Paul

Seriously… my first purchase today in London was a ficele from Paul. Paul is my fave bakery in Paris so I was thrilled to see it so close to my apartment. Can’t wait to eat more and more bread during this trip!

Mmmm, Paul. While the treats here are as tasty as any other location, the space is a bit awkward. There’s not a clear spot to order and the queue often gets jumbled. Delicious eats and friendly staff, however!

nett, klein, übersichtlich gut zum kurzen Auftanken sehr guter Tee, nette Kleinigkeiten

My new favourite place to grab a hearty sandwich when carbs are necessary.
Their baguettes are badass, croque-​monsieur a delight — and their croissants at £1.20 are the cheapest on King’s road, and baked fresh hourly. Proper pastries, not the chewy plastic versions from Starbucks.
The thick as you like hot chocolate scares me, but it’s authentically French through and through. I like the slightly hidden seating area at the back, which like Kathy H says, is far, far away from the bustle of London and is much more serene.

Friendly, busy and well appointed, and delicious smelling — we were lured in by the fabulous scent of baked goods and delighted at the selection of pastries, sandwiches and sweet treats.
We each took a small quiche for our lunch — delicious, full of flavour and fresh — exactly what we needed!

A typical Paul branch, but a bit quieter than others, which is just as well since the seating space is also smaller than in other branches.
I have to admit that I am biased, I love Paul. I love its coffee and its sweet stuff, also their sandwiches for lunch. And they have great bread too.
This branch is a great place to have breakfast before you hit the shops in King’s Rd (better on a weekday or it can get too busy) or to meet for a coffee with a friend after work. It is quite intimate and cosy.
And remember that if you get a loyalty card and register it online, you get a free Parisian breakfast for free any day of the week until 12pm (large coffee and a croissant or pain au chocolat)

Don’t tell M but I love Paul. I know a few people think this is like a chain bakery since they’ve expanded into a few (select) countries, but whatever, their baked goods are delicious.
I usually try to stop by at this Sloane Street location because I like sitting in the café area in the back with its enormous skylight. It feels more like you’re in Paris than in London, which means they’ve achieved their goal since their roots are French. I’ve been to the Paul in Lyon and the one in Tokyo (Mitsukoshi) but have yet to try the one stateside (a few locations in Miami). So far their locations are pretty similar in design (carved wood, brick, stone) — an old-​fashioned cottage/​country feel. I’m partial to their eclairs and millefeuilles, and always grab a sandwich or too before I board my flight home (I hate plane food even if it’s free). The roasted pork (Six Céréales Porc Roti) and ham sandwich (Jambon Cru Poire) are life-​savers. Their lattes and americanos are delish — although the people behind the counters don’t always work in smooth concert with each and invariably gets an order wrong. I’m ok with that because the food is so good, and especially when I’m walking away with a few almond croissants in hand.