My partner and I recently spent two weeks in London and realized just how massive a city it is. There are endless food options, including bakeries. If you know me in person, you’d know that I love my sweets. I wouldn’t feel like I had a complete meal if I didn’t have dessert. So if you want to know three must-try pastries in London, this list is for you.
Aux Pains de Papy
Aux Pains de Papy is a charming French bakery close to King’s Cross station. Our hotel was nearby, and every time we walked by in the morning, there was a lineup out the door from locals and tourists alike. This was for a good reason! The buttery smell wafting through the open door would be enough to lure you in. But their amazing pastries will keep you coming back for more!
They sell a variety of cakes and pastries, including tarts, eclairs, and macarons. But the croissants were definitely the hit. We tried their butter croissant and chocolate almond croissant, and they were honestly one of the best we’ve tried.
The Croissant au Beurre was crispy but buttery soft and flaky, while the Pain au Chocolat aux Amandes had the most delightful filling. It was a perfect balance of chocolate and almonds.
I was hooked! We ended up going back for breakfast a couple more times.
Crosstown
Crosstown specializes in hybrid sourdough doughnuts that are made fresh daily. They also sell gelato, cookies, and chocolate.
They now have multiple locations across London, but the one we visited first was their Shoreditch location on Brick Lane. It’s next door to Beigl Bake Bakery, so we just had to try it out for dessert.
They have such unique flavour combinations, including some vegan options. So I decided to try the Lime and Coconut and the Almond Butter Cinnamon Scroll.
It’s hard to describe just how amazing these doughnuts were. The dough had the perfect chewiness and texture, and the flavours were brilliant! They are cream filled and were so decadent!
I would have loved to have them every day while we were in London, but I had to be realistic. We did end up getting the Matcha Tea doughnut at a later day at their King’s Cross station stall. It was equally impressive.
I still think about these doughnuts a lot and really wish they had them here in Vancouver.
Buns From Home
Buns from Home is known for its croissant buns, a cross between a croissant and a cinnamon roll. The result is magic!
This bakery was not on our radar, but we came across their Covent Garden location. We first smelled the sweet, buttery aroma and saw their window display. We just knew that we had to try!
We opted for the ham and cheese croissant bun to share. I wanted to try one of the sweeter flavours too, but it was our first stop for the day, and we didn’t want to get full immediately.
A few days later, we went to their Notting Hill Location. This time we ordered one bun each. I went with the Banana Bread Bun while my partner went the savoury route and ordered their Creamy Mushroom Bun.
Both were deliciously stuffed! We got coffee and tea from Joe & The Juice right next door. They had table seating outside, and we enjoyed our breakfast buns while people-watching.
Looking back on this list of must-try pastries in London, I definitely see a pattern. Can you tell what it is?
I like stuffed pastries! I think they add more texture and dimension to the piece.
I know this only scratches the surface of what pastries London has to offer. Have you been to London? What are your favourite cafes or bakeries?
If you want more ideas about where to eat in London, check out this list of surprising hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
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