[Updated 27 August 2019]
London is undoubtedly home to many amazing things: international cuisine, musicals, high-street shopping and museums! Not only is this capital city a top travel and food destination, it also has delicious bakeries and pastries, all awaiting your discovery. Think cake and pastry assortment, freshly-baked bread and scones slathered with clattered cream, and elegantly-decorated cupcakes. Are you drooling yet? ?
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1. (NEW!) Bake Street
Bake Street is a small family-run bakery that's managed to capture hearts with their brownies, bakes, and brunch! Whether you're popping in for a bite of their salted caramel brownie, or lingering a little longer for their breakfast brunch you're bound to be satisfied by what they have on offer.
Credit: @bakestreetldn on Instagram
Besides brownies, pancakes, and toasts, they have a rotating selection of cakes, pastries and fresh bakes on offer throughout the week too!
Credit: @bakestreetldn on Instagram
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Opening hours: 7:30am - 4pm (Mon, Wed-Fri), 9:30am - 4:30pm (Sat), 10am - 4:30pm (Sun), CLOSED ON TUESDAYS
Address: 58 Evering Rd, Hackney Downs, London N16 7SR
2. B Bakery
London meets Paris with this elegant bakery located at Covent Garden. As you enter B Bakery, be prepared to feast your eyes upon a seemingly endless cake counter in front of you! Their delicious bakes are prepared daily by an expert team of pastry chefs from France.
Credit: @junetzeyue on Instagram
Sample on delectable tartés, sandwiches, scones, pastries and cakes as you admire the quaint décor and pretty crockery. B Bakery even offers an afternoon tea bus tour while taking in some of the capital’s best attractions!
If you are also looking out for other attractions, check out these 13 must-do activities in London!
Credit: @kimberleedavies on Instagram
Halal status: Halal chicken and vegetarian brunch options are available (must pre-order 24hrs in advance and indicate in online form)
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm (Sun-Fri), 9am – 8pm (Sat)
Address: 6-7 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, WC2N 4HU
Website | Facebook | Instagram
3. (NEW!) The Canvas Cafe
The canvas cafe is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to being a fully vegan cafe producing only fully handmade goods. With a mission like that, you can be sure that you'll feel a little better about digging into their heavenly looking cakes and pastries!
Credit: @thecanvascafee1 on Instagram
If you thought it couldn't get more decadent, another must-try is their towering freakshakes which are vegan and dairy-free milkshakes topped with a decadent slice of cake and other exquisite toppings!
Credit: @rainbowgoddessoflove on Instagram
Halal status: Fully vegan options, alcohol served separately on premises. There is no alcohol in any of their menu items.
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (Mon-Wed), 11am - 8pm (Thurs, Sat-Sun), 11am - 9pm (Fri)
Address: 42 Hanbury St, Spitalfields, London E1 5JL
4. The Hummingbird Bakery
If you’ve been to London but have never heard of The Hummingbird Bakery, you’re missing out! This bakery has one of the best cupcakes and desserts around here, and the Soho branch is so successful that they have more outlets at Notting Hill, South Kensington, Spitalfields and Islington.
Credit: The Hummingbird Bakery on Facebook
Get your phones ready as you choose one of their elegantly frosted cupcakes which are displayed beside tiered cakes and an array of brownies, cheesecake and pies. Do not miss their red velvet cupcake which is one of their best-selling flavours ?
Credit: The Hummingbird Bakery on Facebook
Halal status: Do note that their cakes are all suitable for vegetarians, do not contain gelatine/rennet/meat, and some of them are vegan-friendly. Any products that contain alcohol are listed on the counter card in-store, so we advise that you check with the staff before purchasing anything.
Opening hours: 9:30am – 8pm (Mon-Sat), 10am – 7pm (Sun)
Address: 55a Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 8WG
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Primrose Bakery
Located in Primrose Hill, Kensington High Street and Covent Garden, Primrose Bakery is a must-visit when you’re in London! They’re known for a good cup of coffee AND of course, the delicious cupcakes. Rumour has it that the cupcakes are absolutely a good value for your money and you won’t be going back disappointed (or hungry!) Primrose Bakery also sells bespoke handmade sweet treats including your favourite cupcakes, loaves and bread. Set in pastel colours, this quaint café has yummy treats with vegan and gluten free options ? Their cupcakes can be enjoyed at any time, anywhere and they even offer baking classes for any aspiring bakers! You can even host a baking party with your friends
Address: 42 Tavistock Street, WC2E 7PB
Operating hours: 10AM – 7.30PM (Monday to Saturday), 11AM – 5PM (Sunday)
Halal status: They have vegan and gluten-free options. We'd advise readers to check with the staff before purchasing.
Primrose Bakery has permanently closed. ?
5. (NEW!) Cross Town Doughnuts
Doughnuts are some of the most standard baked good you can get in any country, but Cross Town manages to take them to the next level with their wide variety of innovative ingredients. Their Chocolate Medjool Date Dough Bite is stuffed not only with the rich sweetness of medjool dates but creamy chocolate custard too, and sprinkled with white chocolate glaze and cacao nibs for an extra crunch that ties it all together.
Credit: Cross Town Doughnuts
Sourdough fans, you might also be excited to hear that most of their doughnuts are made from sourdough! For a sourdough spin on a classic, why not bite into their Vegan Cinnamon Scroll which isn't just rolled with hearty cinnamon, but dripping with their special vanilla glaze too.
Credit: @crosstowndoughnuts on Instagram
P.S. Their outlets may close early once all bakes sell out so make sure to get there in time to grab some delicious doughnuts and cakes!
Halal status: All doughnuts are vegetarian-friendly, with some vegan options too. Only 2 products (Guinness Cake and Roasted Peach Dough Bite) contain alcohol, along with some seasonal options. If you have allergen considerations, you can always refer to their trusty and comprehensive allergen chart.
Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (Mon-Thurs), 9am-7pm (Fri), 10am-7pm (Sat), 10am-6:30pm (Sun)
Address: 5-6 Picton Place, W1U 1BL (hours and location are for the Marylebone outlet offering their full vegan doughnut range; check out their other locations/timings here)
Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. Cakes and Bakes
Founded in 2002, this bakery has prided itself in creating eggless bakes and using non-dairy cream. They aim to use only the best quality organic components which include free-range eggs, organic butter and other fairtrade ingredients.
Credit: Cakes and Bakes EastHam London on Facebook
The best part of the cake shop - everything is halal ?
Credit: Cakes and Bakes EastHam London on Facebook
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Opening hours:7am - 8pm (Mon-Fri), 9am - 7pm (Sat), CLOSED ON SUN
Address: 216 High Street North, East Ham, London E6 2JA
Fancy some afternoon tea after doing some shopping? Check out some top spots here!
7. (NEW!) Grounded Coffee Company
The Grounded Coffee Company is a halal cafe serving up bakes as well as brunch! Located just a short walk away from the iconic Old Spitalfields Market, this is the perfect place to recharge by sinking your teeth into some delicious and freshly-made French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes, Omelettes and more!
Credit: @kimjeanny on Instagram
Of course, we can't forget about their selection of cupcakes, cookies, and other sweet treats to tie your meal altogether. As their baked goods rotate on a regular basis, you can only find out what's for sale when you get there!
Credit: @groundedcoffeeco_london on Instagram
Halal status: Not halal-certified, but only halal ingredients are used. We have confirmed that there are no pork/pork by-products/alcohol in any of their products.
Opening hours: 7am - 6pm daily (May be affected by holidays)
Address: 9 Whitechapel Rd, Shadwell, London E1 1DU
8. Dominique Ansel Bakery (DAB)
Nestled in Victoria, this popular bakery is owned by world-renowned pastry chef and cronut inventor – Dominique Ansel. When DAB opened its doors in London at the end of September 2016, hundreds of dessert lovers queued to get their hands on the iconic cronuts, frozen s’mores and cookie shots.
Credit: Dominique Ansel Bakery on Facebook
Since its opening, their bakes and desserts went viral with lots of publicity, and were mentioned all over the news in London. With so many aesthetic items under one roof and an array of fun, creative yummy treats on display, do not be alarmed to leave this bakery with a much lighter wallet!
Credit: Dominique Ansel Bakery on Facebook
Halal status: All savoury items at the bakery are non-halal and may contain pork. Gelatine is not used in all products, but some may contain alcohol so check with the staff before purchasing.
Opening hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon-Sat), 9am – 8pm (Sun)
Address: 17-21 Elizabeth St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9RP, UK
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. (NEW!) The Lebanese Bakery
The Lebanese Bakery adds a Middle Eastern twist to this list, with their selection of manousheh (Lebanese flat bread) made with classic white dough and baked in a traditional brick oven. The bakery uses nostalgic recipes as well as ingredients and toppings imported from Lebanon to give you a truly authentic taste, with everything from mouajjanet (bite-sized pastries) and kaak (Lebanese sesame seed street bread) on offer.
Credit: @thelebanesebakeryldn on Instagram
For something sweeter, you can try out their sweet manousheh, or maybe sip on a cup of sahlab - a traditional Middle Eastern hot drink topped with rose petals, cinnamon, and pistachios - to warm you up from the inside.
Credit: @thelebanesebakeryldn on Instagram
Halal status: Not halal-certified, but only uses halal meats.
Opening hours: 9am - 10pm (Mon-Thurs), 8am - 10pm (Fri-Sun)
Address: Drury House, Russell St, Holborn, London WC2B 5HA
Website | Facebook | Instagram
10. Cutter and Squidge
Free from alcohol and animal products, and made only with health-conscious ingredients, this bakery is a gem! This innovative cake shop offers a wide selection of cakes and bakes, and proudly specialises in “biskies”, which are chewy and tasty biscuit-cookie-cake sandwiches. This creation also comes in many different flavours ?
Credit: Cutter and Squidge on Facebook
Why have a normal biscuit when you can have a biscuit, cookie and cake all at the same time? Pure indulgence!
Credit: Cutter and Squidge on Facebook
Halal Status: Vegetarian-friendly. No alcohol or animal products (e.g. gelatine) are used in the biskies or cakes, but alcohol is served on the premises.
Opening hours: 10am - 8:30pm (Mon-Fri), 11am – 8:30pm (Weekends and bank holidays)
Address: 20 Brewer St, London W1F 0SJ
11. (NEW!) Apple Blue Patisserie
Apple Blue is more known for their hand-made cakes (of which no two are ever exactly alike!) but we have our eyes set on their range of tarts, cookies, and so much more that look absolutely gorgeous. Have you ever heard of a Salted Caramel And Rosemary Tart? Well Apple Blue has one up for grabs and it looks amazing!
Credit: @applebluepatisserie on Instagram
Every once in a while, they serve up some savoury delights too that we can't help but want to sink our teeth into - like this Chicken And Chorizo Pastry! Apple Blue only uses halal ingredients, and they even have vegan-friendly savoury and sweet options available too (marked out on their online menu).
Credit: @applebluepatisserie on Instagram
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Opening hours: 7:15am - 4pm (Mon-Tues), 7:15am - 5:30pm (Wed-Fri), 8am - 5:30pm (Sat-Sun), 9am - 3:30pm (Weekend Brunch & Patisserie, only on Sat-Sun)
Address: 212 Balham High Rd, Balham, London SW12 9BS
Website | Facebook | Instagram
12. Cookies and Scream
A top favourite for vegans, this family-run bakery has a great variety of cookies, cakes, brownies and other baked goodies which are just yummy and delightful. Interestingly, this multi-award-winning bakery is egg-free, wheat-free, gluten-free and dairy-free and uses only low fat and low cholesterol ingredients ? Now you don't have to feel too guilty on your cheat day!
Credit: @cookiesandscreambakery on Instagram
Their specialty is their utterly delicious ice cream cookie sandwiches! The perfect snack after you're done exploring the beautiful city of London ?
Credit: @livandluce on Instagram
Do note that all of Cookies and Scream products contain soya and traces of nuts. If you have a food allergy, do check with the owners before consuming any.
Halal status: Cookies & Scream is not halal-certified but they do serve only vegan options.
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm (Sun-Thurs), 10am – 9pm (Fri-Sat)
Address:130 Holloway Rd, Highbury East, London N7 8JE
Looking for a travel guide to this city? Find it here!
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London’s not a place that is short of a great bakery, and there are a couple of Muslim-friendly options around. If you have a soft spot for sweet treats, pay a visit to these bakeries to get some freshly-baked loaves, decadent cakes and pretty pastries!