Sweet Moon Cafe & Bakery Expands to Wilmette

The popular Ravenswood bakery, renowned for its Russian honey cake called “Medovik,” has now opened in Wilmette. Sweet Moon Cafe & Bakery, located at 1222 Washington Court, welcomes visitors near the village’s Metra station. This bakery features a unique mix of fusion-style baked goods from various global cuisines.

Aigerim Mambetova, the proprietor of Sweet Moon, moved to the United States from Kyrgyzstan in 2012 with her husband, Marlen Alchinov, and niece, Zhannat Raiymbek Kyzy. Kyzy manages both the new and original locations. The establishment’s famed honey cake forms part of a tradition involving multiple thin, cookie-like layers filled with sour cream and honey. This particular dessert, along with others, caters to diverse palates.

Mambetova initiated their first bakery in Chicago due to dissatisfaction with the local dessert options, which she found excessively sweet and artificial. She began making cakes at home, and they became popular in their community. As word spread, they decided to sell them professionally. The original Sweet Moon location recently celebrated its five-year anniversary.

The newly opened Wilmette location provides an assortment of baked goods from Eastern European, Slavic, and American cuisines. Their menu also features breakfast and lunch items. Mambetova emphasizes homemade quality, with all pastries made from scratch using traditional recipes from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the U.S.

The bakery operates on a rigorous schedule, with baking starting at midnight and continuing until 7 a.m. before goods are transported to both locations. Originally, Mambetova and her husband handled all the baking, working long hours until they expanded their team. This allows Mambetova to focus on perfecting recipes and day-to-day operations.

Developing the menu took three years. Without formal pastry training, Mambetova relied on YouTube and social media to learn traditional dishes like syrniki, a pan-fried pancake popular in Eastern Europe.

One unique offering at Sweet Moon is the Kiev cake, inspired by a Ukrainian specialty that combines hazelnut or cashew meringue with chocolate and vanilla buttercream. Manager Raiymbek Kyzy notes that her aunt initially disliked baking but grew to appreciate it upon realizing local pastries did not meet her expectations.

A standout beverage at the bakery is their sea buckthorn tea, made from berries imported from Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Mambetova and Kyzy are excited to bring their creations to Wilmette, noting the strong community support there.

Customers at the Wilmette shop, which opened on October 24, 2026, show a particular appreciation by engaging with the staff and expressing their enjoyment of the cafe. While planning a launch party set for the next month, Sweet Moon maintains daily opening hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., closing on Tuesdays. They offer a selection of pastries, coffee, teas, and light meal options throughout the day.