For some Londoners, queuing for bread and pastry is as much a part of their weekend morning routine as joining Parkrun or walking the dog is for others. Luckily for those who have made hitting the city’s bakery scene their hobby, there are constantly new spots rolling out across the capital – including four new places that have opened in the past few months. Read on for your new bakery hitlist, including a gluten-free Parisian import and an east London spot celebrating Middle Eastern flavours.
Farha, Leyton
Late last year, a former garage in Leyton reopened as Farha, a bakery celebrating Middle Eastern flavours and ingredients (and part of the growing sub-genre of “third culture bakeries”, according to Broadsheet London columnist Jimi Famurewa). Helming its ovens is Vanessa Campanelli, who baked at beloved Morny nearby, before stints at Toklas and Fortitude. She’s bringing pastry fans to the space with treats including a za’atar cruffin with whipped feta and sumac pickled onion; a whipped coffee ganache praline bun with dark chocolate glaze; and the chai orange bun, a pillowy semi-brioche filled with vanilla and orange marmalade and chai-spiced custard. Sat in a slightly awkward spot that’s not quite Stratford, not quite Leyton, it’s the definition of a destination bakery – and judging by the queues, it’s already a hit.
@farha.london
Claridge’s Bakery, Mayfair
The fact that a storied five-star hotel has opened a bakery is just part of the Claridge’s Bakery story. Its name belies the fact that its executive baker is one of the world’s biggest names in bread: British-born Richard Hart. He co-founded Hart Bageri in Copenhagen with Noma’s René Redzepi, which has spawned multiple outposts and visitors from across the globe, and is deemed an authority on sourdough. Back on home turf for the first time in decades, Hart is leaning into his heritage, with takes on nostalgic bakes like Bakewell tarts, fondant fancies and iced fingers. For savouries there are sausage rolls and scotch eggs – plus Hart’s signature sourdough. “I want this menu to take you back to your grandma,” says Hart.
claridges.co.uk
Fred Bakery, Oxford Circus
When Burak Demirelli opened the first Fred Bakery in Holborn in 2021, central London didn’t have the thrumming bakery scene it does now. It’s still growing – and one of the latest is Fred Bakery number two, near Oxford Circus. The spacious new split-level bakehouse offers five signature laminated pastries, including a standout number filled with pistachio cream and mixed berry compote, and a tiramisu pastry overflowing with coffee cake and rich mascarpone, as well as a bechamel, mashed potato and parmesan cruffin. It also has ciabatta and sourdough loaves, and Italian sandwiches – making it a useful addition to the neighbourhood for nearby office workers.
@fredbakery
Copains, Covent Garden
Since it opened in Paris in 2021, Copains has been a non-negotiable visit on the gluten-free dining trail. Now, it’s landed in London with its unyielding vision of giving those with dietary restrictions pastries and breads that don’t skimp on flavour, texture or elegance. That means croissants a Parisian wouldn’t scoff at, as well as chocolate babkas, pistachio tarts and seasonal pastries, plus baguettes. “We want our customers to enjoy a complete culinary experience, without ever feeling that they are compromising because of their dietary restrictions,” its founders Baptiste Borne and Giovanni Amico say. It’s all presented in an elegant white-washed space with curved shelves and cabinets displaying its goods. And just four days ago the Copains team opened a second London location, in Islington.
copains-paris.com
Additional reporting by Stephen Emms, Tabitha Joyce, Sasha Murray, Melvin Boateng.
