St Pauls Cathedral, Paternoster Lodge,
Paternoster Square,
London,
EC4M 7DX
0871 971 4495
The ViewLondon Review
This branch of the famous French patisserie doesn’t disappoint in terms of delicious French bread and pastries.The VenueMuch like all of Paul’s outposts in the UK, when you step into the small Paternoster Square venue you’re reminded of a quaint bakery shop somewhere in the French countryside. Although this isn’t the kind of place where you would have a three course meal, there are a few small tables, about 10 upstairs and 20 outside - perfect for lingering over a cake and coffee with a paper or novel.
The AtmosphereThis location is deep in the heart of the City, so it’s no surprise that many of the clientele are financial bigwigs popping in and out for a caffeine and sugar rush. It’s also right near St Paul’s, so you can catch plenty of delighted tourists that have stumbled in after their tour of the cathedral.
The FoodPaul supplies London with French pastries galore, from gooey chocolate cakes to sweet and sharp fruit tarts. For lunch there are wholesome sandwiches like tuna, ham and cheese, chicken and salad and salami and pickle lovingly placed between slices of their famous bread. And if you want to forgo the sandwich altogether in favour of just a simple and delicious hunk of bread, there’s no better place to get it. Although this isn’t one of the locations that has a bread oven on the premises, they still bake all their own pastries and the place smells delicious.
The DrinkAlthough the French’s love of wine is famous worldwide, at Paul you’ll just find general juices, smoothies and sodas, plus a range of coffees and their own brand of teas that have been sourced from all over the world.
The Last WordPerfect for those with a sweet tooth, Paul is a welcome face on the London bakery scene. Vive la France!