and flavour. Finished with white and dark chocolate shards, the drink feels indulgent without tipping into excess. Originally a winter favourite, it has stayed viral well beyond the colder months.

The classic Italian affogato gets a nutty update in Model Town. Creamy pistachio gelato is paired with freshly brewed espresso, poured tableside. The bitterness of the coffee cuts through the sweetness, while crushed pistachios add texture. Balanced and elegant, it is a dessert for those who prefer depth over overt sweetness.

Here, coffee meets dessert in the most playful way. At The Sweet Jar, espresso is poured into a waffle cone lined with chocolate, creating a treat that slowly melts as you sip. Timing is everything—drink too slowly and the cone softens, too quickly and it is over in seconds. Either way, it is messy, fun, and unmistakably Instagram-friendly.

This is dessert with drama. A freshly baked croissant is sliced open and flooded with hot chocolate, soaking into its flaky layers. At Chelvies, it is finished with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa, turning it into a comfort dessert with visual impact. Warm, indulgent, and best broken apart slowly, it is designed to linger.