5 of the best London bakeries to visit in your lunch break
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Whether you’re buying for a treat for someone special or simply in need of a sweet afternoon snack, these are the London bakehouses to put on your must-visit list.
Dominique Ansel
Not just the London home of the famous cronut, Dominique Ansel’s Belgravia outpost is also filled with a vast array of all sorts of truly irresistible treats. We recommend the banoffee paella, which consists of caramelised bananas drenched in toffee, topped with a layer of cream, all set on the perfect crispy, crumbly base.
17-21 Elizabeth St, Belgravia; dominiqueansellondon.com
St John’s Bakery
This London institution is famous for its delicious filled doughnuts, which come in flavours ranging from plain vanilla custard and classic jam to butterscotch and honeycomb. Be warned though, once you’ve had a doughnut from St John’s, your expectations for future doughnuts will be irreversibly raised.
72 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ (Saturdays only); stjohnrestaurant.com
Bread Ahead
Bread Ahead is another impressive doughnut purveyor because it was founded Justin Gellatly, the former Head Baker and Pastry Chef at St John. Their current special includes spiced custard topped with a gingerbread cookie, but it’s not just doughnuts on the menu here - there are also delectable hot cross buns, and every kind of savoury and sweet pastry imaginable.
Borough Market and Mayfair; breadahead.com
E5 Bakehouse
This artisan bakery and coffee shop is nestled under Hackney’s railway arches. They specialise in sourdough, and pride themselves on using organic, locally-sourced ingredients. The star attraction here is the freshly-baked loaves of bread, but there are also plenty of interesting cakes and pastries on offer for those with a sweet tooth.
395 Mentmore Terrace, Hackney; e5bakehouse.com
Lily Vanilli
This sweet little bakery is nestled in a picturesque courtyard just around the corner from the ever-popular Columbia Road flower market, and the impressive cakes and sweet treats are often designed with flowers in mind, or even topped with actual petals. Whether you’re looking for a little afternoon treat or a showstopping wedding cake, this cute little bakery has something for you.
6, The Courtyard, Ezra St (Sundays only); lilyvanilli.com
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