Insider's Pick
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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
e5 Bake House
★ 5.0(1 review)Café
rusticartisanlocal
About the Vibe
Tucked away in a Hackney railway arch, e5 Bakehouse is the kind of place where locals queue for sourdough that’s actually worth the wait. Ben’s team has been perfecting their craft since 2010, using a clay oven and locally sourced grains to make bread that’s crusty, tangy, and deeply satisfying. The space feels like a proper bakery—no frills, just the smell of baking dough and the sound of a working oven.
Known For
- •sourdough bread
- •clay oven baking
- •local grain sourcing
- •wholesale to top chefs
Best For
morning bread runcoffee and pastrygift vouchers
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 12, 2026
Hackney’s sourdough benchmark
This is the real deal for sourdough lovers in East London. I’ve been coming here since they started in that first railway arch, and the quality has only gotten better. Their country loaf is a masterpiece—thick crust, open crumb, and that deep, complex flavor that only comes from long fermentation. Don’t skip the flatbread pizza either; it’s simple but executed perfectly.
The vibe is unpretentious and community-focused. You’ll see regulars grabbing their daily loaf, and the staff actually know their bread inside out. It’s not a place for Instagram poses, but if you want to taste what artisan baking should be, this is it. They also do classes if you want to learn the craft yourself.