Coffee break: Peyton & Byrne, London
It’s very rare that I find myself walking through Covent Garden – the crowds, the noise, those very cute cobblestone streets which double as arch enemies to a lady in heels… However, a rather fortuitous stroll last year (and every week since) turned into a long morning of coffee and what can only be described as the best carrot cake in London.
What a welcome departure Peyton & Byrne’s carrot cake provides: fragrant with a subtle sweetness, moist and without those hideous clumps of walnuts carrot cake seem to be known for. The icing is light, fluffy, with a hint of sugar and one of those things you could happily, and rather dangerously, eat out of a mixing bowl for hours on end. It’s no secret that I like beautiful food but this is just perfection. The crushed pistachios and rich colours add a Middle Eastern touch to a classic British pudding. I rather fancy a slice now…
Having two branches of Peyton & Byrne within walking distance of university does not bode well for the fact that I will be wearing a bikini in the very near future, but we must pick our battles and suffice to say, my self-control level is no match for the delicious carrot cake. They also serve breakfast and lunch though I always seem to go for the same, trusty slice of deliciousness despite being surrounded by trays upon trays of tantalising options.
Avoid weekend afternoons like the plague when this tiny shop is inundated with hungry visitors. Calm weekday mornings with a café/pot of tea, a slice of cake never tasted so good.
Peyton and Byrne
44 Wellington Street
Covent Garden
WC2E 7BD
020 3422 1452
