Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Downham

"If you gave a bunch of five year olds a box of crayons and told them to draw birthday cakes, you’d probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like the celebration cakes at this Soho bakery and café. That’s not a bad thing. Cakes with names like “Strawberry Eat-On Mess”*, “S’Mores”, “Apple Pie” – as a cake, and “Popcorn Drip” are short on cake and very long on globs of frosting, fillings, toppings and childlike humor."

"This sister-owned Soho bakery looks sweet, but isn't saccahrine. Using no more sugar and fat than they need, their inventive and joyfully decorated offerings are delicately, carefully flavoured. Cutter & Squidge’s Dream Cakes make for jaw dropping centrepieces for your big celebration, or can also be enjoyed by the slice in house – the Lychee Kiss is an elegant flavour trio of lychee, raspberry and rose."

"A post shared by Cutter & Squidge (@cutterandsquidge) on May 28, 2018 at 5:50am PDT. Just yards away from its previously successful pop-up space, Cutter & Squidge's Soho home is full of sweet delights. Choose from a wide selection of its speciality biskies, or opt for vegetarian marshmallows, dream cakes, honeycomb or its award-winning salted caramel."

"What: Sourdough doughnuts are a thing, and a thing of beauty as Crosstown have proven time and time again. These pillowy piles of perfection have gained cult status among doughnut lovers (the majority of us, we think) and are available on same day delivery. Try and find a fault in any of that."

"The Blackberry & Pear – one of our banging new seasonal (vegan) flavours available in-store and on-demand across London, direct from the Crosstown website. 🍐🍩✖️ #crosstown#vegancrosstown#crosstowndoughnuts. 📸: chefclarisseflon 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/SV4poI3Jr6"

"Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor.” Right, okay, now I’ve got that out of my system let’s talk about why Flor is one of the best bakeries in London. Created by the same team behind the highly acclaimed Lyle’s, Flor was a fully-fledged wine bar and bakery in its pre-pandemic heyday but has pivoted to operating solely as a hatch flogging pastries, bread, and sandwiches since lockdown took hold. We’re just grateful that’s been open at all, really."

"The second restaurant from Lyle’s chef-patron James Lowe, Flor, offers a more informal style of eating. This compact two-storey wine bar-restaurant-bakery sits on the edge of busy Borough market. Small sharing plates like the mussel flatbread with Spenwood cheese and garlic have had customers flocking since its opening in 2019."

"You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Flor (@flor.london)"

"You may have unknowingly had one of LBP’s pastries while at a cafe. They are a bakery based in Bermondsey that supplies their delicious pastries to many cafes across London, and famously open their doors to the public only on Saturdays (this fact is so last year). Very recently they have opened a new location in Pimlico so more people can get to their amazing creations, 7 days a week!"

"Little Bread Pedlar are another big supplier of London restaurants and at their Bermondsey bakery you'll find sourdough, baguettes, rosemary focaccia and more. On the pastry side, look out for their Kouign Amann in particular. Delivery: Same-day orders, about 5 miles from the bakery"

"They may only be open to the public on Saturdays but they sell their goods in bakeries all across London. In our opinion, they make some of the best croissants this side of the channel."

"The name means ‘daily bread’ – a phrase that conjures up eating together around communal tables. It’s a theme that sits at the heart of Alain Coumont’s bakery chain, an outfit also known for its organic breakfasts, tartines, quinoa scones and vegan apple pie. Flagship site: 72-75 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5JW"

"e5 Bakehouseis an East London artisan bakery and coffee shop that is absolutely sourdough mad. The bakers only deploy the finest organic, locally-sourced ingredients in their daily-baked bread and its the unique mixture of flour in all the different loaves they sell that makes e5 Bakehouse one of the very best bakeries in London. The ‘Hackney Wild’, for example, is a country loaf made with a blend of heritage and modern wheat grains whereas the seedy ‘Multigrain’ loaf they bake contains a blend of four flours (including e5 stoneground wheat, Shipton white wheat and Cann Mill rye and spelt)."

"Head to the E5 Bakehouse under the railway arches at London Fields for a changing menu of cakes, tarts and patisserie, from brownies and perfectly-formed raspberry financiers to classic eccles cakes and crème brulee tarts. The seating area is small and, between the open kitchen and trains running overhead, a little noisy, but in a typically east London bustling way. And the pecan pie is – and I’m only slightly exaggerating – the best I’ve tasted this side of the Atlantic."

"E5 Bakehouse offers all the homely warmth you could want from a pastry shop. Get cosy at the bakery’s gorgeous wooden tables and enjoy the smell of freshly baked bread in the background. Indulge in all the classics alongside some modern revamps."

"If you are wondering where to shop in London, then Westfield Stratford City is the place to be!. This shopping centre opened its doors in September 2011, and it is considered to be one of the largest in Europe. The centre includes approximately 400 stores and 70 restaurants the most notable being Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and John Lewis."

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Roel Hemkes used under CC BY 2.0. Another Westfield chain, Westfield Stratford City Shopping Center offers a wide variety of shops, as well as dining and entertainment. With 83 restaurants, including those serving halal and vegetarian dishes, everyone will find something on the menu."

"From Armani Jeans and DKNY Men to Clarks and the Disney store, there's a variety of shops in the centre. If you want to grab some food, options for lunch include Nando's, The Real Greek, YO!. Sushi, Chicago Rib Shack and Franco Manca."

"Darwin Brasserie is London’s highest brasserie on the mezzanine level of the Sky Garden – one of the best free viewpoints in London set over the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as ‘The Walkie Talkie’ building. The elegant 36th-floor restaurant overlooks the lush scenery of the surrounding tropical garden and down over London, with amazing uninterrupted views across the entire city. Darwin Brasserie serves an all-day menu of seasonal British dishes with a modern twist, as well as a great weekend brunch menu so you can enjoy your avocado toast with some of the best views in the capital."

"From the outside, the Walkie Talkie does little for the London skyline – and couples that with being very, very big. Heading inside is the answer: firstly, you can no longer see its inelegant silhouette, and secondly you can enjoy the fruits of the admittedly stunning Sky Garden at its summit. Here you’ll find the Darwin Brasserie, serving all-day dining amid its greenery and latticed glass roof, from which you can see the likes of The Shard (pretty up close and personal), HMS Belfast, City Hall and more."

"From sharing platters topped off with Champagne to sushi and sashimi experiences that see mouthwatering selections made-to-order and paired with sake, The Leopard Bar is a top spot when it comes to cracking Japanese cuisine in London. Pop open some bottles and get stuck in."

"The obvious choice for locals to celebrate a special occasion with a spot of fine dining, The Dining Room continues to wow with a simple menu of contemporary British dishes (think beef Wellington and Parmesan risotto) cooked to a consistently high standard. The fixed price menu is a particular hit, and Tuesday nights even more so as guests are encouraged to bring their own wine. 1356 London Road, Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, SS9 2UH"

"A beloved go-to, Ping Pong has got you covered for dim sum delivery in London during lockdown. Load up on Chinese vegetable spring rolls, cod and okra dumplings or griddled beef gyoza from their St Christopher's Place, Shepherd's Bush and Bow Bells House restaurants or opt for one of their selection boxes for a proper feast. The pros never fail to leave us smiling and satisfied."

"What: We would have included Ping Pong’s ‘Lazy Sumday’ menu solely on the merit of its punny title, but it turns out its substance is as good as its name. For less than £30, you can fill up on baos, buns and dumplings until your heart’s (or stomach’s) content. And, as if unlimited dim sum wasn’t enough, you can also add a bottle of prosecco to your lunch for a tenner."

"With locations across London, Ping Pong offers a lively stopover for a light bite during a busy day out in Covent Garden, Soho or South Bank and other locations. Specialising in dim sum, teas and cocktails, these contemporary restaurants offer some of the best Chinese in London for those on a budget."

"At the Thomas Cubitt in Victoria, they like to keep things light. Don’t get us wrong, the pub menu is chock full of hearty classics – from haddock and chips to sausage and mash – but floor to ceiling French windows that open out onto the street in summer debunk the myth that pubs need to be cosy to be comfortable. Head back into the dining room for a more refined setting in which to enjoy rare breed White Park beef and Dorset game, or go the whole hog and book one of their two decidedly homely private rooms."