Maison Bertaux

It was founded on Greek Street in 1871 by a Frenchman named Bertaux, exiled in London after the Paris Commune, and is considered the city's oldest patisserie. Since the late 1980s it has been run by Michele Wade and her sister, who started working here when young.

The shop is tiny and a little chaotic, with blue awnings, crammed tables and a small upstairs room. The counter holds croissants, éclairs, fruit tarts and cream cakes, made fresh every day. Sometimes the upstairs room turns into a tiny theatre.