E5 Bakehouse — Restaurant in London

I've gone a few times now and tried a variety of dishes. There are many good bakeries in London, but this one stands out.

Food/drink: One of the best pan au chocolates I've ever had, good croissants as well, but could be a bit crispier on the outside. I tried the almond pan au chocolate and actually preferred the texture of the dough on the original. The rye cookie was delicious with a unique flavor and very soft. Their soups came with great homemade bread. The granola and yogurt tasted fine but they were frugal with their fruit, only giving a few peach slices. For that dish specifically, I'd go elsewhere. The chai latte was nothing special, a bit watery. I went a second time and asked for it stronger and it was perfect!

Staff: This can be a hit or miss. On the weekend, the ladies running the front are kind, friendly, and give you a lot of attention despite being busy. On the weekdays, some staff are a bit dismissive, not saying anything or even smiling when I thanked them for delivering my food or clearing the table. They clearly seem to enjoy working together, which is nice to see, but they are lacking hospitality. This isn't a dealbreaker for me since the food and atmosphere is good. Went back on a Wednesday with different people who were much better.

Environment: A fun, comfortable, place with a chic market feel. There is also an option to sit outside under a stylish awning surrounded by plants. I often sit inside by an outlet and do work on my laptop. Their laptop policy is a bit inconsistent and dependent on how busy they are. No laptops on the weekend (other than one designated table). On the weekdays, they only allow laptops until 12pm. I tried moving to the laptop table, but it was full, so I had to leave. But on weekdays where they're less busy (or maybe just different staff) people could stay at their tables and work.

They charge more to sit in the cafe, which isn't uncommon for London, but with the prices already steep, it's not great. It's also not entirely fair for costumers since they don't offer...

Lately, every time I come here on a weekday, I find myself having to fight with people working on laptops/digital nomads/people who’ve mistaken this place for their living room, to get a table. These people are insanely rude, take all the best tables (for ages) to stay near the sockets, and often occupy way more space than other customers. I witnessed an elderly couple looking for a table. They were so sweet, but every single good spot was taken by people glued to their laptops, completely oblivious to others. The couple ended up sitting at a small, uncomfortable table in the corner, which was clearly not ideal for them. I overheard one of the people with a laptop refuse to move, saying they needed to stay close to the socket. It was frustrating to watch because they should have had the chance to sit and enjoy their time here, just like anyone else. Go to the library or a co-working space.

I’ve been a customer of E5 Bakery for at least 10 years. I really care about this place. Hands down, it’s still the best bakery in London, and probably in Europe, in my opinion. Maybe it’s because, over the years, I’ve brought everyone who came to visit me in London here: friends, family, colleagues, even random people. Or maybe it’s because they make the best bread, pastries, and breakfast on the planet, and are always working towards becoming more sustainable while staying true to their values. Or maybe it’s because the staff is always kind and friendly, and we often have a nice...

Edit**

While I still fully believe in their ethos & like most of their products, some of the floor management and staff can be short/rude at times. I went over the weekend and had a request/feedback over the brunch I ordered. I felt like they were defensive and a bit rude to me based on this feedback. Finally, I was explained that the fridges weren’t working overnight and so bread was defective- which made sense hut wasnt made clear before I purchases. They should make that clear and reflect it in the prices…..I do also find that products are inconsistent at times. Not to say this is a terrible thing, I understand thats part of the charm of actually making things from scratch, etc. but just as an FYI that tour bread/pastries/food might taste different from one day to the next

Overall, unfortunately I think experience and quality has gone down while prices have gone up *.

Some of the best sourdough bread and pastries (croissants, black sesame, and vegan cookies are standouts) in London! They mill their own flour and most things are locally sourced and organic! Breakfast and lunch dishes are reliably tasty (FYI bfast ends at 11:30 lunch ends and 3). They also roast their own coffee beans and it’s consistently good as well :)

Appreciate their ethos of low waste!

Lovely outdoor space and nice atmosphere! Can get very busy and pricey- but a place...