CITY GUIDES

On the hunt for the sweetest French treats in London

Dessert

If the thoughts of warm butter, fluffy laminated pastries and crème pâtissière make your heart beat faster, you’ve come to the right place. Croissants, éclairs macarons and more... We’ve rounded up the best London French-inspired sweet treats worth getting out of bed for.

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Charentes-Poitou Butter PDO
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Jolene

Bakery by day, small plates eatery by night, Jolene on Newington Green is part of the Primeur family. Using wild farmed grains milled onsite, their pastries are some of the most exciting in town. Their French classics with a twist are always spot-on, like the almond pain au chocolat or the classic croissant. Don’t miss out on their creative savoury fillings, often stealing the show: seasonal mushroom, béchamel and parmesan danish, nduja and honey bun… They sell out fast though, so be there early.

21 Newington Green,
London N16 9PU
02038872309
Weds-Sun 9am-3pm and 6-10pm
jolenen16.com

Ladurée

It can’t get more Parisian than Ladurée! The ultimate bijou macarons institution just opened its sixth shop in London at the Royal Exchange, where you can stock up on their signature delicacies, alongside other creations like their cult Ispahan rose-flavoured macaron with raspberries, rose petal and lychee cream.

UK shipping, in-store collection and London same-day delivery available.

5 Royal Exchange,
London EC3V 3LL
0208 189 7879
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
theroyalexchange.co.uk/stores/laduree

Pophams

You’d better get in the line early for a chance to try the laminated pastries of this Islington artisanal bakery and coffee shop: maple and bacon swirl; rosemary and sea salt twist; marmite, schlossberger and spring onion… Most of their creations have reached insta-fame super quickly. Their sister site in London Fields doubles up as a fresh pasta restaurant at night.

Pophams Islington
19 Prebend Street,
London N1 8PF
Tues-Sun 8am-4pm
pophamsbakery.com

Les Merveilleux de Fred

It all started back in 1985 when Frederic Vaucamps put the traditional Merveilleux meringue and whipped cream recipe back on the foodie map. With his historical shop set in Lille, he now has plenty around the world, including three in London.

Coffee, chocolate, praline, speculoos, caramel, cherry… The hardest part is choosing a flavour — that’s when the mini formats come in handy. Oh and whilst you’re at it, you might as well take a pillowy cramique sugar brioche for the road!

Aux Merveilleux de Fred South Kensington
88 Old Brompton Rd
London SW7 3LQ
020 7584 4249
Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat-Sun 8am-7.30pm
auxmerveilleux.com

Maître Choux

Ever seen a jewel box of a pâtisserie, dedicated to choux? Top pastry chef Joakim Prak creates the prettiest éclairs, choux and chouquettes in his five shops (Bicester Village, South Ken, King’s Road, Canary Wharf and Soho). Amongst the éclair fillings, you’ll find the likes of Brittany classic salted butter and caramel, rhubarb cheesecake or vanilla pecan.
Our heart goes out to the humble chouquette though — a puffy dough ball sprinkled with sugar — for a proper French after-school treat, usually picked up at the local boulangerie on the way back home.