Anyone gluten-free knows a good bakery has traditionally been hard to come by, but Londoners now look to be in luck. An upsurge of people going gluten-free, either by choice or because they are gluten-intolerant, means a whole host of bakeries have been catering to them.
But though the capital has seen plenty of gluten-free places open in recent years — meaning the layered cruffins and mounds of croissants need not be avoided — it can still be difficult to know of where to head to get your fresh supply of the finest free-wheat, free-rye goods.
If you’re in need of a coeliac steer, or simply fancy going gluten-free for a while, here are the spots to head to, to ensure you’re served up the very best.
Libby’s Always Gluten Free
Libby’s was opened during lockdown by husband and wife Simon and Jo Wolanski, along with friend Keri Moss, and has expanded ever since — and it’s just as well. It is perhaps one of the only bakeries on the gluten-free market that has managed to get its croissants and pain au chocolates just right. The bakery is prized for its savoury goods, and sweet options too. Pick up a peanut butter filled brownie shell and flapjack too, for your sugar fix.
61 Ledbury Road London W11 2AA and 41 England’s Lane, NW3 4YD, libbys.co
Dendara
This 100 per cent gluten-free bakery advocates eating for pleasure with a state of self-awareness, but it’s unlikely everyone would know it because few of the baked goods taste gluten-free. This bakery caters to all, with an array of dairy and nut-free options. The vegan, gluten-free salted Tahini brownie is arguably one of Dendara’s best items, and it meets all the free-from requirements.
43 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BA, dendara.co.uk
Vida Bakery
Nestled among Brick Lane’s finest culinary spots is Vida, the bakery home to some of the best gluten-free desserts and cupcakes in the capital. Its buttercream and light sponges are delectable — and contain none of the heaviness of a wheat-filled cake. Vida’s cake catalogue, which features various flavours from lemon curd and red velvet to Neapolitan, always causes quite the stir. Take advantage of visiting the bakery while you can, as it’s to soon move back to online-only for a while.
139 Brick Lane, E1 6SB, vidabakery.co.uk
Cream Dream
This pâtisserie was opened by a young Ukrainian refugee Yelyzaveta Tataryna only last February, who says it took a year to perfect the gluten-free bounty éclair. The scores of customers arriving for just that can surely tell. The light, creamy delicacy sits among the bakery’s long range of choux pastries, including a dark, rich snickers variation. Made fresh each morning, the pistachio tart (using pistachio flour, made in-house) is also high up on the coeliac radar, and is delightful from its crumble to cream filling.
46 Bedford Street, WC2E 9HA, cream.dream_london
Knead a Little Love
Though sister-owned Knead a Little Love is best known as a vegan joint, the bakery is sufficiently stocked with gluten-free bakes too. If you’re in the mood for a mozzarella, avocado, tomato and basil bagel, mounds of dough are moved from kitchen to counter right in time for lunch. The bakery also does gooey-centered gluten-free brownies and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.
