Shayda Wilson honed her skills in patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris and, lucky for us, returned to Durham to open her sweets shop. Find a vast menu of macaron flavors at her charming downtown shop. Everything is hand-made, hand-piped and made from scratch.
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Hours:
Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
I went here because it was close to the restaurant I visited for lunch. I got three things. When I walked up to the counter, they had some items I wasn’t sure what they were, but I liked the presentation. The ladies behind the counter were nice and explained what the items were. One was a slice of carrot cake, which might be the nicest-looking slice of carrot cake I’ve ever seen, so I got that.
The other two items I can’t remember the names of, but I’ll include a photo.
That said, the carrot cake was incredibly delicious. A lot of things were done right with that carrot cake. The pink ball next to the carrot cake was also pretty good. The item that came in the box by itself, I didn’t really care for. It looked better than it tasted, and I think it might be an acquired taste. I think the fruit inside was just frozen i'm not sure if it was supposed to be like that or not but I didn't care for it. Overall 2 out of 3 isnt bad.
Emily Arnold
Jan 21, 2026
5
I live in Cincinnati and wanted to order some pastries and sweets for my sister’s father-in-law’s celebration of life for his family that weekend. I wanted to support local and find someone that could delivery. Shayda answered the call! She was so helpful mapping out what to order and adjusting the invoice once we landing on the perfect combination of treats and was even willing to add a note to the delivery on my behalf for the family. I can’t say enough. And the whole family said everything was delicious. If I could give her 10 stars I would!
Emma Bleick
Jan 17, 2026
5
Shayda made the desserts for our wedding in November and did an absolutely amazing job! I ordered three 10" cakes, a macaroon tower, baby pumpkins, and baby apples which were a custom request. Everything was delicious and stunning! She let me bring in some of the flowers I feel for my wedding to decorate the cakes with and they looked so beautiful. We got so many compliments on the desserts!!
Sandy Jacob
Dec 3, 2025
5
I ordered macarons from Sweets by Shayda for my cousin’s birthday, and the entire experience was exceptional from start to finish. Shayda was very easy to work with, as she's incredibly responsive, professional, and proactive with her communication. She even reached out to let me know when the order was on its way for delivery, which I truly appreciated since I’m in Scottsdale and my cousin is in Durham, NC.
The macarons were absolutely delicious and beautifully packaged. They made my cousin’s birthday even more special, and she loved them so much that she said she’ll be a regular customer going forward. As for me, Sweets by Shayda is officially my go-to bakery in the Durham area for gifts and special occasions. Highly recommend!
Sirwe Nikpey
Oct 19, 2025
5
We ordered a Lemon Lavender cake and it was absolutely amazing!
The flavor was perfectly balanced ;not too sweet, just right. The cake was fresh, the colors were vibrant, and the decoration was beautiful.
You can really tell how much care and attention went into it. Highly recommend!
Melvin Hill
Sep 30, 2025
4
It's cool, expensive but tastes great. The macaroons are amazing, the croissants taste great but $11 for 2 croissants ..... greedy behavior, one did have chocolate in but it was .50cent higher than the plain. Sam's, walmart, publix, whole foods, harris teeter, hell food lion all sale more croissants for less. Somebody loves it but tho.
April H
Aug 9, 2025
5
WOW....where do I start?! I experienced the most delicious yummy treats EVER! Oh my goodness. I wasn't sure what to get and decided to try both the lemon and salted caramel macarons. OUTSTANDING! It was so light and fluffy with the perfect amount of flavor and sweetness. I also got a mango flavored shaped small cake filled with mango fruit mousse filling. Just delightful. They were all excellent. Will return to try other items.
Jenny H
Jul 29, 2025
5
Sweets by Shayda is the BEST. Not only are the sweet treats absolutely gorgeous AND delicious, Shayda and her team are a breeze to work with. My husband ordered an anniversary cake with a few loose ideas and Shayda made the most beautiful cake (I actually shed a few tears over it because it was so incredible). Shayda greeted us and wished us a happy anniversary as soon as we walked into the shop to pick up the cake, which was so sweet. If you need anything specially made or just in the mood for a treat, Shayda's is the place to go. :)
smillernc
Jun 24, 2025
5
I recently heard of this local woman-owned bakery, and stopped by to get one of her vaunted croissants and a piece of cake. The carrot cake with cheesecake filling was so good that I ordered a 6" whole cake for a friend's surprise birthday party. It was beautiful and delicious, dense and moist. A hit indeed for which I received lots of compliments!
I was a bit concerned about the size, as there were 10 guests -- but when I opened the box, I discovered it was so TALL that there was plenty and the guest of honor even took some home!
The almond croissants are out-of-this-world, and Shayda's Viennese Opera cake is one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life.
We're lucky to have 'Sweets By Shayda' in Durham because its less expensive than a trip to Manhattan or Paris. 💚
Mac Kwiatkowski
Jun 17, 2025
5
We stopped by Sweets by Shayda for a coffee and decided to try the Raspberry Macaron Cake—and we were pleasantly surprised! This delightful treat delivered a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. The crisp and chewy macaron shells sandwich a rich, creamy filling and fresh raspberries, making each bite a burst of texture and taste. The swirl design on top added a charming touch, and the gluten-free note is a thoughtful bonus for those with dietary needs. At $8.50, it’s a bit of a splurge, but well worth it for a quality treat. It pairs beautifully with a coffee and makes for an elegant dessert. Highly recommended for macaron lovers and anyone looking for a unique pastry experience.
LaTonya Broome
May 10, 2025
3
A lovely small bakery where macaroons are the star. I don't live in Durham, so I searched online for a downtown bakery. I was impressed with the photos and reviews. Our party had carrot cake (tasty with crushed pineapple between the layers), lemon lavender cake (a pretty molded presentation was heavier on custard/curd than cake with a delicate lemon bite and only a hint of sweetness), pistachio ??? (it wasn't cake, it was bread...like a croissant...and it didn't pair well with the pistachio filling which was like a pistachio cream cheese-like mound. Pretty to look at but disappointing on taste), opera cake (lacked rich chocolate flavor and sweetness but suitable as a complement to coffee), birthday macaroons (delicious). Only a few tables for indoor dining. A lovely floral photo/selfie backdrop.
Briana Candace
Apr 24, 2025
5
I cannot say enough good things about this magical place. As a pastry chef myself, finding a good macaron is HARD. I found out about this place last year and ordered some things for my bridal shower brunch and I've been hooked since. Everytime I come in town I have to get at least a dozen macarons, a croissant & whatever else catches my eye. I'm already thinking about getting more.
Kim Kim
Apr 13, 2025
5
During our visitto Durham, we decided try this. WOW! We ordered a lil of several things along with the macaroons. Everything was amazing, not too sweet which was a huge plus. The coffee was spot on and pistachio ice cream was a hit with my grandson. Highly recommend carrot cake!
John Louie
Mar 28, 2025
5
Just unbelievably great cakes! Plus ice cream and espresso! I split a piece of carrot cake and opera cake with my son-in-law. Dreamy…
Tracy Parks
Mar 10, 2025
5
Tracy with Offline - I wish had the talent to make macaroons. It's takes baking talent, flavor combinations and colorful treats to make an excellent macaroons. This bakery has perfected the macaroon. Love them! Highly recommend.
PS they prices are reasonable also.
