London's best bakeries

There's no way to start the day quite like grabbing a coffee and croissant from your favourite bakery, is there? Or perhaps a Swedish cinnamon bun or freshly baked cheese and Marmite scroll takes your fancy? Read on for my favourite places in London to find the perfect baked goods…

Jolene, multiple locations - Stoke Newington, Shoreditch, Angel, and more

This Stoke Newington gem always has a range of croissants, cake slices, and bread loaves available every day, and all baked fresh at sister bakery Big Jo - with ever-changing options such as caramel orange Danish, or tiramisu cake slice, you’ll always be pleasantly surprised with the flavour combinations here. Grab a pastry to go, or sit in with a cup of coffee; the space is industrial with a relaxed atmosphere, and the cooked menu is also delicious (the curried spinach with soft egg is my favourite dish). Jolene’s smaller outposts across the city (Shoreditch, Angel etc) offer just as tempting an array of goods, but all available for takeaway.

The Dusty Knuckle, Dalston

The Dusty Knuckle has earned itself a reputation for offering the best sandwiches in town, and for good reason too. Their ‘knockout sandwiches’ are packed with tasty fillings, ensuring you get your bang for your buck, with combinations including porchetta and salsa verde, or spiced cauliflower, tahini and soft boiled egg. You’ll also find daily soups and a range of sweet and savoury pastries on offer.

Violet, Dalston

This cosy, cute bakery located a few minutes’ walk from London Fields is always buzzing with hungry cake-lovers and with one glance at the cake cabinet, it’s easy to see why. While Violet offers a simple brunch menu with tasty savoury items such homemade quiche and avocado toast, the cake selection is where this bakery truly shines: from cupcakes, to scones, brownie slices, and cookies, everything here is absolutely more-ish, and tastes as good as it looks (which is very pretty indeed). There’s reason why Violet was commissioned to bake Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake...don’t miss their butterscotch blondies if you’re visiting (or just get a hefty slice of cake!).

Fabrique, multiple locations - Covent Garden, Notting Hill, Fitzrovia, Hoxton, and more

This Swedish outpost has been wildly successful in London, seeing rapid expansion over the last couple of years - and it’s easy to see why. Their classic cinnamon and cardamom buns are the best you’ll find in town, and seasonal flavours such as saffron and blueberry are also on offer throughout the year. They’re the perfect balance of sticky sweet, soft, and chewy, and you’ll find yourself unable to resist popping into Fabrique whenever you pass by one of their branches. You’ll also find freshly baked rye loaves, tasty sandwiches, and melt-in-the-mouth shortbread cookies here.

Arome Bakery, multiple locations - Covent Garden, Marylebone

This Singaporean-style bakery offers a unique twist on your favourite baked goods, incorporating Asian flavours that you wouldn’t usually expect: make sure to try the miso bacon escargot, gulu melaka and coconut scrolls, and their famous honey french toast, a thick white slice of Japanese milk bread encrusted in honey sugar syrup and baked until perfectly crisp on the outside.

Pophams, multiple locations - London Fields, Islington, Soho

Pophams only opened it’s first branch in London in 2018, but has since taken the city by storm, and opened three further locations across the capital. I can safely say that they serve the best croissants in London - each baked by scratch every day, and packing a flavourful punch, whether it’s one of their classics (maple and bacon swirl, or rosemary twist), or one of their seasonal specials - (flavours include quince, apple and custard, or hazelnut and chocolate). Their branch in Hackney also happens to serve homemade pasta dishes in the evenings, and I can vouch that it’s just as delicious.

Chestnut Bakery, multiple locations - Covent Garden, Belgravia

There’s always a queue out the door at both of Chestnut Bakery’s slick locations, where you’ll find counters laden with beautifully crafted and flavourful baked goods, from stuffed crossaints to chewy caramel cookies, vanilla buns and more, all freshly baked each morning.

Luminary, multiple locations - Stoke Newington, Chalk Farm

Luminary’s original location in Stoke Newington is a quaint little shop, serving a delicious range of home baked treats, including their visually stunning and delicious layer cakes. It’s no wonder you’ll find Luminary cakes stocked in a number of speciality coffee shops across London, and that they opened their second branch in Camden in 2019. Best of all, Luminary is a social enterprise, employing and empowering women who have experienced poverty, violence, homelessness or criminal activity - meaning you can eat your cake, and know that its all for a good cause.