A sweet escape

We walk up to this quaint little place in Archibishop Street in Valletta. Bars of chocolate and all sorts of delicacy are strewn all over the display window - artfully decorated with a vintage bicycle and whimsical tree branches - yet that's nothing compared to what we come across as soon as we step inside Angelica.

Shelves overflowing with mouth-watering homemade cakes, breads, cupcakes, bite-size goodies, fine wines - even gorgeous cheeses brought by the owner herself from Paris. We are told that upstairs is full and asked to have a seat at the bar facing the shop window. We look around, trying to take it all in - only it's virtually impossible. The shop is tastefully jam-packed with anything imaginable. Gorgeous crockery accompanies the scrumptious yumminess.

This lovely girl interrupts our musing, asking us if we want to order. Snapping out of our day-dream, we ask if they have a menu, to which she replies that the menu is all around us! After careful deliberation, we opt for a slice of chocolate-caramel cake and a red-velvet cupcake, washed down with tea - white and ginger&lemongrass.

We then ask if we can move upstairs, while we order a pot of tea, with milk of course. Not knowing what to expect, we tread slowly upstairs. A large window faces the stairs and right below the window there's a majestic antique sofa, dressed in red velvet. The room is tiny, yet a bigger room would spoil the atmosphere. It feels like the typical nanna's sitting room, reserved for special occasions. Another sofa and two pairs of armchairs serve as extra seating. 

When it's time to pay, we make our way downstairs and ask for the bill. Since we've heard rumours that it's quite pricey, we expect an exorbitant bill. Yet, we are pleasantly surprised.