Drizzle Rascal: London’s Best Lemon CakesBy Alicia Grimshaw
Give us a cup of tea and a slice of cake and we’re happy. It’s time to celebrate a classic – the lemon cake. We’ve eaten our way around the city to bring you the best lemon cakes London has to offer. Someone put the kettle on:
What: Lemon drizzle loaf
Why: For al fresco lemon drizzle in London, head to this market stall. Sebastian Vince is the mastermind behind Breadstall having established the market stand back in 1997. This 15 metre-long bespoke bakery has a cult following all ready to get their hands on their freshly baked pizza squares, Nutella-filled doughnuts and sandwiches. Come for savoury delicacies and sweet delights – anywhere that sells sweet potato tortillas and brownies gets a yes in our book.
Where: 60 Northcote Rd, SW11 1PA.
What: Lemon drizzle cake
Why: For anyone who complains that tea always tastes better at home (myself included), Yumchaa is thee place to go for a cracking brew and we’re not just talking about the brekkie variety. They sell a range of white, green and black tea along with some killer cake slices. Nothing quite beats a good cuppa and a well made cake. Dig into brownies, carrot cake, muffins and vast selection of other tasty treats. Yumchaa is an ideal spot for a lazy afternoon – while you’re there order one of their ice teas. Perfection.
Where: Locations here
Photo Credit: Instagram
3. Fleet River Bakery, Holborn
What: Lemon layer cake
Why: Independent coffee shop Fleet River Bakery is a small quaint cafe found behind Holborn Station, away from the hordes of people. Fleet Street Bakery focuses their attention on dishing up traditional cafe nosh; simple yet delicious breakfast dishes, a daily lunch menu and more baked goods than you can shake a stick at. Expect a counter top that could collapse under the sheer weight of cakes, their selection puts supermarket bakeries to shame. To shame, people.
Where: 71 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JF
What: Mini lemon loaf
Why: Starting life as a stall at Broadway Market, Violet Cakes opened in 2010 by Claire Ptak. With 4 cookbooks under her belt, Ptak knows what how to create great tasting bakes – using only organic flour, sugar, milk and eggs. We’ve got a lot of time for Violet Cakes, this cute cafe sells a range of well-made cupcakes and other sweet delights. The lime, coconut, carrot cake with mascarpone cream is an absolute show stopper, along with the equally delicious chocolate and salted caramel cupcakes.
Where: 47 Wilton Way, London, E8 3ED
5. Brickwood, Balham and Clapham
What: Lemon and pistachio cake
Why: Oh Brickwood, how we love your exposed brick walls and rustic wooden tables – this is a coffee shop done very, very well. Pair good coffee with heavenly brunch dishes and you’ve got yourself a winning formula. Like every breakfast menu they offer the classic granola, but the chaps at Brickwood also bake a gluten and dairy-free orange and almond cake, perfect to munch on the morning commute. Their grilled banana and walnut bread with espresso butter is pretty tasty too. They regularly switch up their cake cabinet, with all cakes baked fresh every morning by a team of in-house bakers.
Where: 16, Clapham Common South Side, Lambeth, SW4 7AB and 11 Hildreth Street, Balham, SW12 9RQ.
6. Brett and Bailey, Various Markets
What: Citrus chiffon cake
Why: The chaps behind Brett & Bailey juggle full time jobs in the week and come the weekend they turn into baking extraordinaires. They’re a regular fixture at Crystal Palace Market and thanks to the popularity of their beloved cakes you can now find them in Clapham and at Westminster. For a good slab of cake, their apple and salted caramel cake takes some beating. If you’re after a chocolate fix snap up their brownies, chocolate Guiness cake or their impressive mocha cheesecake. You can’t walk past this stall without wanting to buy something.
Where: Locations here
What: Lemon and blueberry mini cakes
Why: The Ottolenghi empire has received critical acclaim since opening their first shop back in 2002. Now operating out of four outlets across the city, the Ottolenghi deli in Notting Hill concentrates on seasonal food, pastries and a good selection of lunchtime dishes. Their food is vibrant, comforting and uses ingredients that are simple yet daring. Mediterranean influences help them create varied dishes packed full of flavour and spices – and you can’t miss their great Shakshuka at Nopi.
Where: 63 Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2AD
8. Ruby’s of London, Greenwich Market
What: Raspberry and lemon polenta cake
Why: Who says vegans can have their cake and eat it too? At Ruby’s of London they certainly can. Ruby’s of London specialise in gluten, wheat and refined sugar-free cakes which are all naturally sweetened. Trust us, they still taste damn good. Drop by at the weekend to sample their hazelnut baked doughnuts, the dreamy raspberry and pistachio cake or their irresistible brownies. Remember to buy one of their cupcakes to take away, you’ll thank me later.
Where: Greenwich Market – Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 5.30pm
9. Primrose Bakery, Primrose Hill
What: Lemon layer cake
Why: Primrose Bakery, founded in October 2004, is an unstoppable force in the London cupcake scene. With two shops in Primrose Hill and Covent Garden, with a third opening in Kensington this September, plus four cookbooks and an App, it’s much more than a bakery. Come here for the best Red Velvet, salted caramel and classic chocolate cupcakes as well as their daily-changing specials. It’s not just cupcakes they excel at – tuck into loaves, biscuits and tray bakes.
Where: Locations here
10. Parcafe at The Dorchester, Park Lane
What: Lemon cake
Why: Parcafé is The Dorchester’s newly launched coffee shop that serve some of the best coffee around (they knock up a belter of a hazelnut latte). The baristas here really know their stuff and use Alchemy Coffee, a well-loved South London roaster who work directly with farmers in Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica. Here, the coffee is the real talking point. They’ve got a fridge stock full of salads, sandwiches and fantastic yogurt pots alongside cupcakes, cakes and all the baked goods.
Where: 53 Park Lane, London
