A local’s guide to old bakeries in London and long standing coffee shops – the cutest brunch and breakfast spots to take you back straight to the past!
It’s official: I’ve lost track of how many guides I’ve written about London’s bakeries and cafes on The Working Line.
Lately, I’ve shared some more secret breakfast spots, like rustic bakeries, church coffee shops, and cafes hidden inside shops.
Today, though, I wanted to go as far back into London’s past as possible, with the oldest bakeries still open in the city.
That’s where you can get tasty and cheap beigels, unique desserts like the crodough, and the most delicate croissants and pains au chocolat in London – ready to dive in?
London’s Old Bakeries: 7 Cute Breakfast Spots From the Past
In this guide to London’s old bakeries, you’ll find places that have been serving their community – and tourists – for decades, sometimes centuries.
It’s only by dint of visiting historical sites that I have, little by little, become more interested in the history of the cities I’ve lived in: London, but also Rome, Istanbul, Paris, and Barcelona.
From Rinkoffs in Stepney Green to Maison Bertaux in Soho, these are some of the oldest places in London to grab a coffee, a viennoiserie, and catch a break from the busy city life.
Cute Old Bakeries in London: Rinkoffs, Stepney Green, East London
While there are two branches of Rinkoff’s Bakery in East London, my favorite is, and will forever remain the Stepney Green shop on Jubilee Street.
Rinkoff’s was founded in 1911 by Hyman Rinkoff, a Ukrainian immigrant, and has remained a Jewish family-run business – even today.
If you’re looking for cheap eats in London, you’ll find bagels at around 4 pounds in the bakery, alongside challah, rye bread, and the signature Crodough, a croissant-doughnut hybrid – the peanut butter and marmalade one is my favorite.
Oldest Bakeries in London: Maison Bertaux, Greek Street, Central London
Maison Bertaux sits on Soho’s Green Street, and is the city’s oldest patisserie: it was founded by Monsieur Bertaux from Paris back in 1871.
There are plenty of amazing things to do in Soho and nearby Carnaby Street, but when you’re walking around the area’s shops and street art, you’re bound to feel hungry at some point.
That’s where Maison Bertaux comes into play; you can enjoy classic French pastries there, from eclairs to Paris-Brest, fruit tarts, and even take a good, long break by sitting in the upstairs gallery room.
When you’re done biting into the French bakery’s wonderful cakes and savory treats, I’d recommend walking around Soho and Chinatown nearby to discover new shops, new flavors, and new colors.
Or, you could walk down Charing Cross Road to Covent Garden and unravel the area’s hidden gems, or do some more shopping at the Apple Market and on Long Acre!
Vintage Bakeries in London: Old Post Office Bakery
Located in Clapham, South London, the Old Post Office Bakery was established by a German immigrant, Karl Heinz Rossbach, back in 1982.
Its name is simply due to the fact that the bakery started in a repurposed post office building.
The Old Post Office Bakery is a completely organic bakery which still uses traditional methods; organic breads, pastries, almond croissants, pains au raisin, even vegan breakfast bits are for sale there.
Granted, we’re not in Central London, but for the vibes, the vintage shopfront under the arches and the delicious moments the Old Post Office Bakery offers, it’s well worth the Tube ride.
Cute Old Bakeries in London: Edward’s Bakery, Willesden High Road, North West London
Another one of the oldest bakeries in London, Edward’s Bakery in Willesden Green was established in 1908 – only three years before Rinkoff’s Bakery first opened.
Willesden Green is one of the lesser-known areas of London, where I stayed for a bit a couple of years ago, and you’ll find countless shops and cafes there, as well as peace and quiet.
Nestled on the High Road, Edward’s Bakery still retains its old school vibe, with reasonable prices, fresh cream cakes, viennoiseries, and plenty of savory treats to eat for breakfast, lunch, or as a snack.
Cute Old Bakeries in London: Beigel Shop, Brick Lane, East London
Brick Lane’s been an institution of East London since 1855; also known as the ‘Yellow One’, it’s a staple of London’s Jewish East End.
Not only is it one of the oldest bakeries in London, it’s also one of the very best spots for cheap eats; salt beef beigel is an iconic savory treat, very filling, although I always try to get a pastry as well when I visit.
Smoked salmon and cream cheese beigels are another popular item at Beigel Shop, and by all means, try to come as early as possible to get a rainbow beigel; so picture-worthy!
Now, what’s also interesting about Beigel Shop is that it’s a place open 24/7, every single day of the year: whenever you get a craving, you also have the solution, right at the top of Brick Lane, close to Bethnal Green Road.
Oldest Bakeries in London: Dunn’s Bakery, Crouch End, North London
Located in Crouch End, one of the most secret areas in London, Dunn’s Bakery was first founded in 1827 by Robert Freeman on Highgate Hill.
I’ve first come to know about Dunn’s Bakery with their Muswell Hill bakery – you’d be hard-pressed to find a cuter place for breakfast!
It’s only in 1946 that Robert’s great-grandson acquired Dunn’s Bakery in Crouch End, a village-like area with lots of cafes and independent shops.
It’s hard to choose what you want to eat; when you pass the threshold, you’re welcomed with countless cakes, pastries, and traditional breads – but you also know that what you’re going to eat will be outstanding beyond words.
Old Bakeries in London: The Cavan Bakery, Twickenham
Founded in 1929 by David Cavan, the Cavan Bakery opened its first branch under the name ‘Devonshire Bakery’ in Twickenham before expanding with several shops across South West London.
Again, we’re in a gorgeous bakery that sells the freshest artisan breads, cakes, pastries and sandwiches, with the same principle, ‘Quality Tells’, used to build the business in the first place.
We’re quite far from Central London, one more time, but if you’re going to tread London off the beaten path, why not have the Cavan Bakery on your bucket list while you’re at it?
London’s Old Bakeries: 7 Cute Breakfast Spots From the Past
There you have them – the cutest old bakeries and cafes in London; you’ll hopefully have found here more than you’d expected!
These long standing businesses are not only heavy with pastry racks, but filled with a history you wouldn’t initially think of when visiting London’s famous landmarks.
My favorites will forever be Rinkoffs and Beigel Bake, both located in East London, but these are places I usually visit to take my food to go, so I can spend more time walking around the city.
If you’re interested in more quirky and secret cafes, or would like to discover other hidden gems, these are a few guides I’ve written you might enjoy: