Fitzrovia: A London Local Guide with Shaheen Peerbhai
Explore Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury in central London with baker and chef Shaheen Peerbhai of Miel Bakery, as she shares her favourite French-inspired addresses — from refined bistros and cheese emporiums to vibrant delis and neighbourhood wine spots including Café Déco, La Fromagerie, Honey & Spice Deli and Noizé.
Chef-owner Shaheen Peerbhai trained at Le Cordon Bleu and École Ducasse. In 2019, she opened Miel Bakery —, her French-inspired boulangerie named after ‘honey’ in French. Tucked away on Warren Street in central London’s Fitzrovia, the reputation of her bakery now stretches well beyond the area.
In her local guide, Peerbhai takes us on a tour of her favourite French-inspired spots across Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury — the best of both worlds.
🥐 Miel Bakery
Miel Bakery puts flavour first, working exclusively with premium ingredients, many of them French — from traditionally milled flour from Normandy, to Poitou-Charentes butter PDO and Valrhona chocolate.
A firm favourite for French pastry classics, the bakery is known for its deliciously delicate viennoiseries, its signature croissant bow and the decadent Paris-Brest. Cannelés here are made the traditional Bordeaux way using copper moulds, butter and beeswax, while sourdough loaves, seeded rye, madeleines and seasonal galettes des rois round out the offering — all made from scratch with meticulous care. If you want to try your hand at it, look out for the bakery’s workshops and learn how to make Brittany’s iconic kouign-amann — a gloriously buttery French classic.
📍 Miel Bakery
60/61 Warren Street, London W1T 5NU
mielbakery.co.uk
© Miel Bakery
🍟 Café Deco
Open in 2020, the brainchild of revered chef Anna Tobias and wine experts 40 Maltby Street, Café Déco has become an absolute reference for French-infused, comforting, beige food, served in a soft hued Parisian vibe. For Peerbhai, “Café Déco has a very French bistro feel, with refined food served in a laid-back, unfussy atmosphere — a lovely choice when you want something elegant that still feels relaxed”.
The menu changes weekly, but here are some top picks from the Taste France Magazine team when they make an appearance: egg mayonnaise; the ever-changing plat du jour; beef tartare and crisps; crêpe Suzette; and Chenin banc from the Loire Valley by Vincent Wallard.
📍 Café Déco
43 Store Street, London WC1E 7DB
© Sam A Harris
🧀 La Fromagerie Bloomsbury
With no fewer than 40 French cheese references, La Fromagerie was founded by Patricia Michelson almost 35 years ago. The much-loved cheese shop and restaurant now has outposts in Marylebone, Highbury and Bloomsbury — a short cycle ride from Miel Bakery. Peerbhai is a fan: “French cheese and produce done beautifully, with cheeses from across France and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Look out for charming details like violet sweets and Roscoff onions PDO”, she notes.
Taste France Magazine recommends: the all-time classics (Brie de Meaux PDO, Comté PDO…); Camembert de Normandie PDO served as is or truffled for a special treat; the famous French celebration cheese cake; a beautifully festive centrepiece, French butter… the list goes on! Look out, too, for the French-themed suppers and workshops held on a regular basis.
📍 La Fromagerie Bloomsbury
52 Lamb's Conduit St, London WC1N 3LL
© La Fromagerie
🍽️ Noizé
Named after the native village where Mathieu Germond's grandparents ran a farm in the Loire Valley, the former restaurant manager at Pied à Terre Michelin-starred restaurant has been bringing a slice of rural France to the heart of Fitzrovia since 2017. Chef George Farrugia’s seasonal menu is also infused with his Cyprus heritage. Or, in Peerbhai’s words: “fresh, classic French cooking with a focus on good ingredients and simple elegance — ideal for an easy but special dinner nearby”.
Taste France Magazine recommends: gougères and cheddar; pan-fried foie gras, coco and pecan crust, lentils and poached pear; Comté PDO cheese with a glass of dry Jura wine — and letting Germond guide you through the extensive French wine list!
📍 Noizé Restaurant
39 Whitfield Street, London W1T 2SF
© Noizé
🍷 Honey & Spice Deli
The vibrant Middle Eastern deli by Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich of Honey & Co is “a Miel lunch favourite. They serve incredible dips like their baba ganoush and freshly baked breads, packed with flavour and perfect for a casual bite. They also have fun cans of natural wine to go alongside.”
Taste France Magazine recommends: Canetta’s Grenache Côtes de Provence PDO rosé, made in sunny Ramatuelle in the South of France, by natural winemaker Fondugues Pradugues.
📍 Honey & Spice Deli
52 Warren St, London W1T 5NJ
© Honey and Spice
On the same subject
Most popular this week
