Best Pastries in Hadley

"Mini Éphémère, a lemon and yuzu meringue and cream version of the Merveilleux. Finding a delicious sweet treat for less than £2 anywhere in London is rare but finding something that will put your sweet tooth into a trance in South Kensington for £1.20 is some kind of miracle. At Aux Merveilleux de Fred, the mini versions of their namesake confections are so light – and inexpensive – that you can indulge without guilt."

"For the melt-in-the-mouth pastry experience only a true French chef such as Frédéric Vaucamps can achieve, book yourself in at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Famed for their brioches, meringues and truffles, which are must-buys, the whole menu is highly acclaimed. Do yourself a favour and get some takeaway buns to enjoy as you travel around the rest of the city – they are truly merveilleux."

"If you’re a big fan of croissants, then the Pasty Parlour is a must for your Little Black Book. One of London’s best bakeries, everything is baked fresh on-site daily and their pastries are said to rival the originals from across the channel. 8 Piazza Walk, London E1 8FU; thepastryparlour.co.uk"

"This dog-friendly east London café is certainly one to add to your London vegan food roster. Not only is there a full vegan English breakfast, complete with crispy hash browns, roasted plum tomatoes and grilled sourdough dripping in creamy vegan butter, they also serve seriously generous portions, leaving even the hungriest of customers full. There’s far more than fry ups on offer, though: the spicy coconut ramen is a delightful winter warmer, served with silky tofu, shiitake mushrooms and thick udon noodles deliciously slurped up when drizzled in hot chilli oil."

"Italian-originating Said is the London offshoot of Rome’s oldest chocolate shop, but the gravity of such status doesn’t stop it from getting a little silly. Hot chocolate here transcends warm beverage to full-blown dessert – rich, thick, molten chocolate is spooned into cups so generously it often overflows. Cakes can be ordered here too, with the option of adding a dutiful drenching of hot milk, dark or white chocolate sauce."

"Philippe Conticini is a legend of pâtisserie and both of his eponymous Londoncafés are home to some of the finest gourmet pastries on this side of the channel. Paying a visit to Phillipe Conticini is like paying your respects to the butter gods. His Paris Brest is a thing of delicate, complicated beauty; his vanilla flan a reminder of what heights custard can achieve; and his pain au chocolat, a pastry so layered and flaky that it makes all pretenders seem a sham."

"Fashion fans should bookmark this undeniably chic patisserie pronto. Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s most established bakeries and is now owned by one of the world’s biggest fashion powerhouses, Prada. They opened a London outpost earlier this year and it’s become one of Mount Street’s most Instagrammable spots – for both it’s sweet treats and sugar almond coloured interiors."

"There are two versions of Camberwell: one where Silk Road is its destination Chinese restaurant, and the other where it’s Tasty House. Like the Kosher Chinese restaurants of Golders Green, this takeaway on Denmark Hill is a testament to the ability of Chinese cuisine to mould itself round the tastes of a local community — in this case a predominantly working class, predominantly West African clientele. Its reputation is built off the back off burnished fried rice dishes, whose fugitive notes of wok smoke shares DNA with Ghanaian jollof, while all orders can be customised to levels of spiciness and porkiness."

"Asian food is often meat-heavy, but this dim sum restaurant may just surprise you. Head on down to Ping Pong as they boast one of the best vegan menus in London, packed with spicy vegetable dumplings and mushroom buns, just have a gander through the menu to find 'em."

"If you're looking for vegetarian friendly dim sum in London, you've more than come to the right place. Join Ping Pong for favourites the likes of their spicy vegetable dumpling, their potato and edamame cake and their spinach and mushroom dumpling."

"Whether you want an epic brunch with all the plates, a classy dinner or just some theatrical cocktails, Ping Pong is here for you. Check out their venues spread across London and each with beautiful interiors."

"London’s Shoryu Ramen restaurant offers diners a tantalising taste of Hakata via their speciality Hakata tonkotsu ramen dishes. The base of these popular dishes is the full-flavoured, silky tonkotsu pork stock, carefully created over a 12 hour period. Shoryu has entered into a partnership with an artisanal UK noodle maker to source the perfect noodles for the ramen."

"Take a Michelin star chef, an intimidatingly swanky location, and a near theatrical take on detail and decor, and you have Umu, one of the shining jewels in Mayfair's menagerie of high-end Japanese luxury restaurants. Head Chef Yoshinori Ishii has been displaying his flair for exquisitely delicate Kyoto-inspired cuisine since taking over at Umu in 2010, and he has curated an experience which will leave both Japanese-food-pedants and poshies in awe. For £45 a set lunch will get you a selection of fresh sashimi with kinshi and shiitake, or go a la carte and try Ibushi smoked "a la minute" with plum-shiso for £28."

"If you’re looking to woo the object of your affections with some of the most masterfully crafted sushi in London, Umu is your best bet. Its lauded head chef Yoshinori Ishii has over 20 years of cooking experience, nine of which he spent training at the three Michelin-starred Kyoto Kitcho in Japan. This means his menu delights pretty much all of the senses, from sight to taste to touch – or, er, mouthfeel."