The ritual of a morning trip to the bakery is something that would not feel out of place in London hundreds of years ago. It was through these practical visits for daily and weekly supplies that communities such as Notting Hill developed into the social hubs that continue today. Connections are made, relationships are fostered and with the addition of café-style seating, there is always the chance to pause, reflect and plan for the day as a whole, often with a friendly catch-up thrown in for good measure.
However, the goods and treats on offer in 2025 are an entirely different prospect from the capital of times gone by. The city is now home to a wonderful collection of culinary influences from all over the world and Notting Hill blends them all together superbly. The bakery options here are amongst the very best in London, with niches and specialities regularly being carved out through new additions.
Here is a collection of the finest bakeries in Notting Hill.
Kuro
Notting Hill Gate
Kuro brings the minimalist aesthetic and atmosphere of Japan into the heart of the West London bakery scene. Inside this wonderful Edwardian front on Notting Hill Gate, specialism and commitment to a single product line are championed to ensure the highest quality. It forms part of a trio of venues that owner and founder Julian Victoria was keen to build in tandem with nearby Kuro Coffee and Kuro Bagel, completing the set.
Amongst the pared-back décor in Kuro, it is clear that pastries themselves are the decoration. A single service counter presents everything on trays and boards, without any glass cabinets or barriers, making this a teasing sensory experience as one waits in line. Their lamination-focused pastry work of croissants, pain au chocolat and brioche-style buns is all renowned for clean layers, high lifts and glossy finishes to match the exquisite taste. A particular highlight has to be the Sakuro pastry filled with custard that was made so popular in Seoul and Tokyo over the last decade. With no options to dine in, Kuro is a great opportunity for a little bit of luxury while on the go.
Layla
Portobello Road
Layla opened in 2021 as a response to a recognised need for artisanal bakery craft in West London that was slowly returning to normality. This accounts for a general rustic charm and welcoming neighbourhood atmosphere that has made it a huge success. It also means that it is wise to plan a trip there before 11am in order to have a full selection of their incredible pastry options to choose from.
With a café and retail space on the site, this place is often full to the brim of queuing patrons keen to see what is on the menu for that day. Their seasonal and ever-changing selections are undoubtedly part of the allure, with the daily baguettes and sourdough loaves joined by a rotating cast of sweeter options. The Pistachio Pain Suisse and Banana Tahini Loaf are local favourites, with Wild Peanut Butter Cookies occasionally making an indulgent appearance too. Everything at Layla is handmade with skill and care that often has customers queuing out the door to try them.
Notting Hill Bakery
Portobello Road
There is something reassuring about the heritage of Notting Hill Bakery that sets it apart from much of the competition in the neighbourhood. This is a professional bakery that has over three decades of history, knowledge and experience supplying restaurants and retailers all over London. A rebrand in 2024 to Notting Hill Bakery allowed this excellent establishment to step out from the wholesale scene to make a real impact as a bakery presence direct to customers.
The warm woods and neutral tones of the décor are the perfect home for shelves stacked with fresh loaves that have been created to celebrate traditional methods and standards. Batch production of British tin loaves, hand-shaped sourdough and rye, multigrain and malted breads are all delivered to the shop multiple times a day from their headquarters to ensure enviable freshness. A fresh hot cross bun made with malted brioche dough from Notting Hill Bakery is a spectacular success that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else in the capital, not just this area.
Fabrique Bakery
Portobello Road
Fabrique began life in Stockholm when David & Charlotta Zetterström created a bakery brand built on the traditions of Swedish baking. This is where a stone oven is used for ingredients that have been through a process of slow fermentation with specific flavours such as cardamom pods, stone-ground flours and Ceylon cinnamon applied. Fabrique’s eventual expansion into London was the perfect fit for customers that wanted authentic Nordic bakery items in a well-crafted and fuss-free way. Their most famous of which has to be the Kanelbulle cinnamon bun, a fabulous, twisted dough knot brushed with cinnamon-sugar syrup and topped with nibbed sugar. Chewy, glossy and elegantly spiced, this has become quite the sweet star amongst the pastry aficionados of West London.
The open shelf walls stacked with huge round levain loaves that surround concrete floors present a strikingly clean and industrial ambience that lets customers know the products are the reason they are there. It is precisely this simplicity that has made Fabrique so well-received in the area. This delightful place delivers calm confidence in every visit and every item sold to the hundreds of returning customers of Notting Hill every week.
With so much footfall through so many regular visitors to the area, the bakeries in Notting Hill could be forgiven for prioritising mass production to be delivered at scale. However, as this collection demonstrates, there is a clear pride and dedication across the board here to produce world-class items that each have their own unique charm and innovative methods. Importantly, they also share a commitment to creating the finest tastes in west London for savoury somethings and sweet treats all served fresh from their ovens.
