London Cake Shops & Patisseries: 10 Best in 2026

Researching London’s best cake shops is a sugar-coated marathon. Fortunately, we were willing to make the sacrifice. From a Parisian pâtisserie that has been feeding Soho since 1871 to a Central London doughnut café making Italian brioche from 4am every morning, these are the spots serving some of the capital’s finest cakes, pastries and sweet treats right now. Whether you’re after the best cupcakes in London, elegant French patisserie, a show-stopping birthday cake or something to queue for on a Sunday morning in East London, this guide covers it. For more London foodie inspiration, browse our guide to the best afternoon tea in London right now.

The Best London Cake Shops & Patisseries at a Glance

Cake Shop	Best For	Area
Maison Bertaux	Old Soho institution, French pâtisserie	Soho
Bombolone	Italian brioche doughnuts, freshly made daily	Trafalgar Square
Violet Cakes	Seasonal bakes, royal-approved	Hackney
Ottolenghi	Photogenic patisserie, lemon polenta cake	Islington
Crumbs and Doilies	Best cupcakes and celebration cakes	Soho
Lily Vanilli	Cult East London bakery, Sundays only	Bethnal Green
Hummingbird Bakery	American-style cupcakes, red velvet	Notting Hill + more
Primrose Bakery	Cocktail cupcakes, celebration cakes	Primrose Hill
Bea’s of Bloomsbury	Colourful cupcakes, afternoon tea	City of London
Belle Epoque Patisserie	Authentic French baking	Stoke Newington
The Little Bread Pedlar	Almond croissants, artisan pastries	Bermondsey

1. Maison Bertaux — London’s Oldest Cake Shop

Best for: Old Soho charm and classic French pâtisserie

A true Soho institution. Maison Bertaux has been serving cakes and pastries since 1871, making it one of London’s oldest pâtisseries — and one of its most stubbornly, brilliantly unchanged. Inside, you’ll find cream-filled gateaux, delicate tarts and old-school French pastries alongside wonderfully eccentric décor that feels frozen in time. The peeling plaster and spangly swags are not a design choice. They are just the way it is, and all the better for it. Karl Marx was a rumoured regular. More recently, Lily Allen hosted an album signing here. The clientele, as ever, spans Soho artists, late-night writers and anyone sensible enough to know that a coffee and a slice of cake in this room beats almost any other afternoon in London. Takeaway is tempting, but the full experience requires sitting in.

• Address: 28 Greek Street, London W1D 5DQ
• Hours: Daily 9:30am–6pm
• Website: maisonbertaux.com

2. Bombolone — Best Italian Doughnuts in London ⭐ Editor’s Pick

Best for: Fresh Italian brioche doughnuts near Trafalgar Square

Two minutes from Trafalgar Square, at 21 Whitcomb Street, Bombolone makes proper Italian brioche-style doughnuts from scratch every single morning. The team starts at 4am. What you eat today was made today — no frozen dough, no overnight batches, no yesterday’s leftovers rewarmed. When they sell out, they’re gone. That’s the deal. A bombolone is the Tuscan original: a round, hole-free doughnut made from slow-proved brioche rather than the cake-style dough most British doughnuts use. The result is lighter, softer and considerably more satisfying. Fillings are made in-house using real ingredients — Italian mascarpone, actual pistachio cream, vanilla pods — not flavourings. The Pistachio Amore (pistachio cream, white chocolate glaze, nutty crunch) is the signature. The Mama Mia Tiramisu — espresso cream and cocoa dust — runs it close. Currently rated the #1 bakery in London on Tripadvisor, and it’s earned it. Bombolone also does catering, gifting, doughnut towers and personalised orders for weddings, offices and events across London. Come early at weekends — queues form fast.

• Address: 21 Whitcomb Street, London WC2H 7HA (2 min walk from Trafalgar Square)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–6pm | Sat 10am–8pm | Sun 10am–6pm
• Website: bombolone.co.uk

3. Violet Cakes — Best Seasonal Bakery in East London

Best for: Seasonal baking, organic ingredients and the royal seal of approval

Founded by Californian baker Claire Ptak, Violet Cakes became internationally famous after creating the lemon elderflower wedding cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. It remains one of the most respected bakeries in East London, and deservedly so. Seasonal ingredients are central to everything here: buttercream icings flavoured with fresh fruit purées, locally sourced produce wherever possible, and a menu that genuinely shifts with what’s good right now. Lines spill onto the pavement at weekends. The wait is worth it. Freshly baked scones with clotted cream and cardamom jam, beautifully iced cupcakes, whoopie pies and blondies all compete for attention. A genuine East London institution, and one that has managed to stay small and excellent despite the attention.

• Address: 47 Wilton Way, London E8 3ED
• Website: violetcakes.com

4. Ottolenghi — Best Patisserie Counter in London

Best for: Absurdly photogenic pastries and London’s best lemon polenta cake

The Islington original on Upper Street is the one to visit, though multiple London sites now exist. Go for the counter experience: a coffee, a slice of something extraordinary, and the mild existential crisis of trying to choose between six different things you want equally.

• Address: 287 Upper Street, London N1 2TZ (Islington flagship)
• Website: ottolenghi.co.uk

5. Crumbs and Doilies — Best Cupcake Shop in London

Best for: London’s finest birthday cakes and bespoke cupcake orders

Crumbs and Doilies has a bold claim: it calls itself the capital’s “spiritual home of the cupcake”. Having tried them, it’s hard to argue. Everything here is baked fresh using premium ingredients, with no additives or preservatives. The bespoke cupcakes come in around 40 flavours, hand-decorated by the team, and the celebration cakes are among the best in London for birthdays, hen parties and office events. The Kingly Court location in Soho is a good spot in its own right — tucked into a courtyard just off Carnaby Street, with a front-row seat on one of London’s best people-watching terraces. Order the rotating seasonal special if it’s on; it’s usually the right call.

• Address: 1 Kingly Court, London W1B 5PW
• Website: crumbsanddoilies.co.uk

6. Lily Vanilli — Best Sunday Bakery in East London

Best for: A cult East London cake shop open Sundays only

If you spot a queue winding through the Bethnal Green backstreets on a Sunday morning, chances are it leads to Lily Vanilli. Founded by Lily Jones, the bakery has earned cult status among East London food lovers for its beautifully styled cakes, cookies and pastries — all baked on-site, all made to be looked at for approximately three seconds before being eaten. Seasonal menus keep things fresh. Vegan and gluten-free options mean no one gets left out. Sundays only is part of the mystique. Plan around it.

• Address: The Courtyard, Ezra Street, London E2 7RH
• Hours: Sundays only, 8:30am–6pm
• Website: lilyvanilli.com

7. Hummingbird Bakery — Best American-Style Cupcakes in London

Best for: Red velvet cupcakes and towering American-style layer cakes

Hummingbird introduced many Londoners to American-style cupcakes and towering layer cakes, and it has never lost its touch. The legendary red velvet cupcake remains the star attraction — dense, deeply coloured, cream cheese frosted and deeply satisfying. Brownies, cheesecakes and colourful cake slices keep loyal crowds coming back across the capital’s multiple sites. The Portobello Road original in Notting Hill is the one to visit if you want the full experience. Saturday afternoon, post-market, red velvet in hand. There are worse ways to spend a weekend.

• Address: 133 Portobello Road, London W11 2DY (Notting Hill flagship)
• Website: hummingbirdbakery.com

8. Primrose Bakery — Best Cupcakes in North London

Best for: Cocktail cupcakes and beautifully iced celebration cakes

Since 2004, Primrose Bakery has quietly built one of the most loyal followings of any London cake shop. The standout creation is the Cocktail Cupcake range — flavours inspired by Espresso Martinis, Gin & Tonics and Aperol Spritz — which has been widely imitated and never bettered. The celebration cakes are equally well executed, and the bakery runs popular baking masterclasses for anyone who wants to have a go themselves. Primrose Hill is one of London’s better neighbourhoods for a wander, and Primrose Bakery is a reliable anchor for any afternoon up here.

• Address: 69 Gloucester Avenue, London NW1 8LD
• Website: primrose-bakery.co.uk

9. Belle Epoque Patisserie — Best French Patisserie in North London

Best for: Authentic French baking in Stoke Newington

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Eric and Hulya Rousseau, Belle Epoque Patisserie has delivered authentic French baking to North London since 2002. The bakery is loved for its flaky pastries, artisan breads and elegant cakes — all made with the kind of technical rigour that tends to be much rarer outside of France than people pretend. Alongside the sweet things, you’ll also find quiches, light lunches and decent coffee served in cosy Parisian-inspired surroundings. A reliable neighbourhood destination, and one that consistently punches above its postcode.

• Address: 37 Newington Green, London N16 9PR
• Website: belleepoque.co.uk

10. The Little Bread Pedlar — Best Croissants in South London

Best for: Legendary almond croissants and artisan pastries in Bermondsey

The Bermondsey location makes it an excellent addition to any Borough Market morning — or a destination in its own right on a Saturday.

• Address: Unit 4–6 Spa Business Park, Dockley Road, London SE16 3FJ
• Website: lbpedlar.com

London Cake Shops FAQ

What are the best cake shops in London?

London’s best cake shops span everything from centuries-old French pâtisseries to modern Italian doughnut cafés. Top picks include Maison Bertaux in Soho (open since 1871), Bombolone near Trafalgar Square (currently London’s #1 rated bakery on Tripadvisor), Violet Cakes in Hackney, Ottolenghi in Islington and Crumbs and Doilies in Soho. Each one offers something distinct — see the full guide above for addresses and opening hours.

Where can I get the best cupcakes in London?

For the best cupcakes in London, head to Hummingbird Bakery on Portobello Road for their iconic red velvet, Crumbs and Doilies in Kingly Court for bespoke flavours and celebration orders, or Primrose Bakery in Primrose Hill for the legendary cocktail cupcake range. All three have been making London’s best cupcakes for well over a decade.

Where can I get the best doughnuts in London?

Bombolone on Whitcomb Street, near Trafalgar Square, makes proper Italian brioche-style doughnuts from scratch every morning from 4am. They use slow-proved brioche dough — lighter and softer than a standard cake doughnut — with house-made fillings including pistachio cream, tiramisu and vanilla custard. Rated the #1 bakery in London on Tripadvisor. Walk-ins welcome; sell out daily.

Which London cake shop is best for a birthday cake?

Crumbs and Doilies in Soho and Primrose Bakery in Primrose Hill are both excellent for celebration and birthday cakes. Bombolone also offers personalised doughnuts and doughnut towers — a good alternative to a traditional cake for parties and events. For something more elaborate, Violet Cakes and Hummingbird Bakery both take bespoke orders.

Are there any good patisseries near Central London?

Yes. Bombolone is two minutes from Trafalgar Square on Whitcomb Street. Maison Bertaux is in Soho on Greek Street, a short walk from Oxford Street. Crumbs and Doilies is at Kingly Court, also in Soho. For something more formal, Ottolenghi has a location in Islington and other sites around the city. Opening hours and addresses correct as of June 2026. Always confirm directly with venues before visiting.

Final Crumbs

London’s cake scene is gloriously chaotic in the best possible way. One moment you’re eating a centuries-old French pastry in Soho; the next you’re working through an Italian brioche doughnut two minutes from Trafalgar Square. Whether you love cupcakes, pâtisserie, seasonal East London baking or something that barely existed five years ago, these London cake shops prove the capital knows exactly how to satisfy a sweet tooth. Looking for more London foodie inspiration? Explore our guide to the best afternoon tea in London and the best ice cream in London next.