London is a fantastic place to be if you’re a foodie with a sweet tooth. There are so many different cuisines, varying types of desserts and fortunately for you, a lot of them are located in the same area. If you love sweet treats (and also appreciate taking a few pics for your Instagram) then these recommendations will be perfect for you. Here are seven dessert spots that you need to visit the next time you’re in central London.
Fuwa Fuwa is located in the Brunswick Centre, a shopping mall that’s also a hub for cafes and restaurants. It’s a quick walk from Russel Square station, and although the outside of the cafe may be easy to miss, the pancakes are a definite must-have. “Fuwafuwa” means “fluffy” but can also translate to “light and airy” or “soft”. This describes the cafe’s pancakes perfectly. They specialise in a special type of Japanese souffle pancakes which are light, airy and honestly, very jiggly. A knife slices through them as if they’re butter, and the range of available toppings means there’s a favourite for everyone. From a more traditional red bean and matcha pancake to Nutella and banana, Fuwa Fuwa has perfected its craft.
Another East Asian dessert that’s a must-try is bingsu from Gaza. The restaurant is right outside Leicester Square station and can be found in China Town/Soho which is a hub for Asian cuisine. If you’re unfamiliar with bingsu, it’s basically Korean shaved ice, but rather than using water, they use milk. This gives the dessert a much creamier consistency, somewhere between shaved ice and ice cream. Fruit toppings are usually used, so strawberries and cream, melon, mango etc being fan favourites. There are also twists, however, with an Oreo bingsu drizzled in chocolate being an option. Other variations also switch up the base: a coffee bingsu uses milky coffee rather than milk, and a matcha bingsu uses a sweet green tea flavoured milk. Gaza is by far the best bingsu cafe I’ve tried and it’s perfect for a summer dessert.
Once you’ve visited Paris, you come back disappointed. The city is beautiful, but another memorable aspect is their knack and skill when it comes to making small cakes and pastries. I’m a fan of strawberry cakes, strawberry custard tarts with whipped cream and strawberry anything to be honest. L’ETO is an international branch with five locations in London: Brompton, Soho, King’s Road, Belgravia and Mayfair. The branches each have menus for breakfast, brunch and dining, but the real highlight is their cakes and pastries which do come at an affordable price considering their quality. While it’s no French patisserie it’s the best you’ll get in London.
Soft Serve Society is an ice cream shop in Box Park, Shoreditch that specialises in soft-serve ice cream – surprise! There are so many different flavours from vanilla and matcha to the more unique like coconut and charcoal. Options come in tubs or specialised cones and the sundae options come with different toppings. Soft Serve Society also serve freakshakes which are pricier at £8.95 but are well worth the money considering how loaded they are with cakes, toppings and other sweet treats. Head down to Shoreditch in the warmer month to get your hands on these ice creams
Creams is an American inspired dessert chain that first opened its doors in the UK in 2008, now there are over 80 restaurants across the country. It’s likely that you’ve come across a Creams restaurant at some point and with 25 locations in London it’s an experience you shouldn’t miss out on. There are so many options available too including sundaes, waffles, crepes, cakes, warm cookie dough and gelato. It can be difficult to choose what you want on the menu the first time but it gives you plenty of opportunities to go back again.
Kova Patisserie can be found in Soho. It’s a patisserie that specialises in producing Japanese desserts alongside organic teas and matcha lattes. It’s famous for its selection of mille crepes, which is basically a cake made of alternating layers of crepes and cream. There are many other cakes available to try too. Just make sure to go when it’s off-peak, Kova is a small cafe and it’s common for the cafe to get busy with lines forming outside.
Dum Dum Doughnuts is the world’s first artisan baked doughnut and croissant-doughnut brand. They pride themselves on their natural ingredients and aesthetics as well as being baked, a healthier alternative to usually being fried. Despite being baked the doughnuts aren’t dry and retain the normal bounciness and airiness you’d find in a regular doughnut. There are also so many unique options available, beautifully handcrafted and decorated, making it perfect for the gram.
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