Is Lannan Bakery the best bakery in Edinburgh? If you ask me, I would say that it absolutely is! But why is this bakery so popular that people queue for hours every week? Let me share my personal reviews of Lannan Bakery with you and also some helpful recommendations and details to make your visit as easy as possible.
The story of Lannan Bakery in Edinburgh
Lannan Bakery is based in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh. It first opened in July 2023 and expanded with the addition of Lannan Pantry right next door to the bakery in October 2025. It’s the first bakery from Darcie Maher, who previously worked as the pastry chef of The Palmerston.
It was first intended to only have a couple of people working within the bakery but they quickly had to hire a larger team and also expand the space as the demand for their pastries exceeded expectations. I’ve walked into the bakery without any queues the last three times I have been in, as I’ve visited in the afternoon around 15.00 on a weekday. There has still been a good selection of baked goods left, however no croissants but I did not mind as I wasn’t looking for any specific pastries. However was instead thrilled to see my favourite jaffa cake still available!
Lannan Bakery queues?
If you visit when queues stretch outside, a “queue host” ensures everyone stays respectful to the neighborhood. The bakery sits beside a school and residential homes, so large crowds on the street can easily disrupt others. They also make sure people have water on days when it’s really warm and provide menus so that you can have a look and figure out what you might want to buy to reduce the time people need inside the bakery to try and speed things up to accommodate as many people as possible without too much of a wait. In the summer when I walked over in the morning an average wait time would be 30-45 minutes but that was also when Edinburgh was incredibly busy and there was an incredible hype around the bakery still.
Pastries for takeaway
The bakery doesn’t have any sit-in spaces so when guests come to visit it’s to buy for takeaway. There are plenty of lovely spots to sit around Stockbridge when the weather is good. My personal recommendation would be to go to Inverleith Park and sit in the grass on the little hill above the duck pond where you get a view of the castle.
Lannan Bakery
- Adress: 29-35 Hamilton Pl, Edinburgh EH3 5BA
- Distance from Princes Street: 0.8 miles (approximately a 20 minute walk)
What to order at Lannan Bakery – my review of the items I’ve tried so far!
I always try to buy something new when I visit the bakery, but I’ve of course already found a couple of favourites. To start we have the jaffa cake. I’ve tried two versions of it: one with sour cherry and one with sea buckthorn and I honestly couldn’t say which one I like better. This one is a must-try for me as I haven’t tried anything like it elsewhere (and I’m not even that big of a fan of normal jaffa cakes). The garlic confit focaccia is also incredible. I usually buy it and also get goats cheese and ham to make it into an incredible sandwich.
On my last visit I also tried the new-to-me bouchon which was really lovely as well. It’s a fairly dense but ah so delicious chocolate cake, which almost is like a brownie. I also can’t resist mentioning the canelés which seem to have been quite trendy around Edinburgh lately as I’ve seen them pop up here, there and everywhere. I tried my first ever canelé in Bordeaux last year and was immediately hooked. This little treat which originates from Bordeaux has a crisp caramelised outside and a soft custard centre. It’s perfect alongside a coffee or a glass of red wine. This is overall a very positive review of Lannan Bakery but it’s because I honestly think it is the best bakery in Edinburgh.
Seasonal Swedish treat in Edinburgh?
I am so thrilled that Lannan offers semlas seasonally as well. A semla is a Swedish cardamom flavoured wheat bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream but you can only get it around February. As a Swedish person abroad, I have definitely missed these as they are my favourites so having them available in Edinburgh is much appreciated.
♥ To summarise: my top favourites are the jaffa cake, garlic confit focaccia and the canelé!
the Lannan Bakery jaffa cake!
Why is Lannan Bakery in Edinburgh so popular?
The bakery was already highly anticipated before opening and Darcie had a good reputation built up amongst locals whilst she was working at The Palmerston. The bakery also went viral and quickly became a “must-visit” spot for tourists and visitors to the city. There were a lot of good reviews and praise of the Lannan bakery. Not only because the baked goods and bakery itself were so aesthetic, but because of their quality and phenomenal flavour. You can tell that Darcie really has taken the time to develop her pastry skills and she has a wonderful talent for putting flavours together. So not only did the tourists and visitors want to visit Lannan, but the locals as well.
To battle the demand the bakery did first expand so the team had a bigger prep area. A lot of the negative comments and reviews of Lannan Bakery were asking why the bakery did not make more pastries, as they kept selling out and even accused Lannan of purposefully not making enough to fire the popularity of the bakery. But the response was simple: they just couldn’t as they did not have enough staff, time and/or space to please everyone in the waiting crowds.
Who knew pastries could upset so many people? Threats, harassment & haters
It makes me so uncomfortable and sad to see how angry and aggressive people can be in their words when they are disappointed about not being able to buy the pastries they wanted to get.
♥ As founder Darcie has written time and time again “let’s not forget that it’s just pastry“. And yet she received threats, her staff has received written and verbal abuse and people leave horrible reviews when they’ve not even tried any pastries just because they did not want to queue for them. Is it nice having to queue over an hour on a weekend morning for pastries? No, it’s not ideal. But who is forcing you to? I think it’s absolutely unreasonable for people to harass a bakery, its staff and founder because they are so popular that they end up having regular queues outside the door. If you take away just one thing from this little rant, please be kind to people. At the end of the day, it’s just pastry (even though in my opinion it’s pretty good pastry!).
When to visit to avoids queues
There are plenty of other bakeries around the same area so you should not have do go without a pastry. If you want to avoid the queues, then visit on a weekday afternoon around 15.00. The last couple of times I’ve gone in the afternoon on Wednesday or a Thursday there has still been lots of lovely options and I’ve walked right in.
Other bakeries that I would also recommend in Edinburgh:
- Twelve Triangles – my second favourite after Lannan. The focaccia is divine!
- The Palmerston – a lovely atmosphere for a coffee and cake. I would also recommend buying some of their wonderful bread loaves.
- Söderberg – a Swedish themed café chain where the cardamom or cinnamon buns are really good in particular!
- La Barantine – try the macarons at this lovely little french café
♥ Need more tips? Make sure to read my Edinburgh guide filled with my local tips
with All Day Cake
Lannan Pantry
Lannan Pantry is located right next door to Lannan Bakery in Edinburgh. While the bakery focuses on pastries, the Pantry is more of a shop and delicatessen. You’ll find seasonal vegetables, wines, cheeses, and a variety of accoutrements from Darcie’s favourite suppliers in the UK, France, and beyond. There is also an in-house butchery, so you can buy Lannan sausages, terrines, and Pâté en Croûte, among other things.
Lannan has recently collaborated with local business TBCo as well. Their knitted triangle scarves make a lovely souvenir or a cosy addition to your winter wardrobe. I already have two of them myself.
Why I will be returning to Lannan Pantry very soon
I have my eye on the chocolate mousse, which a friend recommended to me. Honestly, I could buy almost everything in this shop. It all looks so intriguing and lovely. You could easily throw a party with the things they sell. It’s also the perfect place to pick up a bottle of wine and some fresh pasta. Add a little French cheese and some chutney, and you’ve got everything you need for a really cosy evening at home.
FAQ
Lannan Bakery is currently closed on Mondays and open 09.00-16.00 Tuesday – Sunday. The Lannan Pantry is also closed on Mondays and open 10.00-17.00 Tuesday-Sunday.
Lannan has recently made pre-ordering available on the website. It is only available for collection in person the following week and you can collect your order on your set date and time at Lannan Pantry. Not everything from the bakery is available for pre-order but there is a good selection of the most popular pastries.
There is often a queue at Lannan Bakery, especially on weekends. If you want to reduce the chance of waiting, I recommend going on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This is when the lines are usually shortest.
This of course depends on what you like yourself. My personal favourites are the jaffa cake, confit garlic focaccia and canelé.
My personal opinion is that Lannan Bakery has become so popular for several reasons. Its aesthetics, its quality, and its location all play a part. It’s a gorgeous bakery to visit, and it makes really lovely pastries. It also sits in a great spot in Stockbridge for both locals and tourists. No wonder it went viral!
Lannan Bakery is well known for its viennoiserie. This includes croissants and pain au chocolat. They are also famous for their custard slices and jaffa cakes. You may have seen these treats already on Instagram.
Well, I can’t speak for others but personally I think it’s an excellent bakery and I will happily come back again and again. If you don’t want to queue, try visiting on a Tuesday or Wednesday and if you would rather go somewhere else and not risk it, then go ahead. My top recommendation after Lannan would be the Twelve Triangles.
Need more inspiration for your Edinburgh trip?
- Edinburgh: A local’s guide and recommendations to things to do and see
- The best hotels in Edinburgh: 19 luxurious recommendations
- Visiting the Edinburgh Christmas Market
- The Edinburgh Fringe Festival: the world’s largest arts festival
What season are you visiting Edinburgh in? See my seasonal guides here below!
- The best time to visit Edinburgh: A seasonal travel guide
- Edinburgh Guide in Spring
- Edinburgh Guide in Summer
- Edinburgh Guide in Autumn
- Edinburgh Guide in Winter
Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
