It was one of those lovely sunny Sundays in London, so we decided to head to Pophams Bakery at London Fields for a bite to eat. When we arrived, a long queue was already stretching out the door, so I joined it while my partner found a spot outside with our little dog. As I finally made it inside, I spotted a lunch menu on the tables and quickly messaged him to say, get inside; we’re staying for lunch! What started as a quick trip for pastries turned into a lovely, light lunch, finished with one of Pophams’ beautiful baked goods. Afterwards, we wandered across the road for a browse around their super cute homeware shop, and I left with that very satisfied Sunday glow. If you’re looking for the best bakeries in London or lovely places to eat near London Fields, Pophams is one to pop into.
“Pop into Pophams, London Fields, for deliciously pleasing pastries and browse their adorable homeware store next door and you’ll enjoy your day,” Homegirl London.
Pophams Bakery and Lunch Menu
Most people seem to be queuing for the pastries, and I really don’t blame them because believe me when I say they are divine. The counter showcases all the favourites you’d hope to find, including buttery croissants, pain au chocolat and cardamom buns, alongside weekend specials such as almond croissants and peanut frangipane pain au chocolat. The coffee was excellent too, just what you want alongside something sweet and flaky from the pastry counter, and another very good reason to linger for a while. Keep an eye out for their seasonal fruit special too, which we shared and loved.
If you’re more of a savoury person, the Marmite, Schlossberger cheese and spring onion pastry sounds very tempting. There’s also yoghurt with seasonal fruit and granola if you’re feeling virtuous, although resisting the pastry counter might be difficult. Pastries cost around £3.50 to £6.50, while the yoghurt bowls are £7.50 to £8.50, with extra toppings available.
As I mentioned, we came for a pastry but ended up trying a few things from the lunch menu, which is served daily from 11.30 am. The toasties immediately caught my eye, although I couldn’t decide between the pea and braised lettuce or vegan cauliflower cheese. With the queue steadily growing behind me and the pressure mounting, I went for the former and wasn’t disappointed; it was gooey and everything you could wish for in a toastie! They also have ham, cheese, and tropical chutney for meat-eaters. The rolls sounded amazing too, with a choice of ham with mustard mayo, pickled fennel and apple, or cucumber with herbed cream cheese and lemon. Yummy. Toasties cost £9 to £10.50, while the rolls are £8.50 to £10.50.
We also shared the panzanella salad with heirloom tomatoes, Old Bay dressing, Kalamata olives, basil and pumpkin seed pesto, which was so tasty I couldn’t get enough of it. It was exactly the sort of fresh, summery dish I wanted on such a warm day.
For that reason, we passed on the roasted tomato and fennel soup with pumpkin seed basil pesto and sourdough, although it sounded delicious. There’s also likely to be a pasta dish on the menu, such as rigatoni with wild garlic, walnut and chilli pesto, fine beans and Parmigiano Reggiano. The salad was £9, soup £7.50, and pasta £9.50, all of which felt pretty reasonable considering the quality.
Helpful Information About Pophams Bakery and Homeware Shop
This Pophams Bakery is at 197 Richmond Road, London E8 3NJ, a short walk from London Fields station. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 7.30 am to 4 pm, Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, 8.30 am to 4 pm. Pophams also has bakeries on Prebend Street in Islington and Lauriston Road in Victoria Park. For more information, check out the Pophams Bakery website.
And if you have time, don’t just eat and run. Pophams Home is just across the road and is such a lovely little addition to a visit. The shop is filled with beautiful pieces from independent makers, from hand-thrown ceramics to textiles and wooden objects, all with that slightly imperfect, made-by-hand quality that makes you want to pick everything up for a closer look.
They focus on quality, natural materials, and pieces that are beautiful but still made to be used and enjoyed every day. They also host various workshops, so it’s worth seeing what’s on when you visit. Between the pastries, excellent coffee, leisurely lunch and a little homeware browsing afterwards, Pophams made for a pretty perfect Sunday in London.
If you want to explore the area, you may find this article of interest:
Ten Things To Do Near London Fields Hackney
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about coffee shops or eateries where I had a good experience. I recommend you do further research, as standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please verify that the establishment is still in business and check its opening times before visiting.