Euphorium Bakery

I’ve heard so many good things about Euphorium that when I happened to walk past one the other day, I just had to go in and try something.
When I got in there, it was busy. Very busy considering it was 4:30pm on a wet Monday afternoon. But that can only be a good sign. I tried to take a look in the cases for what they had, but half of them were fogged up, which was a bit annoying… how am I supposed to order when I can’t see anything?
Eventually I saw two types of loaf cake, a banana one and a peach, pistachio and ricotta. I went for one slice of each to share with my fiancé and they were both absolutely delicious. You couldn’t really taste the pistachio but it gave the cake a slightly green tinge, the peach made it moist and the ricotta was a really nice light topping for it. Yummy. The banana loaf cake had a really strong banana taste, though the dried banana on the top nearly broke my teeth, which is why it loses one star. Can’t eat with no teeth, can I!
If you’re getting cake to take away, the boxes they put it in can be a bit fiddly to get the cake out of in one piece, be warned of that, but the taste more than makes up for the mush you’ll have on your plate. And it’s pretty reasonably priced for two slices.
I’ll definitely be back!

This chain is overpriced and the quality of bread/​criossants doesnt cut it for me! Has a factory commecial feel in produce

Came to the Euphorium bakery for a working session.
The coffee was good and my slice of carrot cake lovely, although all baked goodies looked very tempting!
The space was luminous with big tables and nice service.
I feel the internet connection could be slightly improved on however.

J’ai testé l’adresse de l’enseigne dans le quartier de Hampstead Heath et je dois dire que c’était une bonne surprise. Tout est bon les produits sont frais les salades, les chaussons aux épinards fêta, les sandwichs et les pâtisseries sont excellents. Le concept c’est une boulangerie où l’on peut manger sur place. L’accueil y est parfait avec le sourire et la bonne humeur. Les prix très raisonnables (grande salade 6£, Sandwich 4£ et pâtisserie 3£) vue sur le magnifique parc Hampstead.

Mmmmmmmm earl grey and a raisin scone with jam & cream? AND I’m hearing word that it’s a chain, which is better, because then I can find it everywhere — it’s like a London version of La Boulange, with better pastries.

Euphorium is so good they have two shops in one road! I recently came here for a coffee to perk up after a long walk and just couldn’t resist a slice of lemon cake temptingly displayed on the counter. Unfortunately the latter was a bit dry, hence the four stars. The coffee was excellent, though, as was the tomato and herb focaccia I bought to take home.
Wish we had a branch in Notting Hill as everything looked delicious and deliciously different from some of the more generic bakeries.

I have only been here once, but would definitely like to come back and sample the other selections. I definitely want to try one of the slices of pizza which looked great! I didn’t eat in, but took my items away. I was just happy to find a place that I could grab something eat late one evening, that wasn’t a fast food joint. Considering how late it was I was surprised to find my sandwich taste so fresh. I am not sure what type of bread was used on the sandwich, but it was great. I also had a banana caramel tart which was highly recommended by the staff, so I tried it, and it was very good. I also got a tea to go, and boy was it hot. It took awhile for it too cool down even after I got back to the hotel. It was a fantastic tea. It is not loose leaf, it is a bagged tea that they sell there. I can’t remember the name of the brand they sell. I wish I did, because it was REALLY good. I am definitely going to be returning to try some of their other tasty looking selections! It is also nice that the staff was friendly.

**Update After two serious disappointments recently, I had to knock off a star. Disappointment #1: baguette with strange fibrous hair-​like things popping out of both ends (what?!?), and disappointment #2: a sand-​dry brownie that obviously hadn’t been baked that day. Am definitely approaching the apprehensive phase with this one…
How can I complain about a bakery that’s across the street from my flat? Well, I can only do it a little bit, because for an all-​around bakery, this is the best I’ve found in London.
I shopped around for artisan bread in the area, and for price and quality, euphorium takes the… bread. I really wish they had a larger selection though. Maybe something like a pain de levain? something a little hearty with a crisp outside but not made with sourdough? picky, i know.
Anyway, try it out. I’ll be trying it out multiple times a week for a long time. Here are my particulars so far:
Scones — 5 stars
Bread selection — 3 stars
Paysan loaf — 4 stars
Blueberry cheesecake — 3 stars
brownie — 5 stars
ciabatta roll — 5 stars (seriously makes a heavenly panini)
Campagrain — I have found my bread! Hearty, but not in an obnoxious seedy way, flavorful, and can hold all the goodness I like to load on top of it. Perfect.
*with the addition of the ciabatta roll to the list, it just got another star from me!

This place has just the right mix of cocky attitude and assured confidence to justify the claim to the best bread in the universe. While I can’t say I’ve sampled enough to bread to judge their claim, the smell alone is enough to put it up there with the best.
The coffee as well is equally good and perhaps my favourite part is the atmosphere. It feels like a Parisian café and you can spend a couple hours there sipping a coffee without feeling rushed.
Definitely a fan, great place to wait for people, and worth another visit.

Pleasant atmosphere and good service from friendly, helpful staff in this bakery/​café on Islington’s Upper Street.
I had onion soup with a hunk of wholemeal bread for lunch which was dee-​licious. There are more tables downstairs if things get busy but amazingly, only one single loo for customers so queueing inevitable until they get that sorted.

I have come to dislike this branch of the Euphorium emporium. Why?
For one: I hate the hords of Yuppie-​Mummies that push their buggies through to the room beyond the little court-​yard and that simply forget to close the doors even in the freezing cold of winter!
Second: a couple of baristas here at this particular brand are rather snobbish and unfriendly… to the point of almost being rude.
Third: they seem to hate people who want to use their café as a mobile office; they don’t provide outlets — or — they don’t allow you to use the existing outlet. I get it, you don’t want people to occupy your tables for hours without consuming anything, but there’s ways to compromise, aren’t there? Don’t they get that us mobile workers are the future?!
However, there is still one thing about Euphorium bakeries that is worth pointing out and which is the reason why I still come here: their bread. In fact, their Scandinavian bread as well as their 100% rye bread are the best bread I’ve come across in London so far… only these days I don’t combine my visit with a cup of coffee anymore as I neither feel welcome nor comfortable here.

Was at the HSBC in Islington today – asked the banker if there was a good place around to get a nice croissant. She said go to Euphorium, but to make sure you only bring cash. Because otherwise you’ll want to buy everything you see.
I noticed the food items in the glass cases are arranged in a specific progression… the first case you see at the entrance is practical and savoury (sandwiches, pizzas, quiches) then when you get towards the cash register it is downright dirty and sinful.
They were giving out free samples of blueberry clafoutis, which I can only describe as these baked custardy fruit things. I am not going to lie. I totally snuck my little hand in the basket for an second sample.
In the end the boyfriend got a mushroom egg savoury brioche and I got an almond croissant. We ate at the park across the street and the almond croissant was one of the messiest things I’ve eaten in awhile. Powdered sugar and crumbs everywhere, and as you can imagine the pigeons were just as happy as we were.

Oh, DANIEL!
1. As I told you in my response to your e-​mail, I am not, have not ever been, and most likely will never be in any way associated with Ottolenghi: the business, the staff, anything. I am not even a regular customer. My reviews on Unilocal are entirely of my own opinion.
2. In my review of Euphorium, I also mentioned Gail’s bakery (‘every loaf is perfect’, said I), Dan Lepard and Peter Reinhard. You seem to have overlooked those.

3. Unilocal is a review site. There will be criticism. There is a difference between a critique, and a personal accusation. I’m sure Unilocal readers will see that.

These guys get five stars just for the cake they baked for the my birthday party.
The huge slab of chocolate goodness was (and this isn’t hyperbole, it’s the truth) one of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten. And I’m not much of a cake person… ok, that’s a lie, but still even after stuffing my face with cake for most of my life, this still wins the top prize.
I ate one of their mini quiches as well, which was lovely… but did I mention how nice the chocolate cake was?

Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaa… I woke up this morning spitting piss and vinegar.
Perhaps it was the cacophony of birds outside my window singing death eulogies at 4am. Or perhaps it was the rubbish-​man orchestra clambering down my street at ungodly hours. Anyway, I knew I needed an attitude adjustment: it was just after 5am and I’d hate to suffer the next 15 hours before I get another chance at a day.
Coffee. Carbs. Immediately. (What? Me? Emotional Eater?)
It didn’t start off well.
–First, they don’t open until 7:30am. I was willing to wait… I figured a «first to review» would be a nice treat to myself. (nevermind the loaf of bread I was bound to consume…)
–I popped by again an hour and a half later, and this time I wasn’t willing to wait any longer. I certainly wasn’t willing for them to clearly ignore me in front of the register. I nearly walked out, but my desire was deep.
–My coffee was only £1.90 which was grand, but giving them a £20 and then getting 18 one-​pound coins as change? NOT OK.
I walked out cursing the world, and the birds, and the rubbish men, and the… wait. what’s this? A-​friggin-​mazing latte. Smooth and strong with just the right amount of punch and without any trace of bitterness. I would have questioned if the milk was skim considering how gloriously it coated the inside of my tummy, but I watched her pour it myself!
My day has been absolutely fantastic since 7:41am. Thanks Euphorium!

I am sure this place is really good. The décor is nice, contemporary, there is ample seating, and the selection of baked goods is wonderful. So why am I not singing Euphorium Bakery’s praises. Well!!! I decided to order the ham pizza slice, warmed and to go. At £2.60 a slice it is pretty reasonable, not great but reasonable. Once the pizza announced its readiness to be devoured by me it was removed from the oven and placed in a bag. A bag? Pizza — in — a — bag?
I left the posh bakery ready to eat. Gleefully I reached into the bag to extract my handful of goodness and pulled it out. I had to watch in despair as all my topping slid off the pizza onto the pavement. ‘#@. *$$!’ Several expletives later I resigned myself to eating the warm flat bread with tomato residue and two cold chunks of onion that remained. The pizza episode obviously tainted my experience but I won’t let that cloud my judgement. I will certainly go back and stay for lunch as it does have a nice relaxed vibe. The cakes look great and rather than go for the pizza again, I will play it safe and enjoy a nice sweet pastry.

I always used to treat myself to one of their baguettes on a Saturday morning.
Although this place is expensive, this is easily one of the best bakeries in London.
I got chatting to a member of staff here, and they said that they deal with some of the finest restaurants in London, which is hard not to believe from the sheer quality of produce.
They have a beautiful garden, which is divine in the summer with a morning coffee. The staffs are really friendly, and the food is unbeatable.

Euphorium is a quaint bakery which just springs out at you after walking through Chapel Market. It’s rated one of the best bakeries in London by Time Out. Hence, I felt I could not possibly walk by it without trying something. The selection of breads is not bad, and tends towards the Mediterranean.
I only tried one item of confectionary — the chocolate tart — and man, was it delicious. It was just rich enough and had a sprinkling of cocoa powder on top, which caused me to cough once I took my first bite.
Service was good, the atmosphere was cosy and to top things off, there are samples of the different items on offer so that you can try before you buy. Prices are about what you would expect to pay in any bakery in central London.

The Euphorium Bakery is one of a growing chain of bakeries in London, and one of the nicer cafes on Upper Street. It is a slim building, with a small garden, and a sitting room beyond it.
They sell a range of cakes, pastries and savouries as detailed in the other reviews. The food is beautifully displayed, and tastes great. It is a charming place to be with friendly staff.
A nice bakery on Upper Street that is perfect for coffee and cake.

A bakery that doubles as a café and stays open really late. I love Euphorium’s bread and, even better, its all half-​price after 8pm. Many’s the night I’ve cycled home from Upper Street clutching armfuls of day-​old ciabatta!
There are also sweet pastries, such as pain au chocolat, and savouries like pies and pizza slices.

From outside it looks like a simple bakery but
at the back, there is a patio with a cosy atmosphere, comfortable sofas and a huge gold mirror when you can admire yourself and people around.
Pizzas aren’t italian but they are yummy if you like vegetarian food.
The cheesecake is really nice at £3 and you can choose among peer, lemon, strawberry or blueberry.
The most part of the staff is french so this brings authenticity to all the different breads you can buy there.