Le Pain Quotidien - South Kensington

In the eyes of many it has taken too long for this Belgian bakery-patisserie-café concept to reach Britain, but Le Pain Quotidien is here now and drawing the crowds to its thirteen locations in London. The common thread running through all outlets is the communal style seating where diners can enjoy a breakfast platter, say a wide variety of breads, croissants, yogurt and coffee.

For the rest of the day think tartines, soups, salads, baguettes, fruit tarts and a selection of chocolate wickedness. The bakery also serves naturally leavened sourdough breads, patisserie and croissants and all around is the aroma of freshly baked bread blended with the coffee. In the evening the whole place morphs into romantic dinner setting with candle lights and gleaming cutlery, and the menu choices are substantial, from grilled chorizo and lemon and hot Lyonnaise salad of confit duck to granola 'parfait' with yoghurt and fruits.