Croissant connoisseurs, eclair enthusiasts, and – well – anybody who is as financially and emotionally invested in the capital’s pastry scene as I am; you’re going to want to hear this. Whilst it’s certainly no secret that London is a pretty great city to be in if you’re on the lookout for a scrumptious place to stuff your face with delicious baked goods, it’s always nice to have it in writing. And La Liste (a highly-prestigious global gastronomic guide) has just revealed the recipients of this year’s Pastry Awards, confirming that Londoners need not hop on the Eurostar in order to find themselves at the world’s best new pastry shop – a quick trip on the Tube will suffice.
La Liste dishes out annual accolades across 11 different pastry-related categories; shining a spotlight on the crème de la crème in the world of pastry and highlighting the talent that’s shaping the future of patisserie. A bakery found inside Piccadilly’s oh-so bougie Burlington Arcade took home the tasty title of Pastry & Bakery Opening of the Year – and that, my friends, is Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud.
Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud
You might recognise the name as Nicolas Rouzaud was formerly the in-house executive pastry chef at The Connaught. He spread his wings earlier this year, opening up his first solo spot inside Burlington Arcade. And – well… he must be doing something right, hey?
Created as a spot for visitors to escape the chaos of the capital city outside, Le Café is warm, welcoming, and utterly mouth-watering. With plenty of nods to the café culture in France; the space is filled to the brim with character and (more importantly) cake. And the menu has been carefully crafted by Nicolas Rouzaud, combines comfort, nostalgia, and indulgence.
Le Café was one of the three bakeries to have been named Pastry & Bakery Opening of the Year, sharing the podium with Maison Devoille in Dubai and Blue Box Café in Tokyo.
You can find out more about La Liste’s 2026 Pastry Awards here.
