Sourdough Sophia has opened its seventh London bakery in the colourful surroundings of Neal’s Yard, bringing its award-winning sourdough, laminated pastries, and increasingly recognisable sweet treats to the heart of Covent Garden and the West End.
Founded by Sophia Handschuh and Jesse Sutton-Jones during lockdown, the bakery has grown from a North London dining-room operation into one of the capital’s best-known independent bakeries, with the new site bringing its signature sourdough breads, classic pastries, savoury bakes, and speciality drinks to Covent Garden. Alongside the familiar favourites, the bakery has also created a Covent Garden exclusive in the Ice Cream Cruffin Cup – a soft, buttery centre and flaky, sugared exterior designed to hold a scoop of thick, creamy soft-serve ice cream, making it an ideal summer pick-me-up.
One of the most popular items of the menus remains the iconic Bow Croissant, now filled with a creamy passion fruit filling that tastes every bit as delicious as it looks. Those hoping to try the viral Passion Fruit Bow will need to arrive early, however, with the Covent Garden bakery currently producing just 25 per day, and the limited batches selling out quickly.
While its viral Passion Fruit Bow has helped put Sourdough Sophia firmly on London’s hotspot map, there is much more to the bakery than this best-seller. The Strawberry Cruffins serve up the perfect balance of sweet and tart, while the Cereal Milk Cookies have quickly become a popular choice for their unique taste and texture at the new branch. The recently improved Almond Croissant Swirl is another standout, with its indulgently nutty, sweet flavour making it an excellent accompaniment to freshly brewed coffee – or indeed, the Iced Ube Latte with Cold Foam, our Sourdough Sophia beverage highlight.
From the savoury display, the Avocado on Toast has proven to be the crowd-pleaser, but it is the Tomatoes on Toast that tops our must-try list, pairing fresh cherry tomato halves with a generous layer of goat’s cheese on the bakery’s own sourdough. With a Courgette Danish, sandwich specials, and even a Marmite Swirl on offer, this is just as much an ideal lunch spot as it is a destination for a sweet fix.
Beyond the food and drink, the Covent Garden bakery also offers a selection of Sourdough Sophia merchandise, from biscuit tins to signature pink aprons and totes, making it possible for fans to take a little piece of the brand home with them. The 200-page Sourdough Like A Pro hardback is also available, covering everything from creating a starter to shaping and baking a loaf alongside troubleshooting advice and step-by-step photography.
Since its humble beginnings in Sophia’s North London dining room during lockdown, the bakery has picked up two World Bread Awards, three Great Taste Awards, and recognition from publications including Bloomberg, Time Out, and the BBC. Its expansion into one of London’s busiest postcodes marks an exciting new chapter for the bakery, bringing its award-winning approach to an even wider audience while staying true to its focus on sustainable quality ingredients, traditional artisanal techniques, and an innovative menu that continues to evolve across its seven locations.
You can find the brand-new Sourdough Sophia in Covent Garden at 16 Neal’s Yard, London, WC2H 9DP, open daily from 8am to 6pm. Learn more about the bakery, shop its online store, and find your nearest location right here.
