The 27 best bakeries in London, according to a luxury travel magazine
You can't go far in London these days without being met by the dreamy, delectable scent of freshly baked goods. From bagel shops and sourdough maestros to cinnamon bun havens and playful patisseries, the options out there are almost overwhelming (in the best way).
With so many bakehouses about, it's helpful to separate the good from the great so you know which ones are really worth your dough. Here at Time Out, we've got our own carefully curated ranking of the best bakeries in town, but if you want a second opinion Condé Nast Traveller has just revealed its pick of the 27 bakeries the very best in the city and chosen six that represent the real crème de la crème. Let's dig in.
Best for French patisserie
If you want the finest, fanciest French patisserie in the city, CNT reckons Cédric Grolet is the place to go. Cédric Grolet is one of the very best patissier in the world, and his outlet at Belgravia's Berkley hotel (a short walk from Hyde Park) is his first outside of France.
Condé Nast said: 'The à la carte-style Berkeley café inside stocks a variety of his sweet treats, from intricate waffle flowers topped with chantilly cream to viennoiseries galore. The marigold and lemon flower tart is a winner, but it's the signature fruit trompe-l'œil that steals the show.'
Best for sandwiches
Dalston's Dusty Knuckle Bakery was CNT's best bakery for sandwiches in London. It said: 'The fillings are inventive and favorites include porchetta, salsa verde, braised spring onion and purple sprouting broccoli, chard, olives, feta, and almonds on doughy focaccia bread.'
As it happens, the Dusty Knuckle is Time Out's number one bakery right now, too. One of our fave things to order is the nduja pizza with harissa dip on the side. You're welcome.
Best for cupcakes
Head baker and owner of Violet Cakes in Hackney, Claire Ptak, was the lady behind Harry and Meg's lemon and elderflower wedding cake back in 2018. In other words, you know her stuff is going to be good. CNT named the bakery London's best for cupcakes and gave a special shoutout to its whoopie pies, made up of two cake sides filled with seasonal buttercream with flavours such as salted caramel, melted Valrhona dark chocolate and fresh fruit purée.
Best for doughnuts
Bread Ahead in Borough Market, crowned CNT 's best bakery for doughnuts, has been known for its filled fluffy bakes for years. Its classic crowdpleasers include salted caramel, jam and Nutella filled doughnuts, but CNT also recommends its 'extravagant cinnamon roll and soft powdered amaretti that are nothing like the store-bought rocks'.
Best for savoury pastries
If you tend to pick starters over deserts, Condé Nast Traveller recommends heading to Pophams in Islington, its best bakery for savoury stuff. Specifically, it highlights the bakery's famous laminated maple-bacon croissant. Other savoury options there have included honey and smoked salt buns and its marmite, schlossberger and spring onion pastries.
Best for seasonal ingredients
Toad Bakery in Peckham is CNT 's final 'top pick'. The publication said: 'The menu celebrates the UK's seasonality, focusing on low-mileage ingredients that can bring their recipes to life.' It recommended sampling some of its most creative bakes, which (at the time of writing) include a plum and marzipan sun bun, anise and orange blossom iced finger and a chocolate chip and soy sauce cookie. We also say that its more traditional saffron buns are well worth indulging in, too.
The 27 best bakeries in London, according to Conde Nast Traveller
Kuro Bakery, Notting Hill
Milk Run, Tooting Bec
Lily Vanilli, Hackney
Don't Tell Dad, Queen's Park
Arôme Bakery, Covent Garden
Fortitude Bakehouse, Russell Square
Toad Bakery, Peckham
Pophams Bakery, Islington
Forno, Hackney
St John Bakery, Covent Garden
Bunhead Bakery, Dulwich
Common Breads, Belgravia
Luminary Bakery, Camden and Stoke Newington
Toklas, Temple
Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley
Fabrique Bakery, Shoreditch
Pavilion, Victoria Park
Jolene, Newington Green
The Dusty Knuckle Bakery, Dalston
Layla Bakery, Notting Hill
Buns From Home, Notting Hill
Sourdough Sophia, Crouch End
Bread Ahead, Borough Market
Violet Cakes, Hackney
Willy's Pies, London Fields
Margot Bakery, East Finchley
E5 Bakehouse, Hackney
🥐 The best bakeries in London, according to Time Out.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Smaller Greek island with 70 beaches that experts warn you should see before it gets too popular
Plus, the islands that a 'Greece expert' says are better value DISCOVERED GEM Smaller Greek island with 70 beaches that experts warn you should see before it gets too popular GREECE has around 6,000 islands off the mainland and some are getting more popular by the year. Condé Nast Traveller has revealed the 34 islands to explore now before they get too popular - and at the very top is Milos. Advertisement 6 Milos is fast becoming a popular Greek island Credit: Alamy 6 It is a short flight away from Athens and has over 70 beaches Credit: Alamy The Greek island is the largest island of the Cyclades group with a population of 5,000. In 2019 which was one of the busiest years for the island, records revealed that over 952,000 people visited by ferry and another 37,933 tourists arrived by plane. In contrast, Mykonos has a population of around 10,000, and now has over a million visitors every year. Condé Nast Traveller has warned that Milos is becoming increasingly popular with the number of tourists growing steadily each year. Advertisement Celebrities are also discovering the island; in 2021, Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey holidayed on Milos. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell as well as Jeff Bezos have been spotted there in recent years. It's no wonder Milos is a popular spot for travellers, it has beautiful villas and boasts over 70 beaches. Milos has been described as being extremely photogenic, with some of the best spots being at the seaside villages of Klima and Mandrakia. Advertisement The beaches are high among the list of things to do on the island, making up nine of the top 10 attractions on TripAdvisor. It's not just beaches the island has to offer, there's also an ancient Roman theatre which is found in the village of Tripiti. Karpathos: Greece's Underrated Island Paradise 6 The preserved theatre has views over the sea Credit: Getty 6 The catacombs is another popular attraction on the island Credit: Getty Advertisement The theatre is well-preserved and open-air marble with views over the Aegean Sea and the harbour of Kilma village. There are also the Milos catacombs which are said to be some of the most important catacombs in the world. This isn't the first time Milos has been brought to attention, it was also called the best island on the face of the planet by Travel + Leisure in 2021. The publication asked readers to rate island destinations all over the world, as they looked to find the best one. Advertisement Milos nabbed top spot because of its "extraordinary tavernas and dozens of picturesque beaches." 6 Milos was previously named the best island on the planet Credit: Alamy So if you want to visit before you end up queuing to take a picture for Instagram like you do in Santorini, hop over sooner rather than later. To get to Milos from the UK, you'll need to fly over to Athens which you can do with EasyJet from £26.99. Advertisement You then have to take a second flight to the island which will take 40 minutes from Athens. Or hopping on a ferry to Milos which takes between two and seven hours depending on whether there are other island stops along the way. Sun Travel spoke to a Greece expert who reveals her four better value islands where locals like to go on holiday. Here's another Greek island that's set to be a big tourist magnet and is a hotspot for the likes of Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks. Advertisement The 34 Greek Islands To Visit In 2025 Milos Paros Hydra Sifanos Santorini Syros Folegandros Crete Corfu Naxos Cephalonia/Kefalonia Andros Serifos Mykonos Zakynthos/Zante Amorgos Paxos Lefkada Ithaca Tinos Patmos Rhodes Symi Astypalea Skiathos Aegina Kastellorizo Antiparos Leros Spetses Kalymnos Keá Kos Kythnos
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
'I visited absurdly beautiful island loved by Parisians with £40 UK flights'
Many years ago, when people would escape polluted cities to 'take in the sea air', the French island of Île de Ré is likely what they were after. And today at the entrance of the port of Saint-Martin-de-Re – the historic capital of the island – lies the chic seaside guesthouse of Hotel De Toiras that would have seen plenty of such fugitives. Like all buildings on the island, its exterior has been shaped by the whims of the Atlantic Ocean. Located on the cobblestone seafront it has painstakingly designed rooms with many stories to tell, much like the hotel's delightful staff. This charming old style hotel is laid back but precise – French hospitality at its best. Toiras' conscientious team oversees 18 rooms and a further handful at Villa Clarisse & Spa, the sister boutique property around the corner. Historic luxury is certainly the theme of this hotel – in a converted 17th century shipowner's house. Remarkable suites immerse guests with their striking themes which are rooted in the lives of leading figures from history and literature. Ornate reproduced pieces go with each theme, and most rooms have a bath and shower, with robes, slippers and a turndown service. Guests can indulge in the range of high-quality toiletries and there is a lounge downstairs to relax with the daily paper or book next to the fire. 'The owners really wanted to put the style of the island, history and their family touch to this hotel,' said general manager Maxence. 'We have some clients that are stressed when they check in, and when they leave they are totally relaxed.' Villa Clarisse & Spa – which is more contemporary and more polished than the Hotel de Toiras – got its fifth star last year, which means both properties now operate as five-star. Just a three-minute walk from the Hotel De Toiras, Villa Clarisse & Spa offers a heated outdoor pool and, as the name suggests, a spa – but unfortunately, that was being renovated while we were there. Guests can dine in the mornings and evenings in George's Restaurant and take an afternoon snack at the wonderful Salon D'Olivia. Prices come with the five-star territory, boasting seasonal menus with a strong, high quality and regional focus. The colourful vegetables du jour are simply joy on a plate. The beef chuck is rich and comes with a delicious Bearnaise sauce, the Langoustine Royales starter has varied textures and a wasabi kick. For those readers who have a sweet tooth, the star of the show was one of the two desserts on offer, the chocolate, praline and fleur de sal of Il de Re. It proved to be somehow simultaneously hot, cold and foamy with a wafer heart – you should try it and marvel. The two a la carte gastronomic menus cost €75 and €130. With Ile de Re being less than three hours from the French capital, you will find throngs of Parisians in the summer months. You can see why – the island is relaxed, tiny but full of things to do – all with an absurdly beautiful backdrop. Il de Re is an oasis of salt, vineyards and sand dunes off the coast of La Rochelle, with a bridge to the mainland only arriving in 1988. It's very noticeable how the island's proud residents are so keen to embrace and promote its gifts of salt marshes, potatoes, oysters, vineyards and animals who are the true symbols of this Atlantic outpost. Poitou donkeys were once an integral part of life on Il de Re, helping with agricultural work and transporting goods between villages. They would often be dressed in hand-crafted striped trousers (mistaken for pyjamas) to protect them from flies in the marshes, but now the shaggy long-eared locals are much more of a rare sight. The best way to see the island is to cycle between its charming villages, such as La Flotte with its busy food market, or Ars-en-Re, officially one of the most beautiful villages in France, offering antique emporiums. With a network of cycle paths 60 miles long, you can see the island on two wheels, and feel safe while doing so. Bike hire costs are around €30 a day for electric and €9 for standard. Take a break from the bike and enjoy lunch in one of the many oyster shacks that line the marshy coast, then chat to the last remaining artisan salt farmers who still use techniques from the Middle Ages in their production. Cross the 1.8-mile bridge by bus or taxi to La Rochelle, a jewel of a city and capital of the Charente-Maritime department. It's been a centre for trading and fishing since the 12th century. With its show-stopping Vieux Port (old harbour), it's a must, along with the modern Les Minimes marina, Hôtel de Ville dating from 1298, half-timbered medieval houses, Renaissance architecture, natural history museum and aquarium. In need of a holiday? With the summer in full swing, the Mirror has launched its very own Travel WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest holiday recommendations from our travel experts straight to your WhatsApp. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is , select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our .
Time Out
2 days ago
- Time Out
Ever slept inside a cherry blossom forest? This San Francisco hotel offers a suite you have to see.
Springtime in San Francisco's Union Square means you'll see flowers everywhere as part of the plaza's annual 'in bloom' celebration. It's an upbeat, joyful time—and while the neighboring Westin St. Francis decorates its lobby with flowers to the degree that it's worth stepping into for an Instagrammable moment, this year the venerated hotel rolled out something even more intense. It's an over-the-top, extravagant beyond belief, frothy confection of a springtime suite. The ' Suite in Bloom ' is billed as a 'luxurious floral escape,' and that captures it exactly. It's a dream come true for anyone who ever wanted to retreat to the woods and live with nature's bountiful color—but without, you know, the actual nature part. The two-bedroom suite is utterly bedecked in 'cherry blossoms' and holds three life-sized 'trees' (all faux foliage in this case). Ivy twines everywhere, and even the bathroom shower is festooned. I visited with my daughter and her friend, and we all fangirled over the idea that we had always wanted a tree in our childhood bedrooms. We also loved the discreet machine that periodically emitted a floral fragrance into the suite. We walked back and forth between the rooms in a daze. We had never seen a hotel space that was so devoted to fantasy, to surprising and pleasing the guests. Each room in the suite has a French bistro set to enjoy a glass of rosé in front of an incredible skyline view out the window (the suite's on the ninth floor). The photos you see here are the main bedroom, and the second bedroom has a Murphy bed, two trees and a sitting room with a sofa. This is the first year the Westin St. Francis has decorated the suite, and it's only available until July 31 (the lowest rate we could find for the remainder of the run is $894). If you can't get in this year, it will be offered again next spring. So how did this incredible suite even get decorated? A team of 20 people helmed by Flowers by Edgar worked all day to set it up. These workers lovingly orchestrated the transformation of a hotel suite into an orchard you'd expect to see a fawn walking around in. There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of individually placed flowers poked into the 'frog' of a false wall. That night, I lay in bed looking at how each individual flower was embedded in the wall. Although the room's terribly romantic, I was actually glad my husband wasn't there because I think he might've felt a bit of claustrophobia at the amount of pink involved… and like me, he would be tripping on the ivy at the base of the tree. Our group checked in, swooned, took about a million photos, then went to the hotel's beautiful wood-paneled Westin Club Lounge for some snacks. Once upon a time, the Westin St. Francis washed coins for its guests, and you can see the machine that performed that duty in the small St. Francis Museum. It wasn't that long ago that women wore white gloves, and coins could soil them if not cleaned. We went back to the room for more photos, and then headed out on foot to see the enormous R(Evolution) statue in front of the Ferry Building. Returning in the evening, the three of us ate a great informal meal at the lobby's Cafe Rito (shrimp scampi, skirt steak and chicken alfredo). The hotel itself is worthy of a story. It survived San Francisco's two biggest earthquakes (1906 and 1989) and sits right on the cable car line. If you watched the movie Babylon, this is also the hotel where, during a wild party in 1921, actress Virginia Rappe was assaulted and actor Fatty Arbuckle was charged with her murder. I was told which room it happened in and crept outside it that night to marvel at the darkness of history. It's just a room now. Anyone can stay without knowing what happened there. Another astonishing part of the hotel is the fact that a delicate staircase goes all the way up the original 12-story building. It's terrifying-slash-exciting to walk past enormous windows to the exterior while on a winding staircase. The hotel is honestly a blast to explore at night, with wooden hallways, impressive elevator banks and historical photographs everywhere. Don't leave without taking a ride on the exterior glass elevator. It goes up to the 32nd-floor Tower Salon—part of a more recent addition—where you can get a cocktail at night or a breakfast buffet in the morning. The views up there are supreme at night. The next morning, we rose well-rested… but reluctant to leave the room. For breakfast, we got housemade pastries at Cafe Rito and brought them back to the room to eat because we honestly just wanted to savor every last minute in that magical space. It was San Francisco at its finest: history, creativity, spectacle.
