Our visit to Sourdough Sophia in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden

A visit to the charming and vibrant Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden always feels like a little treat, and now there is another reason to make a beeline for this little pocket of London: Sourdough Sophia. The award-winning London micro-bakery recently opened its seventh site here, bringing its much-loved sourdough breads and irresistible pastries to one of the city’s prettiest corners. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Sophia and Jesse from their North London dining room during lockdown, Sourdough Sophia has since grown from a small home baking operation into a firm favourite with London’s food lovers.

And it’s pretty hard to miss. The pink façade immediately catches your eye, and once you’ve spotted it, curiosity naturally takes over. Step inside and you’re greeted by a glass counter filled with an impressive line-up of freshly baked treats. Their famous Keylime Bow is a must-try, alongside the Strawberry Cruffins and Chocolate Chip Cookies. There’s also a savoury selection, including a smoked salmon bun, courgette danish, and sandwiches.

Along the wall, shelves are neatly stocked with their signature sourdough loaves, pantry essentials and, of course, plenty of Sourdough Sophia merch. And with a reputation for exceptional sourdough, it would have been rude not to have picked up a loaf. We took home the heritage loaf, a sourdough made with 100% British heritage and landrace grains, slowly fermented  and, it certainly lived up to the hype, easily one of the best sourdough breads we’ve tried.

We’d seen the Keylime Bow popping up all over Instagram, so naturally, we couldn’t resist ordering one for ourselves. And thankfully, it was every bit as tempting as it looked! Crispy, golden and beautifully flaky on the outside, it’s filled with tangy lime curd on one side and silky mascarpone cream on the other. Absoultey moreish, we were instant fans! It’s easy to see why this one is such an Instagram favourite and we’d definitely recommend giving it a try. The almond croissant swirl is also well worth adding to your order, especially if, like us, choosing just one pastry feels far too sensible!

The bakery itself is pretty small, so there’s no indoor seating, but if you’re lucky enough to nab a spot on the pink bench outside, settle in and enjoy the show. It’s the perfect place for a little people-watching while soaking up the buzzy atmosphere of Neal’s Yard.

In short, Sourdough Sophia is a very welcome addition to Neal’s Yard and one that’s likely to have you leaving with a pastry and coffee in one hand (if you're good a balancing), and a loaf of sourdough in the other, it's the perfect start to the day.

Address: 16 Neal’s Yard, London, WC2H 9DP

For more information click here.

Written by Nyla S.

Photography courtesy of Sourdough Sophia