Foodie finds: my fave London bakeries
Maybe it’s a sign of my age, but these days my ideal weekend morning typically starts with a pilgrimage to a specialist bakery for a sweet treat, coffee and a yap. We’re spoilt for choice with artisanal bakeries in London, but let’s be honest, some of them definitely aren’t worth the hype! So, here’s my tried and true round up of the bakeries I recommend to tourists and locals alike, time and time again.
Layla
Layla produces the best, flakiest, most buttery croissants and pains au chocolat I’ve ever eaten not just in London, but outside of France generally - and that is a hill I’m prepared to die on! I can’t help but compare whenever I go to other bakeries now, and nowhere else has come close (except Don’t Tell Dad but they nicked the head baker from Layla, so I categorise it as essentially a mini Layla!).
Layla are also very well known for their specials - such as the pain suisse in a shape of a bow (pictured).
Although Layla is ubiquitous these days, this is one bakery that’s not just Instagram-famous but also definitely worth the hype.
Oh, the coffee is also excellent - basically I don’t have enough good things to say about this bakery :)
Go early (pre-11am) as they do run out, and don’t worry, the queue moves very quickly!
Dusty Knuckle
Famed for their potato sourdough and their purpose-driven business model, Dusty Knuckle produces some of the best sandwiches in London. The chilli cheese and egg foccacia is a classic, but the specials are usually a fantastic way to go as well.
Fair warning - you need to either be prepared to queue (often for quite a while - we usually grab a takeaway coffee from Allpress first!), or place your order for collection in advance.
It’s definitely worth the wait (as well as the schlep to east London for a west London girlie like me!), and it actually pretty enjoyable on a summer’s day, as the courtyard fills with people enjoying their treats.
Violet
No round up of the best bakeries in London would be complete without a mention for Violet Cakes. This is my go-to spot in east London for a special cake or sweet treat.
As well as the fact that they provided Harry & Meghan’s wedding cake, Violet are famous for their sprinkle cookie (which I didn’t love) as well as for their decadent cakes, such as bubble cakes, dipped madeleines, American style sheet cakes and seasonal specials.
You’ll be spoilt for choice, trust me! The good news is that London Fields and Hackney Downs aren’t too far away, so you’ve plenty of options for walking off the sugar high.
Comptoir
Bermondsey Street is one of my fave little mini-areas in London, and no visit is complete without a visit to Comptoir, a French-style bakery.
I’ve never had a bad sweet treat here, to be honest - BUT the chocolate chip cookie is my all time fave in London and is my recommendation: seriously soft and squishy, with heaps of vanilla.
This bakery is definitely less busy than the first two options, so a good one to go for if you’re 1) short on time, and 2) in central London.