Best Pastries in Little Chalfont

"Mini Éphémère, a lemon and yuzu meringue and cream version of the Merveilleux. Finding a delicious sweet treat for less than £2 anywhere in London is rare but finding something that will put your sweet tooth into a trance in South Kensington for £1.20 is some kind of miracle. At Aux Merveilleux de Fred, the mini versions of their namesake confections are so light – and inexpensive – that you can indulge without guilt."

"For the melt-in-the-mouth pastry experience only a true French chef such as Frédéric Vaucamps can achieve, book yourself in at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Famed for their brioches, meringues and truffles, which are must-buys, the whole menu is highly acclaimed. Do yourself a favour and get some takeaway buns to enjoy as you travel around the rest of the city – they are truly merveilleux."

"If you’re a big fan of croissants, then the Pasty Parlour is a must for your Little Black Book. One of London’s best bakeries, everything is baked fresh on-site daily and their pastries are said to rival the originals from across the channel. 8 Piazza Walk, London E1 8FU; thepastryparlour.co.uk"

"This dog-friendly east London café is certainly one to add to your London vegan food roster. Not only is there a full vegan English breakfast, complete with crispy hash browns, roasted plum tomatoes and grilled sourdough dripping in creamy vegan butter, they also serve seriously generous portions, leaving even the hungriest of customers full. There’s far more than fry ups on offer, though: the spicy coconut ramen is a delightful winter warmer, served with silky tofu, shiitake mushrooms and thick udon noodles deliciously slurped up when drizzled in hot chilli oil."

"Italian-originating Said is the London offshoot of Rome’s oldest chocolate shop, but the gravity of such status doesn’t stop it from getting a little silly. Hot chocolate here transcends warm beverage to full-blown dessert – rich, thick, molten chocolate is spooned into cups so generously it often overflows. Cakes can be ordered here too, with the option of adding a dutiful drenching of hot milk, dark or white chocolate sauce."

"Fashion fans should bookmark this undeniably chic patisserie pronto. Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s most established bakeries and is now owned by one of the world’s biggest fashion powerhouses, Prada. They opened a London outpost earlier this year and it’s become one of Mount Street’s most Instagrammable spots – for both it’s sweet treats and sugar almond coloured interiors."

"Philippe Conticini is a legend of pâtisserie and both of his eponymous Londoncafés are home to some of the finest gourmet pastries on this side of the channel. Paying a visit to Phillipe Conticini is like paying your respects to the butter gods. His Paris Brest is a thing of delicate, complicated beauty; his vanilla flan a reminder of what heights custard can achieve; and his pain au chocolat, a pastry so layered and flaky that it makes all pretenders seem a sham."

"Aiming for a very small environmental footprint, North London ice-cream parlour Ruby Violet make small batches of ice cream and vegan sorbets on site in their parlour in Tufnell Park. All the packaging is either recyclable or compostable and they use seasonal fresh fruit, locally sourced where possible. Flavours on offer might include Cucumber and ginger sorbet, Peach and sour cream or - their most popular one - Salted caramel with almond nut brittle."

"Address: 3 Wharf Rd, Kings Cross, London N1C 4BZ and 118 Fortess Rd, Kentish Town, London NW5 2HL. Rich and creamy, using local ingredients, organic milk and free range eggs these ice creams are not to be missed. You can also book children's parties, masterclasses and ice cream afternoon tea, and for those who want it all they offer a mystery tasting box - six small tubs with tasting notes."

"RUBY VIOLET- Shabby chic meets retro twist in this cosy north London ice-cream parlour. The pleasures of discovery lie in the detail. The unusual flavours"

"Offering the fresh, bold flavours typical of a Yotam Ottolenghi restaurant but with an unlikely marble and gold interior, Nopi in Soho is a sophisticated spot for weekend brunch, which is served until 11:30 on Saturday and Sunday. Once you’ve navigated yourself out of the restaurant’s striking mirror maze bathrooms (they’re worthy of a visit alone), tuck into dishes such as Shakshuka-braised eggs with piquante tomato sauce and smoked labneh, brown butter egg salad, and chickpea & herb pancake with rose harrisa tempeh and courgette salad. 21-22 Warwick Street, W1B, ottolenghi.co.uk"

"As a recent Desert Island Discs appearance confirmed, the Israeli-born chef is now at national treasure status in the UK, thanks to his service to making vegetables great again. Back in 2002, he made salads a thing of desire with then mostly unheard-of Middle Eastern ingredients at his small Ottolenghi deli in Notting Hill. He then went on to expand his empire with seven cookbooks and four more restaurants, with our favourite being Nopi, a grown-up brasserie in Soho."

"There are not one but two new branches from Bao, the restaurant that single-handedly got the capital hooked on buns when it first launched. First up is Cafe Bao, which threw open its doors in November last year… and then swiftly shut them. It officially opened in May and is now serving up Bao classics and some excellent new dishes – everyone’s favourite pork bao, a burger bao (a beef patty, cheese and burger sauce), Taiwanese fried chicken kiev and baked ham hock congee pie."

"Adorned with pink cherry blossom trees and funky neon lights, Bahn Bao Brothers has completely transformed the once disused railway arch that it now calls home. And luckily, the food here is just as good-looking, with a menu jam-packed full of mouth-watering Vietnamese small plates and hearty phos."

"A stylish restaurant in London's Waterloo area, Banh Bao Brothers is made up of indoor cherry blossoms and atmospheric lighting. The stuff of date night dreams, this place serves Pan-Asian tapas dishes alongside a curated selection of signature mixes."