One of the best places in Hampstead to go for tea and cake… scratch that, one of the best places in LONDON, is Louis Patisserie. This Hungarian tea shop has been trading since 1963, and I would hazard a guess that the decor has not been updated since then.
The front shop is filled with cakes and pastries, and behind that is the dimly lit, wood panelled tea room. Often it is extremely crowded (last time we went it was filled with hungry Japanese students), but at other times the place is almost deserted, except for perhaps a single table of aged Hungarian gentlemen arguing over the papers. The place has an air of faded grandeur and is entirely unpretentious – underneath the railway-carriage-like panelling and 50s flower prints sit formica tables and vinyl banquette seating which has cracked and been niftily patched up with packing tape.
There are no menus. As you sit down and order tea, you will be asked if you would like cake. Say yes. The waitress will bring over a silver tray creaking with the weight of cakes decorated with fruit, cream, choclate curls, nuts and marzipan. Your difficult job will be to choose only one of these.
The tea comes out in a silver tea pot, with a separate pot of hot water for top-ups. The sugar is in lumps, the cups are in flowery bone china, the cake is eaten with a silver cake fork. And the cakes are truly astonishing. I would go into more detail, but don’t think I could do justice to them; anyone who knows me knows that I love to talk about food, so this is a compliment of the highest order.
Run, don’t walk (you will need to work off the cream).
Louis Patisserie
32 Heath Street, Hampstead
London NW3 6TE
020 7435 9908
1960s polka dot mod dress by Berketex
1970s green and red tartan knit jumper dress
1960s black and white check blanket dress
1970s floral print hippy smock dress by Emanuelle
>Oh that looks heavenly … I may have to try it next time I am thin… I mean in London xx
>Oh SWOON! :)
>YUM. That looks amazing!
>Why would anyone ever say no if asked "would you like cake?" Well, I would because all the butter and milk and cream and chocolate would make me violently ill. Might just be worth it though – they look unbelievably good.
>I'm a bit of a freak as I'm not very keen on cakes but I'd definately pop in for a cuppa. You look very refined with your dainty cup. xxx
>oh good gosh I definitely have to visit this place :)
>Ohhhhhh my god. Ok, next time I visit, YOU are taking me here. Got that? Ok good.
>I want to be there!
xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com
>Wow. I HAVE to go there.
(actually, it reminds me of a cake shop in Budapest,appropriately – the only bright spot in that miserable city)
>that looks delish!! heavenly!
>I have just drooled on to my dress and looked forlornly at my fat and taste free yogurt. It tells me its just like a cheesecake – but I know its lying. *sigh*
>What a wonderful tip! Thank you SO much :) It looked absolutely druuldrippingly good! Have a nice day :)
>That is one hefty choice!! Looks great xx
>That is EXACTLY the sort of place I want to visit when I make my trip across the pond. Brilliant.
>Mmm! I love your Hampstead-related posts – makes me feel wistful and nostalgic… (thanks for your get well message) x
>Your pics are so much better than mine! And I didn't get that laden tray! OMG. That picture is too much for me to handle! :) x
>Thanks possums, it is lovely.
Wildernesschic – hahahaha! It is certainly off the scale in calories!
Shauna – I know! You should get Rhi to take you next time you are down in London
Alex – oh no, lactose intolerant? The tea by itself is still very nice, especially in the setting
Vix – aha! So that is how you keep your lovely figure
Winnie – Yes! We can have a bloggers meet-up there!
Courtney – next time you are over eh ;)
Otherworldyone – you should get Baglady to take you when you are over. Let me know if you need company, always willing to give a guided tour to the cakes!
Landgirl – I know, I know. I stopped eating fat free yoghurt a long time ago. I figured with all the sugar they put back into it, I may as well just be eating the fat.
Caroline – Ah yes, those in the know wait for the tray ;) Mind you, we didn't end up with an over-sugared bakewell either, the scandal!
>Suddenly, I want to visit this place.