The 27 best bakeries in London, according to a luxury travel magazine

You can’t go far in London these days without being met by the dreamy, delectable scent of freshly baked goods. From bagel shops and sourdough maestros to cinnamon bun havens and playful patisseries, the options out there are almost overwhelming (in the best way).

With so many bakehouses about, it’s helpful to separate the good from the great so you know which ones are really worth your dough. Here at Time Out, we’ve got our own carefully curated ranking of the best bakeries in town, but if you want a second opinion Condé Nast Traveller has just revealed its pick of the 27 bakeries the very best in the city and chosen six that represent the real crème de la crème. Let’s dig in. 

Best for French patisserie  

If you want the finest, fanciest French patisserie in the city, CNT reckons Cédric Grolet is the place to go. Cédric Grolet is one of the very best patissier in the world, and his outlet at Belgravia’s Berkley hotel (a short walk from Hyde Park) is his first outside of France.

Condé Nast said: ‘The à la carte-style Berkeley café inside stocks a variety of his sweet treats, from intricate waffle flowers topped with chantilly cream to viennoiseries galore. The marigold and lemon flower tart is a winner, but it’s the signature fruit trompe-l’œil that steals the show.’

Best for sandwiches

Dalston’s Dusty Knuckle Bakery was CNT’s best bakery for sandwiches in London. It said: ‘The fillings are inventive and favorites include porchetta, salsa verde, braised spring onion and purple sprouting broccoli, chard, olives, feta, and almonds on doughy focaccia bread.’

As it happens, the Dusty Knuckle is Time Out’s number one bakery right now, too. One of our fave things to order is the nduja pizza with harissa dip on the side. You’re welcome. 

Best for cupcakes  

Head baker and owner of Violet Cakes in Hackney, Claire Ptak, was the lady behind Harry and Meg’s lemon and elderflower wedding cake back in 2018. In other words, you know her stuff is going to be good. CNT named the bakery London’s best for cupcakes and gave a special shoutout to its whoopie pies, made up of two cake sides filled with seasonal buttercream with flavours such as salted caramel, melted Valrhona dark chocolate and fresh fruit purée.

Best for doughnuts

Bread Ahead in Borough Market, crowned CNT’s best bakery for doughnuts, has been known for its filled fluffy bakes for years. Its classic crowdpleasers include salted caramel, jam and Nutella filled doughnuts, but CNT also recommends its ‘extravagant cinnamon roll and soft powdered amaretti that are nothing like the store-bought rocks’. 

Best for savoury pastries

If you tend to pick starters over deserts, Condé Nast Traveller recommends heading to Pophams in Islington, its best bakery for savoury stuff. Specifically, it highlights the bakery’s famous laminated maple-bacon croissant. Other savoury options there have included honey and smoked salt buns and its marmite, schlossberger and spring onion pastries.  

Best for seasonal ingredients

Toad Bakery in Peckham is CNT’s final ‘top pick’. The publication said: ‘The menu celebrates the UK’s seasonality, focusing on low-mileage ingredients that can bring their recipes to life.’ It recommended sampling some of its most creative bakes, which (at the time of writing) include a plum and marzipan sun bun, anise and orange blossom iced finger and a chocolate chip and soy sauce cookie. We also say that its more traditional saffron buns are well worth indulging in, too. 

The 27 best bakeries in London, according to Conde Nast Traveller 

• Kuro Bakery, Notting Hill
• Milk Run, Tooting Bec
• Lily Vanilli, Hackney
• Don’t Tell Dad, Queen’s Park
• Arôme Bakery, Covent Garden
• Fortitude Bakehouse, Russell Square
• Toad Bakery, Peckham
• Pophams Bakery, Islington
• Forno, Hackney
• St John Bakery, Covent Garden
• Bunhead Bakery, Dulwich
• Common Breads, Belgravia
• Luminary Bakery, Camden and Stoke Newington
• Toklas, Temple
• Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley
• Fabrique Bakery, Shoreditch
• Pavilion, Victoria Park
• Jolene, Newington Green
• The Dusty Knuckle Bakery, Dalston
• Layla Bakery, Notting Hill
• Buns From Home, Notting Hill
• Sourdough Sophia, Crouch End
• Bread Ahead, Borough Market
• Violet Cakes, Hackney
• Willy's Pies, London Fields
• Margot Bakery, East Finchley
• E5 Bakehouse, Hackney

🥐 The best bakeries in London, according to Time Out.

In more delicious news, the best deli in London has been crowned for 2025.

And the best café in London has been crowned for 2025.