Best of London: Bakeries, Cupcakes, and Sweet Treats

Last updated on November 21st, 2022 at 03:25 pm

People who know me know that I am obsessed with baked goods. I love to bake, I love to go to bakeries, and most of all, I love to eat all the baked goods I can get my hands on. So, during our time in London, I made sure to visit as many bakeries as I could possibly squeeze into our already packed schedule. Read on to learn more about our favorite treats from six different bakeries throughout London!

And if you’re looking for more information about restaurants around London, be sure to check out this post: Unique Restaurants For Food and Drinks in London

Christine in Front of the London Eye in London

***Disclaimer: Be sure to check all entry restrictions for England as well as those for any activity you wish to participate in before booking any part of your journey!

1. Crumbs & Doilies Bakery in Soho, London

Storefront of Crumbs & Doilies Bakery in London

Cupcakes at Crumbs & Doilies Bakery in London

The Crumbs and Doilies bakery in Soho holds the record for having my favorite cupcakes in London. The bold and original flavors set this bakery apart from others. Don’t come here expecting to find “traditional” flavors such as plain vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. Instead, these cupcakes will take you on a journey with flavors such as Eton Mess, Cinnamon Toast, Lemon Merengue, and more.

I personally loved the black sesame cupcake, which was a bit more earthy and not quite as sweet. If you’re looking for a more rich, creamy flavor, the caramel cornflake would be an excellent choice. Or, for something a bit more “normal”, my husband recommends the red velvet flavor.

To learn more, please visit the official Crumbs and Doilies Website.

2. Bagariet Swedish Baked Goods in Covent Garden, London

Ever Since our recent visit to Sweden, I have been absolutely obsessed with Swedish buns. I’ve made them multiple times at home. And, when we travel, I am always in search of a great Swedish bakery. There are actually multiple bakeries serving up Swedish treats in London, but this is the only one we made it to on our visit.

The cinnamon fika buns were delicious, moist, topped with the perfect amount of crunchy sugar, and oh so satisfying. The pistachio tart with rose was also quite lovely. It had a nice, flakey base, and a soft not overly sweet center. Overall, the flavors were well-balanced and quite enjoyable.

The Bageriet Bakery is located in Covent Garden and you can visit their website by clicking here.

Some other top-rated Swedish bake shops include: Fabrique, Ole & Steen, and Scandinavian Kitchen.

3. Lola’s Cupcakes London Bakery

This cupcake bakery has a mix of both fun and accessible flavors. This is great, especially if you are a less-adventurous person or have kids who prefer something a bit more traditional. Another plus is that they have both vegan and gluten free cupcakes to fit your dietary requirements!

I personally got a chocolate raspberry cupcake. It was moist, with a soft crumb, and had good flavor. Plus, it was topped with a fresh raspberry! Other flavors include Cookies & Cream, Banoffee, Salted Caramel, Tiramisu, Chocolate Heaven, and Carrot. And, of course, the unicorn flavored cupcakes will be sure to delight little girls (as well as those of us who are still young in spirit).

As a bonus, they have locations all over London! So, you won’t have much trouble fitting this one into your schedule. You can also visit the official Lola’s Cupcakes website for more information.

4. Beigel Bake on Brick Lane

Smoked Salmon and Bagel from Beigel in London

You say “Bay-gul”, I say “Bye-gul”. One might look at the name and wonder where the unique spelling of the name came from. To solve the mystery, I will take give you a very brief history. While there seem to be many theories concerning the origin of bagels, the most likely story is that they were developed by Jews in Poland. Thus, the name derives from the Yiddish word “beygal” which comes from the German dialect word “beugel” (meaning “ring” or “bracelet”). Later, the spelling was changed to “beigel” before Americans shortened it to “bagel”.

But, no matter how you choose to spell or pronounce this word, these are some of the most delicious bagels I have had in Europe (aside from my own homemade ones, of course 😉 ). This bagel shop is open 24 hours a day, so it’s the perfect place to stop in at for a morning pick-me-up, a mid-day snack, or the late night munchies. You can get your bagel filled with all kinds of delicious options. I personally really enjoyed mine with the smoked salmon.

You can visit the official Beigel Bake website to learn more.

Fun Fact: The Beigel bakeshop is located on London’s famous Brick Lane in Tower Hamlets. This area is particularly well-known for it’s large Bangladeshi community and famous curry houses.

5. Molly Rose Bakery in South Kensington, London

Storefront of Molly Rose Bakery in London

Sweet Treats at Molly Rose Bakery in London

The Molly Rose Bakery in South Kensington is certainly one of the most instaram-able bakeries I went to in London. The interior is well decorated, making it the perfect place for coffee/tea and a sweet treat. My husband particularly enjoyed the carrot cake here. It was a bit denser of cake with a gorgeous cinnamon flavor.

Molly Rose bakery offers a large variety of sweet and savory treats including cupcakes, cookies, tarts, pies, scones, macarons, and more. To learn more, you can visit the official website.

6. Lily Vanilli Bakery in Tower Hamlets, London

This sweet, little shop is located in London’s East End. It is somewhat tucked away in a courtyard, making it feel like you have just stumbled upon a hidden treasure. Inside Lily Vanilli, you will find all kinds of goodies including vegan and gluten free options. Once you’ve chosen your preferred treat, you can enjoy it in their nice outdoor seating area. Personally, we really enjoyed the custard tarts (Pastel de Nata). The crust was flaky and the interior was creamy and delicious.

Not only can you eat their baked goods, but you can sign up for one of their cake decorating courses. Or, even better, you can find recipes for many of their offerings on their website. You can visit the official Lily Vanilli website to learn more.

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoy exploring and tasting all the wonderful treats from the bakeries around London. I would love to hear about your personal favorites/recommendations in the comments below!

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine