Are you the kind of Londoner who spends their weekends and evenings queueing for the must-have cake or burger? We take a look at the places that have permanent queues outside.
Toad Bakery
Peckham - 44 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8PX
Why are people queueing? The bakery formerly known as Frog is one of London’s hottest and known for its legendary croissants and to-die-for fruit danishes. But the ongoing hype, and queues, are also driven by the personalities of the team here who are championed on social and known by name by the legions of regulars.
Pockets Falafel
London Fields - 367 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3RT
Why are they queueing? This plant-based falafel shop recently relocated from its stall at Netil Market to proper premises around the corner on Mentmore Terrace but the move hasn’t affected the queues, which are always crazy. The pitas are stone-baked and steamed before being stuffed with an array of goodies including - the best bit - a battered and fried potato.
Chatsworth Bakehouse
Crystal Palace - 120a Anerley Rd, London SE19 2AN
Why are they queueing? This teeny South London bakery may be the OG hype spot, having built up its reputation as hard-to-get-your-hands-on since the days of lockdown. Even before you get here you’ll need to be on the alert to order their weekly sandwich when slots go on offer each Monday at 12.30pm. Those sandwiches aren’t available on Saturdays when it’s a walk-up-only situation when the bakery serves (amazing) pizza by the slice.
Le Relais de Venise
Marylebone and the City
Why are they queueing? With branches all over the world, this Parisian-style steakhouse keeps things ultra simple with a set menu of green salad with walnuts, steak frites served with the famous house sauce. There’s a truncated list of desserts and that’s it. The City branch is marginally quieter on Mondays and Fridays if you want to try your luck then.
Fortitude Bakehouse
Bloomsbury - 35 Colonnade, London WC1N 1JD
Why are they queueing? There’s a lot to love at baker Dee Rettali’s Bloomsbury bakery, but having braved the weekend queues there’s definitely one thing you have to order, the beignets. They’re on sale from 11am until they sell out. Flavours change regularly but the USP here is that every bake has a sourdough base.
The Salad Project
City of London - 1 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1DW
Why are they queueing? This isn’t the first time Londoners have got the hots for something cold (remember Savage Salads?). The lunchtime queues at The Salad Project’s Bank branch are epic. You can build your own, but the curated options are also very popular. Better still, order ahead on the app to speed things up.
Alley Cats Pizza
Marylebone - 22 Paddington St, London W1U 5QY
Why are they queueing? Kudos to the marketing team behind Marylebone pizzeria Alley Cats, they’ve turned the latest opening from the team that also brought you Angus Steakhouse, into a queue-in-all-weather kind of place. It probably helps that the head chef Francesco is ex-Pizza Pilgrims and Princi, because his thin and crispy pizzas are going down a storm.
Supernova
Soho - 25 Peter Street, London W1F 0AH
Why are they queueing? Before Supernova opened its doors the only queues you’d see down Peter Street would be when Supreme had its latest drop. But now it’s this viral smash burger restaurant that’s got people waiting in line. Clever hype, with next to no information available when it opened ensured this was on everyone’s to-try list.
It’s Bagels
Primrose Hill - 65 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 8XD
Why are they queueing? Rarity definitely helps when building hype and while London has many splendid bagel shops, most of those are East End-style bagels. If you’re looking for an NYC-style bagel your options are more limited, hence the queues at this Primrose Hill bakery which have been a regular thing since their opening weekend.
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