This immensely popular bakery made a splash when it first opened its Covent Garden outlet in 2020, which it followed up with another store in Mayfair in 2022. It’s backed by a Singaporean restaurateur and makes Asian-inflected bakes using French techniques. Tuck into sweet treats such as the gula melaka coconut twist, honey butter toast and Danishes made with seasonal fruits, or bag savoury options including the umami-laden miso bacon escargot and sausage and cheese croissant drizzled with Japanese barbecue sauce.

9 Mercer Street, London WC2H 9QJ, +44 20 3971 4803
27 Duke Street, London W1U 1LE, +44 20 3971 4803

Ask any sourdough lover in London for their go-to bakery and more than a few will point to The Dusty Knuckle, which has locations in North London’s Harringhay and the East London neighbourhood of Dalston. Other than their sourdough, there are sticky buns crafted with brown butter, muscovado, cinnamon and raisins, a delightful feta and honey swirl and assorted pastries and sandwiches. This is also a business that does good: They run a programme that provides on-the-job training and mentorship to at-risk youths.

Abbot Street Car Park, London E8 3DP, +44 7805 048228
429 Green Lanes, London N4 1AH, +44 7805 048228

This neighbourhood joint in North London’s Newington Green has garnered rave reviews for its bakes (it also transforms into an intimate restaurant at night). Jolene offers a rotating selection of bakery items, though you can anticipate the likes of sweet and savoury buns, classic almond croissants, Danishes made with seasonal fruits and various sandwiches. Order a coffee with your treats, get everything to-go and enjoy it at the nearby park.

21 Newington Green, London N16 9PU, +44 20 3887 2309

With locations at the picturesque Victoria Park, bustling Broadway Market and lively Columbia Road, just to name a few, Pavilion Bakery is a great place to purchase some bakes as you’re going about your weekend activities in East London. While we recommend just about everything here, their cardamom, turmeric and cinnamon buns are a must-try. They also do solid almond and chocolate croissants, alongside hefty sourdough loaves, crackly baguettes, hearty ciabatta and a range of espresso-based drinks.

Multiple locations in London.

Part of the St. John culinary empire – known for its upscale restaurants serving elegant British cuisine made from seasonal local ingredients – St. John Bakery takes an artisanal approach to its bakes. A slow-fermentation technique is used to create their sourdough loaves and signature donuts, yielding a wonderful tang and impressive depth of flavour. Donuts are available in crowd-favourite varieties such as chocolate, vanilla custard and raspberry jam, and the pastries are also worth a try.

72 Druid Street, London SE1 2HQ, +44 20 7237 5999
3 Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP, +44 20 7836 5544
180 Borough High Street, Unit 4A, London SE1 1LH, +44 20 7553 9844

Pophams is a well-loved bakery with spots in Islington, London Fields and near Victoria Park. You’ll discover all the classics here – including plain, chocolate and ham and cheese croissants – alongside moreish pastries in creative flavour combinations including marmite and spring onion, olive tapenade and thyme, bacon and maple and key lime pie. Weekend specials include a fragrant almond croissant and a cross-laminated gianduja pastry with chocolate and hazelnut paste.

19 Prebend Street, London N1 8PF, +44 20 8525 1416
197 Richmond Road, London E8 3NJ, +44 20 8525 1416
110A Lauriston Road, London E9 7HA, +44 7872 177670

Opened in 2021, Toklas Bakery is one of the newer arrivals on London’s bakery scene. Situated down the street from its sister restaurant of the same name, it’s where you can get delicious, freshly made loaves and pastries. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to sourdough. Other than a standard white sourdough, there’s also one studded with raisins, hazelnuts and anise, and another made with English honey, olive oil, roast potatoes and Greek thyme flowers. Do also sample their chocolate croissant that takes a painstaking three whole days to make.

9 Surrey Street, London WC2R 2ND, +44 20 3930 8572

Donut fans visiting Borough Market would do well to make a stop at Bread Ahead (their other locations include South Kensington, Chelsea and Wembley). This bakery is famous for its soft and squishy donuts, which are available in an array of permanent and seasonal varieties: think tangy raspberry jam, creamy vanilla custard and – our personal favourite – sea salt caramel crowned with a honeycomb candy shard. The cinnamon buns, babka buns and airy focaccia slabs made with ingredients such as goat cheese, tomato, pesto, onion and olive are also top-notch.

Multiple locations in London.

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