161 Stoke Newington Church Street,
Stoke Newington,
London,
N16 0UL
(020) 7249 4927
The ViewLondon Review
This smart little bakery is very popular for both its pastries and its bread.
The Venue
The Spence Bakery’s orange exterior gives the impression that is has recently been ‘tangoed’. This fine bakery sits on the corner of Woodlea Road and Stoke Newington Church Street. It’s not particularly big but it’s just about large enough to keep the queue inside in the morning as many of the locals pick up a pastry for their commute. If there isn’t enough space for you to sit inside then, weather permitting, the small tables outside make a lovely place to sit while you drink your coffee in the mornings. The benches that run along the window are quite high up and only about a foot deep which is enough to rest your coffee and your pastry on but if you want to read a newspaper then you may struggle. So long as you haven’t turned up during one of the busy periods, however, the benches are wonderful because they face onto the street.
If you’re looking to buy a fresh loaf of bread then you’ll be drawn across the black and white chessboard-like floor to the slanted shelves that, in a way, look like a large chest of drawers that has been tilted forward forcing the drawers to slide out. There are three shelves and each has had a selection of different breads (from your standard loaf to various types of rolls) scattered onto it. Take a loaf to the counter and they’ll cut it to your specification.
The Atmosphere
The great thing about this bakery is that if you look behind the shelves holding the bread you’ll get a glimpse of the bread-making process going on in the kitchen. It’s a very pleasant atmosphere and the fact that the food looks so good means you’ll spend your time in the queue either salivating or watching the bread being made.
The Food
Obviously, the fresh loaves of bread are great for the locals, especially if you live on Woodlea Road. Where else would you go? The pastries are freshly-made as well and taste great. The pain au raisins in particular are scrumptious with their juicy raisins and sweet creamy centre.
The counter itself has a selection of pastries for you to choose from including plain croissants, almond croissants and pain au raisins. If you fancy a slice of cake there are options for you too including carrot and apple.
The Drink
The open refrigerator standing next to the counter offers a range of bottled juices including lemon and pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry, mango and passion fruit and pure apple. Those in need of caffeine to stimulate the mind in the morning will also be pleased to hear that coffee and tea are available as well.
The Last Word
Popular with some of the more trendy Stokey folk, The Spence Bakery is a great pit stop for those on their way into work in the mornings and a great place to buy a decent freshly made loaf of bread.
The Spence Bakery has been reviewed by 1 users