[London] It was a slice of the Cinnamon Social (£3.00) that made me fall in love with Ole and Steen.
Due to the convenience of its location, I would occasionally pop-up for a cuppa, cake or soup, but it was until tried the unassuming-looking pastry that made me go “WOW”.
With 8 sites across London, Ole and Steen is a revered bakery and patisserie that celebrates the best of Denmark.
Serving breads and pastries made by hand for over 20 years, Ole and Steen launched its first store outside Denmark the St. James’s Market in Christmas 2016.
Ole and Steen is founded by Ole Kristoffersen and Steen Skallebaek, two Danish bakery-owners who joined forces in 2008.
Both had the same vision to create something really special – the finest breads and pastries possible, baked fresh every day by hand in order to keep customers coming.
Today, the duo still does things the old way, using time-honed recipes handed down from generations. Their team of expert bakers work all day and night to ensure you get the freshest item whatever time to arrive in their store.
The flagship store is open from early morning to late at night, constantly bustling with happy customers who want a Danish breakfast to start their day.
Ole and Steen has vast amounts of double height open glass in its exterior allowing passers-by a no-restriction view of the inside.
Inside, the high ceilings and leather seating all add to the pleasant ambiance, but perhaps the best décor of all is the well-stocked bread and pastry display.
They offer an all-day dining menu, with everything from hand-made bread, premium soups & salads, artisan sandwich baguettes, cakes and pastries to single-estate coffee, tea, and cold-pressed juices.
For the buns, choose from classic ones like Chocolate Bun, Carrot Bun, Raisin Bun, Tea Bun or the more unique Chocolate Rye and Kloben Bun.
The Chocolate Rye (£1.50) is made with wholemeal rye and dark chocolate, then rolled with almonds and hazelnuts. Kloben Bun (£1.90) is a rustic looking soft bun with cardamom, giving the bun a hint of spice.
Or you can try their specialty rolls like the Danish Roll with Butter and Cheese (£2.80), available either in Salt & Pepper, Skagen or Olander Roll.
Choosing a pastry is not easy as your options are seemingly endless with different variants of croissants, slices, rolls and swirls.
Start with their Chocolate Swirl (£3) with chocolate, marzipan and chocolate icing; or Copenhagener (£3), a Danish pastry with marzipan paste and light poppy seeds. Both are great for the morning with a coffee or tea.
If you have space for only one, get The Cinnamon Social Slice (£3.00) with cinnamon and melt-in-your-mouth vanilla custard, recommended for pairing with Ole & Steen’s Kontra Coffee.
I mean, I am typically just OKAY with most cinnamon buns – they don’t thrill me as much as cakes. BUT that moist texture and smoothly-soft fillings. This was just magic.
Ole and Steen (London)
56 Haymarket St. St. James’s, London SW1Y 4RN, UK
+44 20 3828 8242
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 10pm (Mon – Thurs), 7:30am – 10:30pm (Fri), 8am – 10:30pm (Sat), 8am -10pm (Sun)
Google Maps – Ole and Steen (London)
Other branches at Richmond, Canary Wharf, Bedford Avenue, Victoria, Wigmore Street, Westfield, High Street Kensington, Oxford, Charing Cross and Eccleston Yards
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