Looking for some great bread, cakes and Instagram-worthy pastries in London? Check out Toad, an independent bakery in Camberwell. This open-plan bakery is designed so that you, the customer, can see exactly what's going on - and you’ll love every minute. The menu changes frequently, so you'll always find something new and tasty to enjoy.
The bakers use seasonal and fresh ingredients wherever they can, and so keep the menu fresh and creative. But, you can be assured that you'll always find classics like cinnamon buns, sweet and savoury danishes and croissants on the menu. The coffee too is always fresh every day. Bread dough is always sourdough, long-fermented and made with UK-grown sustainably farmed grain, so you know exactly what you're consuming. It’s so good in fact, that Cafe Mondo next door sources all their break from Toad Bakery.
The team here have some serious kudos in the London bakery scene, competing with the cream of the crop to churn out buttery pastries with countless laminated layers and think up new sweet and savoury creations. It’s one of those places that seems to draw in crowds no matter what time of day, so prospective guests should anticipate lengthy queues, especially in the mornings. Despite its big name, it is a relatively small bakery with only a couple of tables outside.
The brains behind the business are Rebecca Spaven (formerly of Fortitude Bakery) and Oliver Costello (of Ottolenghi), so you can expect some pretty and tasty treats coming out the ovens. Although the bakery lineup changes frequently, Toad is known to serve up unusual pastries like a croissant with guava, raspberry and pandan blondies; seasonal fruit and almond flower cakes; giant yuzu, chocolate and almond jaffa cakes; and chocolate armadillos - croissants filled with dark chocolate cookie dough and chocolate diplomat.