Soft, creamy, with a crunchy base – we’d argue that a cheesecake can solve any problem no matter how great. Although New Yorkers have taken most of the credit, cheesecakes are actually one of the oldest desserts around – records suggest that even the Greeks and Romans enjoyed a slice. So if it’s good enough for them… here’s our rundown of ten spots to find the best cheesecake in London:
1. Whipped, Brixton
Frozen, chilled, baked… Everything on the menu at the Brixton Village-based Whipped has cheesecake in it in some form or another. And what cheesecake it is we have to say. Coming from a Michelin-star background, owner Alice Churchill certainly has the means to make some mean cheesecakes – she has over 14 years’ worth of high-end patisserie experience after all – but they really take the biscuit here (sorry).
All of the cheesecakes on offer here are pretty damn delectable – blueberry crumble and red velvet we’re looking at you. But the real star of the show here is the peanut butter, chocolate mousse and chocolate cookie dough. What more could you want from a cheesecake, hey?!
You’ll find Whipped at 65 Brixton Village, London, SW9 8PS. Nearest station is Brixton.
2. Jack and Beyond, Fulham
Next on this sumptuous list of the best cheesecakes in London is somewhere where you can get bottomless cheesecake. No seriously, you didn’t read that wrong. Bottomless cheesecake! Fulham’s Jack and Beyond is a cute little neighbourhood cafe-come-coffee-shop that combines years’ worth of experience within the cake-making business with a passion for homemade goodies.
Their cheesecakes are, quite frankly, out of this world, with flavours including lemon drizzle and blueberry, oreo cookie, peanut butter and red velvet. But their bottomless option includes a melt-in-the-mouth crumble cheesecake – a creamy cheesecake on a biscuit base, topped with homemade crumble and seasonal fruit – along with some free-flowing bubbles too.
If this floats your boat, you can grab your tickets here.They also have a dog-friendly afternoon tea – is there anything this place doesn’t do?!
You’ll find Jack and Beyond at 606 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5RP. Nearest stations are Putney Bridge and West Brompton.
3. WA Cafe, Covent Garden and Ealing
A small, independent spot with two branches in both Covent Garden and Ealing, WA Cafe is all about precision and damn fine pastries, breads and cheesecakes. Their highly-skilled team of Japanese bakers and patissiers at this Japanese cafe bake a whole host of fresh goodies on a daily basis, and that includes cheesecakes.
The souffle cheese – a moist and incredibly smooth cheesecake finished with an apricot glaze – is always a good bet, but it’s their white sesame cheese which really is the jewel in this bakery’s crown. A white sesame cream cheesecake served on a black sesame biscuit base and decorated with whipped cream and white chocolate. Sign. Us. Up.
You’ll find WA Cafe at 5 New Row, London, WC2N 4LH and 32 Haven Green, London, W5 2NX. Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Ealing Broadway.
4. Honey & Smoke, Great Portland Street
This cute Middle Eastern spot is based up in Bloomsbury, and it’s the perfect spot to go after a spell in the British Museum. While all the food whipped up at Honey & Smoke is bloomin’ delicious, it’s the cheesecake that’s the real star of the show.
Incorporating a creamy feta filling with Greek thyme honey, almonds and blueberries – all atop a bed of kadaif pastry – it’s pretty much a taste sensation and well worth making your way to this pocket of London for. Trust us.
You’ll find Honey & Smoke at 54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3LW. Nearest station is Russell Square.
5. The Hummingbird Bakery, Various Locations
This famous American bakery first opened its doors in Notting Hill back in 2004, and it has gone from strength to strength ever since. The cupcakes, brownies and layer cakes are all bloody scrumptious, but it’s the cheesecakes where the Hummingbird Bakery really comes into its own.
A front runner for being the best cheesecake in London, the cakes here really have to be seen to be believed. They’ve got a killer red velvet cheesecake and a snickers variety too, but this being an American bakery, you’ve really got to go for the classic New York cheesecake. A creamy baked cheesecake filling topped with tangy raspberry coulis, served over a smooth biscuit base. Need we say more?
You’ll find The Hummingbird Bakery at various locations in London. You can find out more here.
6. Pleesecakes, Selfridges and Online
Painter-decorators turned cheesecake masters Joe Moruzzi and Brendon Parry have been making their inventive cheesecakes since January 2017, when they founded Pleesecakes. And thank goodness they did, as the cheesecakes and frozen cheesecakes you can get from here really are something to behold.
There’s everything here from chocolate orange to salted caramel and lemon and raspberry, but if you’re gonna go for one, then we’d suggest going for the aptly-named ‘fully loaded’. The one that started it all, it’s a magical concoction of double chocolate digestive base and salted caramel cheesecake topped off with a milk chocolate ganache and all the chocolate bars you can imagine. If that doesn’t sell you, then we don’t know what will.
You’ll find Pleesecakes online and at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB. Nearest station is Bond Street.
7. Aux Pains de Papy, King’s Cross St. Pancras
As the name would suggest, this is a rustic French bakery which ‘offers traditional hand-made goods in a unique family-boutique-style ambiance’. All the stuff here is baked and prepared using the most traditional methods, and as you’d expect from a French bakery, it’s all bloody delicious. The cheesecake though is another level.
A delicious slow-baked vanilla cheesecake swirled with chocolate, it’s the kind of dessert that would make anyone swoon. You’re also just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Eurostar, so you may just be tempted to hot foot it to France after a spell in Aux Pains de Papy!
You’ll find Aux Pains de Papy at 279 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8QF. Nearest station is King’s Cross St. Pancras.
8. Rinkoff Bakery, Stepney Green and Whitechapel
A family-run spot, Rinkoff Bakery was established back in 1911 by Hyman Rinkoff, who came to London from Kiev with a passion for baking. Now, with over a century in perfecting recipes, they’ve become one of the most beloved bakeries in the whole of London.
They’re famous for their challah breads, crodoughs and Danish pastries, but their cheesecakes aren’t to be sniffed at either. Their squared-shaped plain one is a creamy delight, but for something a bit different, go for the heimasha variety which has sultanas enveloped within it. They also do cheesecake delivery here too.
You’ll find Rinkoff Bakery at 79 Vallance Road, London, E1 5BS and at 222-226 Jubilee Street, Stepney Green, London, E1 3BS. Nearest stations are Bethnal Green and Stepney Green.
9. L’ETO, Various Locations
A business which has provided cakes and desserts for Gucci, Dior and Chanel – you know that what they’ve got on offer here is gonna be good. And boy is it. L’ETO do a pretty great brekkie along with some other goodies, but while you’re here, you’ve got to go for a cheesecake.
They’ve got six different varieties and all of them are pretty out of this world. If you’re looking for something classic, go for the blueberry vanilla, chocolate or strawberry – for something more adventurous, try the pastiera Italian made with creamy ricotta cheese. They also serve Bailey’s cheesecake and white chocolate cheesecake here too.
The jewel in this chic spot’s crown though may just be the San Sebastian – a light-as-a-feather, creamy vanilla flavour Basque cheesecake covered in juicy raspberries.
You’ll find L’ETO at various locations in London. You can find out more here.
10. Bar Italia, Soho
Rounding off this list of the best cheesecake in London is the celebrated Italian cafe Bar Italia – a tiny and lively spot right in the heart of Soho which has been attracting customers for coffee and cheesecake since 1949.
It’s incredibly popular and is open until 5am – yep, really – so this is the place to come if you’re looking to find a slice of cheesecake in the wee hours post-night out at Heaven, neighbouring Ronnie Scott’s or another of the city’s epic nightclubs.
You’ll find Bar Italia at 22 Frith Street, London, W1D 4RF. Nearest station is Leicester Square.
So there you have it – a roundup of some of the best places to find cheesecake in London. So loosen that waistband, get your forks at the ready and we’ll see you there!