London’s best doughnuts

We consider doughnuts to be appropriate at all times of the day, and it seems like, luckily for us, Morty & Bob’s does too! The newest outpost of these easygoing, all-day eateries can be found in Kensal Rise, and in addition to the already legendary grilled cheese sandwich and Everything Bagel (which is stuffed with smoked salmon, chive cream cheese, tomatoes, onions and capers), this place serves up freshly-baked doughy bites that can be dunked into Nutella for the sweetest and most satisfying way to round off a meal. 

A beacon within Borough Market, it’s practically impossible to walk past Bread Ahead without buying one of the sugar sprinkled creations that appear to be literally bursting with divine fillings – including velvety chocolate, tart lemon curd and creamy flavoured custards like sea salted caramel and honeycomb. There are often seasonal one-offs on offer too – a recent special combined fragrant saffron and rose – so you never quite know what to expect!

A nearby rival to Bread Ahead, the brilliant St. JOHN Restaurant group also produces its own seductively soft filled doughnuts. They’re made in the Bakery Arch on Druid Street in Bermondsey, and you can buy them straight from the source or pick one up from the Neal’s Yard Bakery or the standalone Borough Corner bakery and wine shop. If you’ve ever tried the bread, then you’ll know these guys know their dough…

This place started out as a street market stall on Leather Lane, and less than a decade later there are 16 locations in total. Crosstown creates elegant and highly ‘Grammable treats by hand, in-house, and fresh every day. We recommend seeking out one of these stores if you’re looking for a deviation from the classic fillings and flavours, because here you’ll find ingredients like Tongan vanilla bean and matcha tea. There are also dainty dough bites and vegan versions on offer, so you can enjoy them (almost) guilt free…

Just like putting a burger in a brioche bun, we believe that there should be more savoury doughnut fillings around! If you don’t believe us, then whizz up to Duck & Waffle (spectacularly located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate), and order a spicy ox cheek doughnut, which is served with with apricot jam, smoked paprika sugar, and a view of the Gherkin. There’s something about the combination of the crispy coating, the fluffy dough and the umami ox cheek that makes this combo oh-so moreish.

You’ve probably already spotted one or two of these unmistakable mint green shopfronts in the capital. Doughnut Time’s sole focus is on this heavenly snack, so you can imagine they’re pretty good at making them. There are all kinds of weird and wonderful filled, topped and ring versions to choose from, and many boast names that are as fun as their flavours and decorations – a couple of our favourites include the Claudia Sprinkleman and the Gordon Jamsey. Watch out for the innovative and topical special collections, too!

While this esteemed family-run bakery’s version of a doughnut might not be completely puritan, it definitely deserves a mention here. The crodough is a glorious marriage of a croissant and a doughnut – croissant pastry is fried doughnut-style and then enhanced with delightful fillings, from salted caramel and pistachio to classic custard. You’ll have to get there early if you want to sample this invention, as they tend to sell out well before the end of the day.