Pophams is a collection of artisanal bakeries and lifestyle stores in London, known for using traditional techniques and innovative flavors to create high-quality pastries and sourdough bread. It operates as a cozy cafe, offering a welcoming atmosphere across its multiple locations.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise Pophams for its delicious and comforting food, especially the pastries and sourdough. Many consider it among the best bakeries in London, noting the friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere. A common theme is that popular items sell out quickly, often by late morning, leading to queues, which is seen as a testament to its quality and popularity.
Additional Details
Pophams operates multiple locations across London, including Islington, London Fields, and Victoria Park. While they previously had a pasta restaurant at London Fields, their primary focus is now on their artisanal bakeries and cafes. They also have a 'Pophams Home' online store offering curated lifestyle items.
It is highly recommended to visit as early as possible, especially on weekends, as popular items like the bacon and maple bun and special Danish often sell out by 11 AM. Weekday lunches are also noted for their delicious soup and sourdough.
Pophams has become one of my regular coffee stops and it’s easy to see why. Tucked away on a quiet residential street, it has a lovely neighbourhood feel and is clearly a favourite with locals. Over the past year it’s become much more popular, so it’s worth expecting a queue and visiting outside peak times if you’d like to get a seat. I especially love the benches outside, which make it a great spot to sit with a coffee in both summer and winter. The menu has a good selection of classics alongside seasonal pastries, and the classic croissant is still one of my favourites. The coffee is good too, although the cups are on the smaller side. The staff is always friendly, relaxed and welcoming, and I love the informal atmosphere. A great neighbourhood bakery that I’d happily keep coming back to!
I ordered the Bacon Maple Swirl and the Blueberry Almond Custard Pastry (seasonal fruit pastry). Both were incredibly flaky, with crisp, buttery layers. I especially loved the Bacon Maple Swirl—the sweet and savoury combination worked perfectly together. It was well balanced and never felt heavy or greasy. It's honestly the best pastry I've had in London so far! I also loved that the pastries were served warm.
The Blueberry Almond Custard Pastry was also delicious, with the same flaky texture. However, it became a little too sweet after a few more bites, and I'm personally not a big fan of almond flavour.
I also ordered the iced matcha latte. While it was refreshing, I found the matcha flavour wasn't rich enough, and I would have preferred it to be a little sweeter.
The café had a very relaxing atmosphere, making it a lovely place to enjoy pastries and coffee.
5
Pophams isn’t usually open in the evening, so I made sure to go while they were doing dinner. Got there right at opening, good idea, it was quiet and I picked my own seat. It got busy really quickly after though, so definitely worth coming early.
Ordered the onion tarte tatin, confit cod, broad beans with roasted garlic fresh cheese, and a choux bun for dessert. Everything was so tasty and clearly well made. The tarte tatin stood out the most, sweet and savoury.
Staff were so kind and service was quick. Will definitely be back this summer! Thank you 🌞
5
Despite arriving quite late on a busy Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the line moved. I managed to grab a seat outside, which worked out well since the indoor space is quite small.
I ordered a flat white, a yoghurt bowl with rhubarb compote and granola, and a pastry filled with Schlossberger cheese, leeks, and marmite. The coffee arrived almost immediately - it was impressive how efficiently they handled such a large crowd, and it tasted great.
As for the food, I very much enjoyed it. The yoghurt bowl was excellent - thick, creamy yoghurt balanced nicely with the sweetness of the rhubarb and the satisfying crunch of the granola. The pastry was outstanding and easily one of the flakiest I’ve ever had. The marmite added a perfect umami depth that paired beautifully with the cheese and braised leeks.
I would definitely come back again.
5
Pophams is renowned for its laminated pastry technique. The iconic products are:
Rosemary & Sea Salt Croissant: A perfect balance between sweet and savoury. Bacon & Maple Danish: A classic for those who love bold flavours. Cheese & Marmite Swirl: For more typically British tastes.
At weekends the queues can be quite long, especially at the Islington location. I recommend going early in the morning to find the full variety of pastries available, as the most popular items tend to sell out quickly.
There are plenty of seats and tables outside (perfect for sunny days) as well as seating inside. The staff are very friendly and always helpful.
The only downside, unfortunately, is that there is no customer toilet.
In terms of quality, it comes highly recommended.
