The Best Cafés and Bakeries in London

One of my favourite brunch spots in Notting Hill.The sweet potato rösti with goat cheese and poached egg is the best thing on the menu.The restaurant is so small so you will probably have to queue.

Genuine East London greasy spoon atmosphere and a great place for Full English breakfast.My favourite greasy spoon cafe in East London for Full English Breakfast. Pelliccis on Bethnal Green Road opened in 1900 and is now run by the third generation of the same family. Mostly Italian menu and Full English Breakfast. Friendly staff (as long as you finish your plate) and great place for East Londoner spotting.

Simple, casual and joyously delicious all day diningSimple seasonal dishes inspired by chef Max Rocha's time at St John and The River Cafe. Great pastas and puds. Tip: I spent a lot of time ogling the onglet on the next table and they seemed very happy with it, so order that. Smiley food.

The Great British Cafe remains a cultural institution that’s as compelling as it is a cultural treasureThe cafe on Junction Road is perched unassumingly between an upholstery shop and an off-license on a scruffy stretch leading to Archway. It has no hype-stoking publicist or former Masterchef winner at the stove, but the buzz is real. Buddies Richie Hayes and Elliot Kaye opened the old-school British cafe in November last year, mid-pandemic. They gutted and renovated the entire place in just two months. Inside is small and unfussy, with simple tables and chairs. There is a framed Bobby Moore World Cup 1966 photo on the wall next to a humming refrigerator lined with cans of Stella and juice cartons. They have a black-white chequered tile floor and red-white chequered fabric curtains. Each table is fixed with the Holy Trinity of ketchup, brown sauce and Colman’s English Mustard.The menu is concise and direct, brilliantly priced with the Full English works and rotating weekly menus. Looking at Instagram, I can see that lunch options vary, from kedgeree, fish pie, pea risotto, chicken tikka masala and kippers on toast. Simple food done well. They also offer dinner and natural wine on Thursday and Friday evenings.

An outstanding pastry shop by Clair Ptak. Outstanding Pastry shop led by the incredible Claire Ptak; go for great coffee, pastries and also the best cakes in London.

Tiny bakery on trendy Redchurch Street with amazing baked goods and coffee.The smallest of the four Jolene bakeries, the shop att Redchurch Street in Shoreditch is a tiny room selling amazing baked goods from morning until afternoon. In the morning it’s all croissants and pain au chocolats, and the lunchtine sausage rolls and sandwiches are not to be missed. Cakes, sourdough bread and coffee-very good, too.

A true East London institution. 24/7 hot salt beef bagels with pickles and mustard. The bagel bakeries on Brick Lane are part of East London’s Jewish food tradition. Beigel Bake has been around since 1974 and is open 24 hours every day of the week. Churning out an impressive amount of fresh bagels in the bakery in the back of the building, the must try is the hot salt beef (corned beef brisket) in a bagel with pickles and mustard. The pro tip is to wait for a new tray of salt beef arriving to the window where it’s sliced for the bagels. Also try the salmon and cream cheese, strudel and cheese cake.

Best bread and pizza in LondonThis small South London bakery started even smaller - as a community micro-bakery from a flat during lockdown. Now with a bricks and mortar location they take online pre-orders for their sensational focaccia sandwiches (the 'Kimchi Faceplant' and 'Only the Bravas' are particular highlights) on Mondays. They sell out in minutes, but don't worry if you miss out: head there on a Saturday and they have swoonsome Roman-style pizza slices, loaves and desserts on the door. The best bread and pizza I've had in London.

The place to go for amazing croissants and great coffeeI’ve been going to Pophams every visit on London since 2017. I find their croissants better than any other I ever had, anywhere.They have an amazing selection of croissants, I’m a huge fan of the bacon and maple croissant, but every time there we take at least 5 different croissants for 2 people 😅On the weekend they have seasonal specials, and they have at least 2 more branches to visit.

A beautiful warm cafe with beautiful prepared food.Where restaurant meets larder. A beautifully warm cafe with thoughtfully prepared food. Homemade butter and pickles tickle the palate. With 5 people you can taste the whole menu. Every bite was better than the last.

A place for coffee in Shoreditch not to be missed.On a recent trip to London over Easter we found a new gem, a Japanese driven small cafe with a warm minimalistic feeling with aestethics and nice details beside well sourced coffee beans and craftsmanship . Best coffee we had during our stay served with some assorted sweets and pastries you don't find in so many places.

Lovely breakfast & lunch spotMy favorite place for breakfast in London. It’s located in Covent Garden in the courtyard of Neals Yard. The place is tiny, but that makes it even more atmospheric and cosy. Breakfasts are made from order and are really delicious. This time we had fried eggs with rasel hanut butter, labneh and dukkah and it was served with sourdough bread. The other dish this time was a fresh yogurt topped with apricots, mango, chili, mint and lime. Last time, I had their lovely rhubarb porridges, which was also absolutely delicious.

Towpath Café is a busy summertime outdoor oasis along Regent’s Canal in Haggerston in the North East. The all day café, run by Lori De Mori and Laura Jackson, is a wonderful green escape from the city with breakfast, brunch, lunch and weekend dinner. The menu is a mixed bag of delicious, simple dishes, everything from walnut porridge and granola to Egyptian eggs, taramasalata with radishes to roast lamb chops and smoked mackerel, dessert cakes and fig leaf soft serve. Walk in only, terrace seating and a few tables under the roof.

Jolene is great, all day dining place, from pastries and coffee in the morning to a super nice and casual dinner menu.