Imagine, walking straight off High Holborn with its busy, brusque city-types moving on by, into the…read moreback of a 16th century French barn, with french fancies to boot! Well, I'll go on about the decor, as I do. It's exquisite, no money has been spared. So, old loafs, wagon wheels and that lot. And the cakes... Oh my days, I could go off on the cakes. I suppose you call this place a bakery. They sell bread, a lot of pastries and things like mustards and chutneys. It's definitely top-end of the market, as the crowd who come in for a dainty coffee and a cake will testify to. But it's really really good. If you can afford it. Which, to be honest, I can't. I only went in with a friend, who 'insisted' I go with her. And she paid, so I can't complain. I had a Religieuse which was exquisite. But to be honest, pretty much everything they sell looks good to enough to eat, so...

The decor of the place, the french vibe and a rainy day - that's what attracted me to come in on a…read moreSaturday afternoon. When i saw the variety of the baguettes looking like brushes of an artist pointing up from the buckets, i knew they are going to be good. Well...i was mistaken. Baguettes turned out to be tasty, yes, but their similarity to painter's brushes concluded in being as hard as the wood in those brushes! Owners should consider baking them in small batches so that they will be served fresh, warm and crusty! Fillings...combinations were quite interesting (and delicious) or maybe it was the influence of the surrounding wooden walls, small round tables and comfy chairs that made me think that they are good. The service...now what is the reason of paying more than the take away price if I had to clean the table I wanted to sit at, bring my own food, on the way bumping into people and praying that my earl grey won't spill onto my clothes? Overall - probably won't go back, unless i'd want to try some of the tartines which looked good but which i haven't tried this time, or if i get tired of cleaning tables in my own house!

Pie with Tiki Masala or Indian-spiced lamb...and spiced mash on the side? - Well, this place is…read morelocated in Whitechapel - the home of Tayyab and Lahore Kebab House - so the Indian-themed pies are a logical extension! We had been art-gallery hopping for a while in both Bethnal Green and Whitechapel, when we felt the urge for something warm and filling and this pie shop on the otherwise relatively gloomy high street, was a welcome sight. Decorsiwes, it's still very much reminiscent of other fast-food restaurants around here, but the service was really nice and we felt quite well-taken care of. I ordered the "Very Hot Pie" and my other half ordered the "Tika Masala Pie" - both of which I thought were very nice. The mushy peas on the side were tasty, and the grilled vegetables did the trick. All in all, this is a good lunch option and I would recommend coming by here if you're in need for some exotic pies!

My boyfriend and I were looking for dinner after flying in on NYE. We didnt want to go into the…read morecity, but stay close to the flat. Although there is great Indian food in the area, we wanted traditional English fare. Enter Pie Factory. For less than £10 each we were able to get filling, delicious meat pies and a drink. Whole food. Delicious. Moist. The crust was cooked to perfection. We want to go back if we have time before we leave. Simply the best pies in London... without the Sweeny Todd bent. ;)

Bestest best experience in London ever .. Food 10/10…read moreService 10/10 Value for money 10/10 Staff 10/10 Clean and warm !! Definitely will come again ** we forgot a jacket and one of the staff was running in the street to give it to us .. Bless him Thanks Horizon staff for nice experience :)

This is the best place for coffee and cake in Leytonstone…read more The staff are very freindly and helpful. They take your tray to your table if you've not enough hands. The coffee is great and the cakes add inches to your waistline as soon as you walk in the door, so be careful! There is also a great selection of savoury sandwiches, falafel etc.

I am so disappointed that I have only just learned about this wonderful cafe!! I travel to London…read moreperiodically for work. On my last visit, a coworker told me about this little gem, which is not far from Lloyd's. It was a freezing cold day, I didn't have a coat, but I still went on the journey to Konditor & Cook. They have such a huge variety of cakes, brownies, and other sweet treats, along with coffees and other beverages. I got the lemon cake, which came highly recommended - it was amazing! I also had a hot chocolate (I don't drink coffee often), but my coworker had a latte and it looked good. This shop is now on my regular rotation in London...it's always a great day when you have cake for lunch!

I always stop into Konditor & Cook on the back of the Gherkin for a little treat when I'm craving…read moresome good homemade food. I know they are typically known for their cakes but the lunches here give you quick access to homemade classic dishes. I usually get the enchilladas, chili con carne, fish pie (super good!) or one of the daily quiches. The menu changes daily and there is rarely a time I don't find something to drool over. If you go I highly recommend the Boston Brownie, Raspberry Chequerboard Cake and the Millionaire Shortbread from the bakery. My only issue: Take the mushrooms out of the Mac n Cheese! Seriously, who puts mushrooms in mac n cheese???

I walked pretty far in search of a decent coffee shop. Had just finished a tour at the House of…read moreParliament and was in desperate need of a pick me up. This place is tiny, filled with tons of baked goods a treats. Ordered two cappuccinos & 2 mini cupcakes, a hazelnut one and red velvet. Coffees were a hair cold (-1 star) both cakes were dry (-1/2 star) they don't have any cookies whatsoever (-1/2 star) tons of brownies and cakes - didn't try them but they look good.

My daughter is studying acting in London at Shakespeare's Globe theatre. Alas, we were going to…read moremiss celebrating her milestone 21st birthday. Thanks to Yelp, I found the branch of Konditor and Cook bakery closest to the theatre. The entire staff was very helpful over the telephone and via email as well as live chat. They delivered an elaborately decorated Curly-Whirly cake to the Globe right on time. My daughter and the other members of her troupe all agreed it was one of the best tasting cakes they'd experienced I am looking forward to visiting the store next month when we visit our daughter in London. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it was somewhat pricey with dollars vs. pounds. I would recommend this bakery for any American who has someone overseas in London and needs a cake for a special occasion.

Absolutely delicious. If you are in the area of one of them and love French pastries and bread, you…read morehave to visit it. The soup is delicious too. Apple pie is to die for:)

I remember reading once that Poilane would overnight courier their bread from France to a North…read moreAmerican department store for sale the next day. IT'S JUST THAT GOOD and they were unwilling to have any one else bake their secret stuff. Urban legend? I don't know. And, well, delightfully irrelevant since there are two Poilanes in Londontown! Its reputation preceded it as my visiting Mum bumped into a woman from Australia last week who said that she returns "Down Undah" with a bag full of Poilane bread every time she makes it to London. Hardcore. I likey. So off to the Sloane Square area I went, with the idea of both buying some carby schtuffs and also partaking in their open faced made-to-order sandwiches (available from 8:30, this is the only London location of their "cafe"). Annnnnd...I'm sold. I had an open faced sandwich with some kind of cured meat and sundried tomato that came with a side salad. I had fresh squeezed watermelon juice (refreshing!). I took home brioche (THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD CAPSCAPSCAPS) and an apple pastry-thinger-mabobber. All delicious. Did I mention the bread, though? Amazing sourdough. They weigh the full loaves (i.e.: you pay by weight, not by loaf). I bought a 2.2 kilogram loaf, I'm that committed to their bread. Wanna come over for a sammich? I'm also, let the record show, a big fan of the design of the place. There's a tree with circular bar-type seating around it (inside!). There's a (small) back patio. There is lecture-style seating (you know what I'm talking about: a solo chair with a little collapsible desk) for solo snacks...so much better using the desk for croissants instead of notebooks! Yelp note: the Australian woman was on to something. Also: it's just tucked away behind the craziness of Sloane Square: must have walked past it many a time...a (carby) gem!

I was looking for a cute brunch place to get some tea on my trip to London and my friend I was…read moretraveling with suggested this place. I was immediately struck by the bold floral and pink decor from the outside. They have an all day menu as well as an afternoon tea. If you want any of afternoon teas you have to make a reservation in advance. Other than you can do a walk up. We went during the week but I can imagine you might have to wait during extra busy times. I loved how it was located on a quiet side street away from the bustle of the main roads. It added to the ambience and felt like you were in a neighborhood cafe. They also have a take away counter of the cakes and cupcakes inside as well. Something to note if you are sitting in the front part you will have people coming in and out. There's seating both inside and outside. We were seated inside and ordered from the all day menu. I did start with a pot of Vanilla Rooibos. This was right up my alley with flavor blend and not too caffeinated. I also ordered the eggs Benedict and the slice of the Carrot and Hazelnut Lemon Loaf. The standout was the Loaf cake. It wasn't overally sweet and I love a carrot cake. The lemon icing was just sweet enough to add to the cake part. It was reasonably priced and fairly fast to get a seat and order. Everyone was so friendly and it was so relaxing to enjoy on our busy day. If I'm in town again, I will come back!

Wow! I thought this place would be just super pretty and aesthetic for photos but my kids LOVED the…read moretea here too. The decor speaks for itself and the staff were so friendly. The tea was very traditional with yummy scones and lots of croissant sandwiches which we adored. They also had hot chocolate and smoothies for kiddos who don't drink tea. Five stars all around, I highly recommend the morning tea here!

Classic French sandwich place and I can't believe there isn't a crowd. We went back to try the…read morepastry and that was equally as good.

Paul Rhodes is located close to Kensington Palace. We took a short coffee break here right after…read moreour walk at the Kensington Garden. I like this place because of their variety of pastries and they are all fairly priced. Anything from salty to sweet is available. They have all the standard espresso drinks and complimentary still water. I order the sausage roll along with a large cup of latte. Everything can be reheated in the oven if desired. Within 5 minutes my order was delivered. The latte art was poorly constructed but that wasn't a big deal for me. I'll take a good tasting cup of latte over a bad cup with a beautifully etched leaf on it any day of the week. Free wifi is another plus especially for a tourist without a international SIM card. Get yourself a pastry or coffee and Facebook all you want.