Toklas Bakery, London Travel Guide

What it is

Toklas Bakery is the bakery-café arm of the Toklas hospitality complex, operating as a standalone street-level stop at 9 Surrey Street in Temple. It is an artisan bakery rather than a full restaurant, with a practical menu built around sourdough bread, pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches, cakes, and a few savoury lunch options. The format is straightforward: order at the counter, collect your food, and either leave with it or sit briefly if space allows.The setting is central London rather than destination-dining territory. That shapes the experience. You come here for a well-made pastry and coffee before a meeting, a bread run, or a short break during a walk through the Strand, Holborn, or the riverfront streets nearby.

Atmosphere and setting

The bakery feels compact, calm, and polished, with the restrained look common to contemporary London food spaces. It sits inside a dense city block of offices, institutions, and pedestrian traffic, so the mood is urban and efficient rather than leisurely. The broader Toklas site includes restaurant and event functions, but the bakery itself is the most immediate, street-facing part of the operation.This is not a scenic café in the postcard sense. The interest comes from the contrast between the busy surrounding district and the quiet precision of the counter service. On a weekday morning, the room can feel brisk and purposeful; later in the day it becomes a low-key stop for coffee, bread, or a light lunch.

What to expect on a visit

Most visitors stay for 10 to 30 minutes. You queue, choose from the day’s baked goods, and move on. If you want a slower stop, aim for a breakfast or lunch window and allow up to an hour. The bakery is best suited to solo travellers, couples, business visitors, and food-focused city walkers who want a reliable, well-made stop without the formality of a sit-down meal.The menu is practical rather than sprawling, and the pace is turnover-driven. That makes it useful as a breakfast stop, a coffee break, or a place to pick up bread before heading elsewhere in central London. It is less suitable for a long, destination-style visit unless you are combining it with the wider Toklas restaurant.

Getting there and planning the stop

Access is strong. Temple, Covent Garden, Holborn, Embankment, and Waterloo are all plausible starting points with a short onward walk, and buses, taxis, and cycling are realistic options. Driving is possible but rarely sensible in this part of London because parking is limited and expensive.The bakery works in most weather because it is indoors, and it is especially practical on wet or cold days when a quick sheltered stop is more appealing than lingering outside. Weekday mornings and lunchtime are the busiest periods, while later afternoons are usually quieter. If you are combining it with sightseeing, it fits neatly into a route linking the Strand, the river, and nearby cultural sites.