A deeply browned top, an exceptionally creamy centre and already a firm favourite of ours. Our San Sebastian cheesecake arrives fresh from Café San Sebastian on Berlin’s Uhlandstraße.
Our San Sebastian cheesecake comes from Uhlandstraße
We made a deliberate choice not to source our San Sebastian cheesecake from just anywhere. It comes from Café San Sebastian at Uhlandstraße 167 in Berlin, where this particular cake is the main attraction. The café specialises in San Sebastian cheesecake and bakes it fresh. That means we can serve a cheesecake at The Leaf that we genuinely enjoy ourselves.
What is San Sebastian cheesecake?
San Sebastian cheesecake belongs to the Basque cheesecake family. Compared with many classic cheesecakes, it is strikingly simple: there is no thick biscuit base and no perfectly pale top. Its appeal comes from the contrast between a deeply baked, lightly caramelised surface and an exceptionally soft, creamy centre.
Why is the top so dark?
At first glance, you might wonder whether it stayed in the oven a little too long. It did not. That deep browning is part of the characteristic look. The higher heat gives the surface its darker colour and more intense flavour, while the inside remains much paler and creamier. A cake is allowed to show a little character.
Does the centre have to be runny?
Not necessarily. There is a wide range between beautifully creamy and running all over the table. Depending on how it is made, the centre may be very soft or hold its shape a little more. What matters most is the creamy texture that sets San Sebastian cheesecake apart from firmer styles.
Plain or with a topping?
Eating it plain lets the flavour of the cheesecake itself come through most clearly. The right topping can take it in a different direction: fruit adds a fresher contrast, while a sweeter topping turns it into a more indulgent dessert. Thankfully, there are no strict rules for dessert.
San Sebastian cheesecake at The Leaf
If you would like to try the cheesecake from Café San Sebastian on Uhlandstraße, you do not have to travel all the way to Ku’damm. We serve it at The Leaf too. Take a seat, choose a drink and enjoy it at your own pace. We genuinely like it ourselves, and we are clearly not the only ones.
Where does the San Sebastian cheesecake at The Leaf come from?
We source it from Café San Sebastian at Uhlandstraße 167 in Berlin.
Is it baked fresh there?
Yes. Café San Sebastian bakes its cheesecake fresh; we source it from the café and serve it at The Leaf.
What makes it special?
The combination of a deeply browned surface and an exceptionally creamy centre.
Is it available at The Leaf?
Yes. You will find it among the desserts on our current menu.
