Ohhhh la la, we were wandering along Stoke Newington Church Street, still satisfied from the…read morebreakky we have had before. Fortunately - otherwise I would have eaten all their cakes for lunch ;) Just tried one divine salted caramel cupkake and still dreaming of it! Next visit to London - for sure, I will be back before I have breakfast :p

I've walked past this shop so many times but only bought some cupcakes the other day. The staff are…read morereally friendly and pay attention to detail, not only to their cupcakes but to the customer services too. I bought a variety of cupcakes and I love their Oreo cupcakes!! Being an independent shop means that they are on the slightly pricey side, but if you have any queries they are more than happy to answer it. I haven't given it 5* (yet) because I am still yet to try the specialities (i.e gluten free etc).

I've had this place bookmarked forever (let's be real, I probably added it when the owner did the…read moreroyal wedding cake) and finally made it here in April 2024. I tried a Strawberry rhubarb cupcake, chocolate chip cookie and vanilla almond Sheet cake slice. I really liked the flavor of the frosting on the cupcake but it was a little chalky. The rhubarb but was amazing. The chocolate chip cookie was the best thing I ate - really good. The vanilla cake slice was solid. Overall, I wanted it to be better, and I'm sure it was a few years ago. But it was decent enough and outdoor seating in great weather was a vibe!

absolutely beautiful & charming! and wow, one of the best chocolate cookies i've ever had! also had…read morea wonderful avocado toast with perfectly cooked egg... one of the best things i ate in london (maybe because the chef is american? ha!)

When the birthday boy mentioned in passing that he wasn't much for desserts but did love a good Key…read morelime pie, I noted it down as any good friend, neighbour or colleague would. Then I began a search of London. Could I procure Key limes and make the pie myself? That idea quickly fell flat and that's where Hummingbird Bakery appeared. Via their website I was able to order and pay for the pie and pick it up at this, their new Angel location. The process was easy and the people working there were as sweet as their baked goods. Only problem was the pie. Nice as it was, every person who'd had proper Key lime pie in the past had the same reaction after tucking in: it lacked the punchy zest -- the mouth puckering tanginess -- they always associate with this dessert.

A very small unit, about 100m from Angel Stn. There are 5…read morebarstools to sit and eat inside. They had the usual fantastic selection of cupcakes, pies,brownies etc My favourite being the black bottom. I have heard their richmond branch does an afternoon tea, so i think i will have to give this place a go

I'm-a-gonna keep this short…read more London, Friday was the longest day of the year, but my body does not believe that we're in June. It feels like October. Enter Lily Vanilli to provide a little sugar-boosted spring...erm...summer to my step. Last Sunday there were a few flickers of sunshine. East London was a-bumpin' with sunglasses and puppies on leashes and arm-fulls of flowers. Tucked away by Columbia Rd Flower Mkt: Lily Vanilli. It was packed, but mid-late afternoon if you cross your fingers just right you can get a seat at one of their great indoor/outdoor seating options (SEE PIC ATTACHED, Y'ALL). The staff is super sweet (wordplay!), the decor is kitschy but not overdone, and the vibe is lovely...like I'd discovered a real gem all by myself. My friend had a gooey savoury sammich, we all had coffee, and a bakewell tart was spliced into parts, diplomatically. It was faboosh. It was damnably hard not to get back in queue to resist the layers of sponges and cupcakes and cookies; only the long line stopped me. I will return. Yelp note: only open on Sundays! (SADFACEEMOTICON). Also: the bakery has a book ("Sweet Tooth") which I think will make for a great gift to a lucky pal.

Years ago, when I 1st discovered Columbia road market, I stumbled across this little bakery tucked…read moreaway into a patio just behind the main road. Back then, they were big on the red velvet cake - a cake I never really got the point of until I had it here. Now, I enjoy going there for all sorts of treats. Their savoury toasts, their sausage rolls, their incredibly dense brownies, their beautiful chocolate shells & just recently great t-shirts for baking lovers. It's a really cute place and they also do all sorts of cakes by order. If you have a sweet tooth or if you like decadent toasties, stop by!

This is an awesome little cafe in the centre of the city. Firstly, it was a great cup of coffee…read more After the first sip I knew that I found a great cafe. You know that it is a good place when you need to order another cup - which I did. It is a more bitter bean, but that is what I prefer. So yes I am a fan. Didn't really eat here - however, I did pick up a little tart and it was delicious! Soft and fresh, I couldn't find anything to flaw it. So this is going to be my regular stop in the mornings while I am here in London. As this was a perfect little place. However, there isn't much seating here so not sure how busy it will be during peak time. So be prepared.

Lovely shop x cafe rolled into one! It's cute and has some seating. Good coffee. For those picky…read moreabout alt milks, last I checked they use Rude Health :)

I had shopped around for a while to find the perfect cake for my Niece's Christening. I finally…read moredecided to go with RoxyRara. The cake-maker is lovely and ordering from her was such a smooth and easy process, I very much received value for money. She completely understood what style I was looking for and tailored my cake the way I wanted it - truly the centrepiece of the table. I will continue to order from her in the future. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Fifth time visitor from the US to London and first time in the Hackney area! It feels very much…read morelike a hip/up and coming area, which celebrates inclusivity. The market itself is wonderful! Even midday on the weekend, it was much less busy than some of the more popular/tourist markets in London. The food!! So much variety with interesting local and international flavors. Really something for everyone. And the wares were actually good and shoppable. I really liked the colors and quality of the clothing, pottery, accessories etc that I was seeing. Sometimes I feel like market wares are kind of just souvenir-ish or cheaper looking, but this is stuff I would actually shop and buy because I really like it, not just for the novelty of shopping a market. The streets along the market are adorned with cute cafes and shops as well. Dog friendly, bike friendly. And a fun little canal walk nearby. In terms of getting here from Central London - I found the most convenient way to get here was via city bus, and navigating that was super easy. I just found the best bus number and route via Google Maps (though I know there's a more accurate city app of some sort), and you can tap to pay when you board using credit card, Apple Pay etc. I boarded at London Bridge so there were a ton of people, but the tip if you're at a bus stop alone is to make sure to stick an arm out to indicate to the bus driver that you want to board so they stop. Then before getting to your stop, there's a "stop" button you can push from your seat to indicate you want the bus to stop so you can get off. And then just walk off. Easy!

Personally I rate Broadway market over all the other more famous/bigger markets I've been. Why? For…read moreone simple reason, it's friendlier for a hungry person! It's got less people, more types of food, more reasonable pricing, and, actually have room for you to stand and eat! Yes it's a lot smaller but it is awesome! Must try: - tuna steak sandwich - the butter chicken brioche - ginger beer - coffee - blondie

This is a cute new little café and shop in Dalston Lane - a very welcome addition to the…read moreneighbourhood! The café is smaller than it looks from the outside - there is basically one table to sit at, but when the sun is as brilliantly shining as it is at the moment, one can enjoy food and drinks al freso at additional tables outside. The coffee I had was ok, and perhaps because we got there late on a Sunday afternoon the food selection wasn't overwhelming. (A couple of cupcakes and a sandwich). But they do sell delicious bread, cakes and cupcakes from London's best bakery (E5) and the "Happy Kitchen". That means the sweet stuff is vegan - thumbs up for that! In addition they offer a variety of health foods and ingredients (including Asian food), as well as eco toiletries, cleaning products, etc. The selection is somewhat limited compared to other, bigger stores, but if you live in the area "Healthy Stuff" definitely provides a useful resource.

I managed to smuggle my boyfriend into this cafe/shop without him seeing the name. "Healthy Stuff"…read moremight have put him off. But we were both happy when we sat down at one of the three tables. This part of Dalston Lane isn't very busy so there'll proably always be a free seat and you wouldn't be disturbed by shoppers passing by either. The blackbord above the till lists a menu of salads, toasies, fresh juices, and other wholesome treats. I loved my green salad with avocado, sprouts, and basil tofu. For a dish and a big glass of juice you'll pay about 10 pounds per person. It's unlikely that I'll find myself in that area again soon but I'd recommend a visit to anyone who happens to be around.

OH TINA! You have saved me…read more I am in the midst of moving house. This involves: no WiFi at home, and massive amounts of trawling up and down and around Dalston to source wonderful items of household joy such as toilet brushes, bins and doormats. Rest assured, i am generally not having fun. However, prompted by the same sign that Mei L. saw, I popped by for a coffee and a quick snark of their internets. I've been here for 2 hours, had three (very, very good) lattes and watched their current exhibiting artist painting his mural on the stark white interior of the cafe. It's looking good to say the least, and the outlook for the afternoon is considerably improved. The people running this little oasis are super friendly, and seem to have endless conversation, which is good in an area when anything vaguely stylish seems to be overrun by those with their finger so on the pulse that maybe their own hearts have stopped beating. Tina is peeking around the corner with a cheeky look on her face, as some Rai oozes out of the stereo. I'm eyeing up their serrano ham sandwich and most certainly will have one of their brownies. Oh, they've changed their tunes to Joni Mitchell now. Hmph. I would also play some scrabble with someone, but i'm sat next to a 5 year old with a serious addiction to hot chocolate. It might get messy. Mei - when you're next about I challenge you to a connect 4 duel! The only drawback to this ace place is that coming with laptop means that you're restricted to sitting inside, and it sure is sweaty in here... which has sadly stripped one star off my review. I still salute you though Tina.

Wonderful little coffee shop with nice people and great food. The kitchen closes at 3 pm though!…read moreThey have every kind of breakfast you could want!