Best desserts in London: 31 spots serving the sweetest treats

In our fair city, you'll find pretty much every cuisine, style and budget is catered for, so whether you are looking to chow down on some noodles or tuck into a mighty steak complete with triple-cooked chips and lashings of béarnaise sauce, London has you covered. In the last few years though, a new phenomenon has gripped London’s streets – the population's infatuation with weird and wonderful desserts - and there's no denying that best desserts in London are a thing of beauty.

While we may have just introduced the concept in a rather dramatic fashion, we are actually pretty excited about the prominence of dessert parlours in the city. When we go out to eat, we pretty much see our starters and main courses as a mere preamble to the untold glories of dessert. We would go as far as to say that dessert is the ultimate course in any meal, and that anyone who argues differently is simply wrong – yes, this is a hill we are willing to die on.

Dessert bars are not just pleasing to the taste buds though, as many of them feature picture-perfect serves of loaded ice cream sundaes and over-the-top freakshakes, while fun and quirky interiors are just a bonus. If you want to stick to regular restaurants though, there are tons in town that boast a fab pudding menu, as well as some impressive vegan desserts in London.

If you feel as strongly about the sweet stuff as we do, you probably spend a good amount of time scrolling through Instagram and searching online for the best desserts London has to offer. We have got you covered, with our hand-picked selection of the most incredible pudding spots. Whether you are on the hunt for a dedicated dessert bar, or simply just a restaurant with a cracking selection of puddings, our pick of the sweetest treats you can find in London should have something that tickles your fancy.

The best dessert bars in London

While restaurants with great dessert menus are all well and good, a menu dedicated entirely to sweet stuff is even better. Below, you’ll find our pick of the best dessert bars in London.

Roll Boys, Shoreditch

What: The humble cinnamon roll is a classic, but why stop there? Currently residing at My Favourite Sandwich, every Saturday and Sunday, Roll Boys turn out a range of cinnamon rolls riffing on flavours like Kinder Bueno and caramel apple crumble. But, it’s the ‘Cookie Butter’ roll that we keep coming back for, thanks to its triple Biscoff design: sauce, crumb, and frosting all draped over a swirly bun.
How much: From £6 to eat in, £5 to take away
Where: 141 Commercial Street, E1 6BJ
Book now: Roll Boys London

The Dreamery, Islington

What: A wine bar and ice cream joint in one? That’ll do the trick. From the team behind Goodbye Horses in De Beauvoir, The Dreamery is an ice cream shop that serves up ever-changing, freshly made ice creams by the scoop, with a menu handwritten on the wall. When we visited, we tried an unbelievable ricotta and blueberry, as we had a delicious white chocolate, matcha and poppy seed.
How much: £4 for one scoop, £6 for two, £7.50 for three
Where: 20a Halliford Street, N1 3HD
Book now: The Dreamery

Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley, Knightsbridge

What: Landing in London fresh from France, Cédric Grolet brings with him a global fanbase who eagerly follow his every invention. His British outpost is found within the luxurious confines of The Berkeley and isn’t just a spot to grab a single dessert. Instead, guests can dine on a dessert tasting menu of seven courses. The menu changes regularly but expect the most intricate patisserie work and fantastically bright flavours – the wince-inducing lemon isn’t to be missed for both its flavour and its feed-appeal on Instagram. 
How much: From £18
Where: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL
Book now: Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley

La Maritxu, Various Locations

What: London loves a viral dessert and we’re happy to jump on the hype train when they’re as good as the cheesecake at La Maritxu. This Basque cheesecake is the real deal - crusty burnt top, just set through the middle with an Insta-friendly wobble. It’s good to know you can get a good slice of cheesecake for when those sweet cravings hit. Just be aware, this is a walk-in only spot.
How much: £6 per slice
Where: 12 Connaught Street, Connaught Village, W2 2AF
Book now: La Maritxu Marylebone

Kova Patisserie, Various Locations

What: At this Japanese dessert parlour, you can indulge in mille crêpe cakes, which are made to look impossibly chic thanks to pastel hues and expert layering. Kova is famous in the London dessert scene, sandwiching thin pancakes between layers of light pastry cream, and offering them in matcha, vanilla, chocolate and Oreo flavours. Other goodies include Japanese cheesecake, brownie cheesecake, and matcha tart, which are perfect alongside a glass of bubble tea.
How much: £7.90 per slice
Where: 16 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3DL
Book now: Kova

Cakes & Bubbles, Soho

What: Cakes & Bubbles does exactly what it says on the tin, serving up an impressive selection of desserts and fizz. Sat on the ground level of Hotel Cafe Royal, this is a spot for when you’re looking to impress, with gold interiors and views over Regent Street. It’s all pretty impressive, but we’d recommend sharing The ‘Cheese Cake’, made with Baron Bigod cheese, hazelnut and white chocolate.
How much: £19
Where: 70 Regent Street, W1B 4DY
Book now: Cakes & Bubbles

Humble Crumble, Various Locations

What: Humble Crumble is the quintessentially British dessert bar you didn’t know you needed. Bringing gourmet crumble to the capital, expect favourites like apple and cinnamon crumble with hot custard, or a cool crumble with frozen custard. The team often run limited edition flavours too, and the menu changes through the seasons. No matter how you like crumble, there’s something for you here.
How much: From £7.15
Where: Borough Market Kitchens, Winchester Walk, SE1 9AG
Book now: Humble Crumble Borough Market

The best chocolate desserts in London

How can you possibly make a dessert even better, we hear you ask? Well, you add chocolate to it of course. These desserts have been dipped, drizzled and smothered in the good stuff, allowing London’s chocaholics to get their next fix.

BBR Signature Chocolate Glory at Bob Bob Ricard, Soho and City

What: Bob Bob Ricard is known for its Instagram appeal, from the famous ‘Press for Champagne’ button to its opulent interiors. This is also the case for the Chocolate Glory, which may well be one of the most filmed desserts in London. Brought to the table as a chocolate sphere, it’s doused in hot chocolate sauce to melt the sphere and reveal the rest of the dessert beneath.
How much: £16
Where: 1 Upper James Street, W1F 9DF; 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4AB
Book now: Bob Bob Ricard Soho; Bob Bob Ricard City

Chocolate Nemesis at The River Cafe, Hammersmith

What: If you were to ask most foodies what their favourite chocolate cake in London is, there’s a good chance they’d tell you it’s the Chocolate Nemesis at River Cafe. Known for being super chocolatey and light, this mousse cake is the perfect end to your waterside meal, and the new River Cafe Cafe just beside the original serves it too.
How much: £15 at The River Cafe, £10 at River Cafe Cafe
Where: Rainville Road, W6 9HA
Book now: The River Cafe; The River Cafe Cafe

Ravi’s Chocolate Cake at Gina, Chingford

What: There's something unbeatable about a proper slice of chocolate cake, and we’d argue that this one is worth the trip to Chingford. It showcases what Gina does best: no-frills cooking that’s simply delicious. This chocolate cake comes in three parts, with a moist chocolate sponge, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a heavy-handed pour of cream (exactly how it should be).
How much: Price varies
Where: 92 Station Road, E4 7BA
Book now: Gina

Tiramisu at Brutto, Farringdon

What: The tiramisu at Brutto is so good, it’ll have you going back for a second bowl before you’ve finished the first (seriously, we’ve been there). Deliciously decadent yet impossibly light, this boozy pud is a classic for a reason. It might not be super chocolatey, but it is finished with a thick layer of cocoa, so we think it counts.
How much: £9.90
Where: 35-37 Greenhill Rents, EC1M 6BN
Book now: Brutto

White Chocolate Cheesecake at Blacklock, Various Locations

What: Blacklock is known for its unpretentious style and top-quality food. While there’s no denying the various grills are pretty epic, it’s the cheesecake that has our tongues wagging. Simple yet effective, this is a white chocolate cheesecake that’s generously spooned into your bowl at the table. The best part is, the portions follow a ‘say when’ approach, and if you’re too full from dinner, then you can take leftovers home in a doggy bag.
How much: £7.75
Where: Various locations
Book now: Blacklock City; Blacklock Soho; Blacklock Shoreditch; Blacklock Canary Wharf; Blacklock Covent Garden

Mousse au Chocolat at Amélie, Belgravia

What: Chocolate mousse is having a bit of a moment in London right now, and it’s giving tiramisu a run for its money. The one at Amélie is a case in point: served tableside from a ginormous bowl, with the option to customise your plate with various toppings, there’s something so simple about eating a fluffy aerated blob of pure chocolate goodness.
How much: £12
Where: Pantechnicon, 19 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8LB
Book now: Amélie

The best classic desserts in London

They say you can’t beat a classic, and we think this is especially true when it comes to dessert. Eschew the out-there desserts that London has to offer and instead seek comfort in these tried-and-tested recipes that taste oh-so good.

Sticky Toffee Pudding at Hawksmoor, Various Locations

What: Sticky toffee pudding has got to be one of the most loved British desserts of all time. It’s incredibly indulgent with a light sponge and sweet, sticky sauce, and is best enjoyed with a cream-based accompaniment. Hawksmoor serves a fine example of the classic, alongside a big dollop of clotted cream.
How much: £10
Where: Various locations
Book now: Hawksmoor Wood Wharf; Hawksmoor Borough; Hawksmoor Guildhall; Hawksmoor Knightsbridge; Hawksmoor Seven Dials; Hawksmoor Spitalfields

Knickerbocker Glory at Dovetale, Green Park

What: Not every great dessert has to be precision patisserie - sometimes it can just be something fun, delicious and nostalgic, and it doesn’t get more nostalgic than Dovetale’s Knickerbocker Glory carts. Fill out a little checklist of ice cream flavours and toppings, and one of the carts will wheel over to construct a giant sundae before your eyes, chilling the glass with carbon dioxide before assembling the layers. Those carts cost about £27,500 each by the way, so it’d be a shame not to use them.
How much: £18
Where: 1 Hotel Mayfair, 3 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DL
Book now: Dovetale at 1 Hotel Mayfair

Eccles Cake and Lancashire cheese at St John, Various Locations

What: St John is a dining institution and has long been adored for its unfussy approach to food. Combining classic British flavours with a nose-to-tail ethos, it’s best known for putting offal back on the city's food map. But the dessert menu has also caught plenty of attention, with the Eccles cake taking top spot. Perfectly golden brown and paired with a slab of Lancashire cheese, it's a duo you need to try.
How much: £12
Where: 26 St John Street, EC1M 4AY
Book now: St. John Smithfield

Creme Caramel at Bouchon Racine, Farringdon 

What: Bouchon Racine does classic French cooking, and it does it very well. The desserts are no exception, with the créme caramel causing a bit of a stir throughout the city. Perfectly creamy, with a mesmerising wobble, it’s a fine example of how incredible this pudding can be.
How much: £6
Where: 66 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6BP
Book now: Bouchon Racine

The most Instagrammable desserts in London

If you live for the ‘gram, you probably enjoy ordering desserts that appeal to the eyes as much as they do the taste buds. Our pick of Instagrammable desserts in London are sure to rake in the likes - and they taste pretty darn good too.

LAVO at The BoTree, Marylebone

What: In suitably showstopping style, LAVO at The BoTree has unveiled a new take on its iconic 20-layer cake, this time reimagined in a vibrant matcha guise. Each slice stacks soft matcha tea sponge with bright Amalfi lemon and light, tangy crème fraîche cream, before being finished in a striking green velvet coating. Earthy, fresh and indulgent in equal measure, it’s a playful twist on one of LAVO’s most recognisable desserts. The Matcha Layer Cake takes centre stage alongside the à la carte menu, joining other crowd-pleasers like New York cheesecake, tiramisu and caprese cake, as well as the restaurant’s seafood-led antipasti and handmade pasta dishes.
How much: £20
Book now: LAVO at The BoTree

Secret Layers, Paddington

What: Serving a maximum of 40 tiramisu boxes per day, this cute and quirky dessert window has taken social media by storm. You can’t book, there are no tables, and it only operates on weekends. Instead, you preorder your tiramisu via Instagram and choose from classic, Nutella, pistachio and Biscoff flavours.
How much: From £8.50
Where: Brook Mews North, W2 3BX

Grand Gelato Raffaello at Alba, Knightsbridge

What: When it comes to desserts, it’s hard to beat a giant Ferrero Rocher, right? This Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge has pulled out all the stops with its gelato raffaello. Weighing in at a hefty 8kg, and topped with golf leaf, this dessert arrives with considerable flair, served tableside with a smothering of chocolate sauce and a sprinkle of hazelnuts. It’s a dessert lover's dream.
How much: £16 per person (minimum order for two)
Where: 70 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER
Book now: Alba

Puffy Cookies

What: Born in Paris in 2023, Puffy has finally rocked up in London, bringing its NY-style cookies to Soho. Found right next door to sister site Junk Burgers, here you’ll find freshly baked cookies, each one nice and thick and indulgently gooey in the middle. Expect a variety of fun and delicious flavours, such as double chocolate peanut butter, white chocolate matcha, and triple chocolate.
How much: £4.50 per cookie
Where: 45 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HQ
Book now: Puffy Cookies

Everything on the dessert trolley at Maison Francois, St. James's

What: Maison Francois is pure joy - just being in that spacious dining room, with the gentle hum of chatter and rattling pans around you, is a treat. Masterful cooking also contributes, but we’re mostly here for Maison’s dessert trolley, or ‘Chariot de Desserts’. It looks incredible when it arrives, with gorgeous patisserie neatly lined up under a glass case, before revealing two more drawers of colourful macarons, eclairs and more. We’ve never had a bad dessert here so prepare yourself.
How much: From £4
Where: 34 Duke Street, SW1Y 6DF
Book now: Maison Francois

Biscoff cheesecake at Sandwich Sandwich, City of London

What: If you thought maximalist, mad scientist sandwiches was all that Sandwich Sandwich do, think again - it also does an equally bonkers selection of desserts. We’re voting for the absolutely unbelievable Biscoff cheesecake here, which has a fat layer of creamy Biscoff cheesecake filling in between two biscuity crusts. There’s an excellent Oreo version also available, and London is lucky enough to also get ‘Crodoughs’ (which seem more or less like cronuts) in various flavours.
How much: £5.95 to take away, £7.15 to eat in
Where: 1 Gresham Street, EC2V 7BX
Book now: Sandwich Sandwich

The Incomparable Lemon Pie at Gloria, Shoreditch

What: Even if you’ve never eaten it before, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Gloria's lemon meringue pie on Instagram. Boasting a thin shortcrust base, lemon curd and a layer of meringue that towers so high it gives The Shard a run for its money, it’s caught the eye of snap-happy customers since the first day it landed on the menu. More than just good looks, it tastes delicious too.
How much: £8
Where: 54-56 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3QR
Book now: Gloria

The best vegan dessert options in London

To all our vegan friends (or perhaps those just looking for healthier ways to satisfy their sweet tooth), have no fear! We have delicious dessert options for you as well.

Pistachio Pandan Tres Leches at Mallow, Canary Wharf and Borough

What: Working their plant-based magic in a gorgeous dining room in Canary Wharf, the team at Mallow has come up with some seriously tasty desserts. This pandan tres leches number comes with a soaked almond and pistachio sponge, creamy pandan tres leches and a helping of pistachio creme anglaies. That said, the mille feuille with hazelnut and raspberry looks just as tempting - these guys know what to do with vegan desserts.
How much: £11
Where: 12 Park Drive, Wood Wharf, E14 9ZW; 1 Cathedral Street, SE1 9DE
Book now: Mallow Canary Wharf; Mallow Borough

Young Coconut Sorbet at Kolae, London Bridge

What: Kolae's fiery Thai curries and grilled skewers have been a smash hit in Borough Market, but the short dessert menu is just as excellent in our eyes. The sweets are deceptively simple, but exactly what you want after you've gorged yourself on rich Thai food - case in point, this cooling coconut sorbet, lifted by a slick of caramel and roasted peanuts.
How much: £6
Where: 6 Park Street, SE1 9AB
Book now: Kolae

The best of the rest in London

Some desserts just can't be pigeon-holed, but that doesn't make them any less important. Here's our pick of the best of what the rest of the city has to offer.

Pain Perdu at The Ninth, Fitzrovia

What: The pain perdu at The Ninth is the restaurant’s signature dessert, and one of the most delicious things you will ever eat. Brioche is soaked in a rich creme anglaise, baked in the oven and then blow torched with sugar to finish. Although often enjoyed for breakfast, here it has been given an extra indulgent twist for dessert, and is served simply alongside some tonka bean ice cream.
How much: £15
Where: 22 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NB
Book now: The Ninth

Fried Horlicks Ice Cream Bao at BAO, Various Locations

What: BAO has built up a cult following in London for its delicious Taiwanese buns and small plates. There's only one option on the dessert menu, and that's its Horlicks ice cream bun sandwiched between two halves of deep-fried bao. It’s one of the most unique and addictive things on this list.
How much: Usually around £6.25
Where: Various locations
Book now: BAO Borough; BAO Soho; BAO King's Cross; BAO Mary; BAO Shoreditch; BAO Battersea; BAO City

Caramelised Banana Parfait at Roe, Canary Wharf

What: Tucked away in Canary Wharf, Roe is known for its bold, sustainable cooking which focuses on nose-to-tail and root-to-stem dishes, an ethos which continues into its desserts. This caramelised banana parfait looks exactly like the fruit, and tastes like it too, with banana jam running through the centre, and a peanut ice cream to balance everything out. It’s even topped with a candied banana peel ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
How much: £15
Where: 5 Park Drive, Wood Wharf, E14 9GG
Book now: Roe

Deep-Fried Bread and Butter Pudding at Cafe Cecilia, Hackney

What: How to make bread and butter pudding even more indulgent? Deep-fry it, of course. Then sit it in a pool of cold custard, and you’ve got yourself one of London’s greatest desserts. It’s incredibly decadent and may spoil every other dessert for you going forward. Though we doubt it’ll spoil the rest of the pastries and sweet treats here.
How much: £11
Where: 32 Andrews Road, E8 4FX
Book now: Café Cecilia

Darlish Baklava Ice Cream Sandwich at Berenjak, Soho

What: Berenjak has combined two much-loved desserts to create this delicious take on an ice cream sandwich. Thick wedges of cashew baklava are sandwiched with smooth vanilla soft serve ice cream, barberry syrup, and the chopped pistachios on top make for a colourful finish. Crispy, sticky, with plenty of texture, it hits all the right notes.
How much: £8
Where: 27 Romilly Street, W1D 5AL; 1 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL
Book now: Berenjak Soho; Berenjak Borough

If you love all things sweet and sugary, check out our pick of the best afternoon teas in London. Or if you have little ones in tow, we have top afternoon teas for kids as well.