Earlier this year, Milan's famous Marchesi 1824 bakery moved to London. The London branch is located near Berkeley Square on Mount Street. The original Marchesi 1824 bakery (which has been in operation since 1824) was purchased by Prada in 2014. There are two additional branches in Milan, but this London branch is the first one outside of Italy. Coffees, pastries, and sweets can be enjoyed here, and panetonne is one of the most popular items.
I finally got the chance to visit the bakery/cafe over the holidays. They are not open on Sundays, so my first visit ended in staring at the beautifully-decorated cakes and display in the window.
My second visit allowed me to enjoy a hot chocolate. I have had so much watered-down hot chocolate in this country that when I ordered the hot chocolate, I ordered it with cream. I wish I hadn't. It didn't need cream. It was a delicious thick Italian hot chocolate, and I certainly shouldn't have assumed anything less from a Milanese cafe, which of course would be expected to serve up proper Italian hot chocolate. It is certainly one of the best hot chocolates that I have had in London.
To accompany the hot chocolate, I asked for a Christmas dessert. Being after Christmas, the cafe was getting back to normal, but they did have one of these little vanilla trains. It was a vanilla mousse, covered in a thin chocolate, with a biscuit base. The edible train tasted delciious, and it was light in flavour.
The shop interior has been designed to the Milan spec with the gold, cream, and forest green colours, mirrors and hanging lights. There are two rooms, and I was sat in the back room because there wasn't any space in the front room. The front room is more airy and lit-naturally, whereas the back room is more secluded and private but not as bright.
I also ordered the pistachio spread to go as I love pistachio, and I ordered a couple of Christmas biscuits. One was a candy cane, and the other was a round biscuit with a red and white design. I believe that they are shortbread biscuits, but I have not had one yet to try. Overall, I recommend Marchesi 1824 in London as I am sure the other pastries were delicious (I had my eye on a strawberry tart and strawberry and custard croissant), and the hot chocolate is certainly one of the best.
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