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Lily Vanilli

6 The Courtyard, Ezra Street, E2 7RG Full details & map

Patisserie/Bakery: British

Time Out says 9 Users say 4/5 Rate it

By Zena Alkayat Posted: Oct 17 2011

Lily Jones (aka Lily Vanilli) carved out a solid, celebrity-packed fan base well before opening her own bakery. Her foray into sculptural, macabre cake creations (roadkill cake, gingerbread gravestones, marzipan beetles) gave sweet treats a contemporary, anti-cute makeover and set her far apart from the mainstream cupcake clan.

It's a touch surprising, then, to find her first establishment, just off Columbia Road flower market, completely void of gore. The baker's experimental creativity, however, remains on show.

On our visit, we ogled a towering pomegranate and coconut Victoria sandwich, glistening honeycomb and ganache tarts and individually turned out cherry bakewells. The bakewells - lined up like cherry-topped pork pies - had a unique pastry top concealing buttery, almond-sweet frangipane and a beautifully sharp fruit compote. The more familiar red velvet cupcakes were equally good, as was a heady, deliciously naughty absinthe and mint ice cream.

Space is tight (this is a bakery, after all) with not much indoor seating and a courtyard area packed with customers. Vintage styling and rustic touches (wooden boards on the counters and areas of bare brick) make this a cosy teatime destination - one you'd gladly make the effort to visit on Sunday, the sole opening day.

Tags: European, British, Hip factor, East, Bethnal Green, Budget, Café, Patisserie/Bakery

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Lily Vanilli details

Address

Lily Vanilli

6 The Courtyard, Ezra Street E2 7RG

Transport Cambridge Heath rail

Lily Vanilli website

Open 8.30am-4.30pm Sun

Tea and cake for two with service: around £12

Lily Vanilli map

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Comments & ratings 4/5 (Average of 9 ratings)

By Russell - Nov 23 2011

5/5

I like all the cakes and the sausage rolls they are tasty

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By Juanita - Oct 31 2011

5/5

THE BEST! THE BEST! A SUNDAY ESSENTIAL! most delicious treats sweet and savoury. the root cake is the best thing to ever happen to a vegetable.

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By Rai - Oct 31 2011

5/5

Best Bakery in London! I go nearly every Sunday.

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By Jennifer Sue - Oct 29 2011

I came here after the flower market a couple of weeks ago, expecting a pretty standard coffee and perhaps a selection of sandwiches, and was blown away! So much amazing stuff, and one of the best coffees I have had for a very long while. I personally had a good experience of the service, with one of the members of staff talking me through the ingredients of the many treats of display so I could pick my fave!

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By Huron - Oct 29 2011

5/5

Absolutely delicious moist spelt carrot cake, cut generously for £3, you could really taste the quality of the ingredients and the care that had gone into baking it.

Washed down with literally the best coffee I've had in London (just pipping Soho's Flat White to the post).

My gf had the salted chocolate brownie which was melt in the mouth lovely (at least the corner I got to try!)

The countertops were overflowing with unusual cafe treats we didn't get to try this time: mini bakewells, velvet cupcakes, delicious-looking sausage rolls, even Absinthe ice cream (!).

There's a buzzy atmosphere as it's popular and different and a feeling of having found something happening. I didn't find the staff (including Lily Vanilli herself who was a gracious hostess with the mostess) unfriendly, just busy and serving people fast to keep the queues down.