Belle Epoque Patisserie in Islington

Awful pastry, completely soaking wet. Also rude

This is a nice spot for cakes, and the cheesecake I had was excellent—great quality. However, the interiors feel a bit lacking in cosiness; I much prefer the charm of the Newington Green branch.

They look great but taste really really BAD. Can’t even finish it

We will keep coming until we complete trying everything on the menu. Chances are, we will continue coming even after we compete the entire menu. The coffee quality is extremely good - a not for the conneseurs.

Really enjoyed the pistachio tartlet, they serve good coffee too. Decor of the place feels outdated, would definitely recommend for takeaways.

An sullen Indian lady working behind the counter today took our order without cheer or a smile (it's Sunday, I get it, no-one wants to be at work) but things went from bad to worse and she was quite rude + made the experience uncomfortable. We couldn't wait to leave. In addition the pastries, usually excellent, were stale.. tasting as if they had been baked on Friday. A real disappointment as the staff, until today, have always been lovely, the food fantastic. We travel quite a distance to get here as it is so good but not sure we will again after today's experience.

I recently had a very disappointing experience with Belle equipe upper street brunch. I ordered a cake, and my brother went to pick it up for me. Unfortunately, they gave us the wrong cake. When I called to resolve the issue, I was hoping for a constructive conversation. Instead, the manager was extremely unhelpful. Rather than trying to understand or address the situation, the manager insisted that the person who took my order is very experienced and couldn't have made a mistake. Essentially, I was told that I must have ordered the wrong thing or that the mistake was mine. This dismissive attitude and lack of willingness to find a solution were incredibly frustrating. Mistakes happen, and I would have appreciated a more customer-friendly approach to resolving this issue. Unfortunately, it seems that this store is not interested in taking responsibility or providing good customer service. I will not be returning, and I cannot recommend them.

Amazing customer service - I ordered a birthday cake with a personalised message and it was ready for the next day! Cake was delicious and they had a great variety which made it hard to choose! The lady that served me was so helpful and friendly. Thank you so much!

Excellent cake bit of improvement on atmosphere and service

One of our favourite places where desserts are super addictive!

Bought a cake for my mum and it was so delicious Would try their other small deserts

The atmosphere is good and provide a nice space to have a chat with friends. A bit disappointed as the ratings are quite good and we would expect the pastries to be great. However we ordered the pistachios eclair which tasted nothing like pistachios and it’s very sweet with the white chocolate fillings (i would expect the fillings with pistachios paste?) and the croissant was cold and soft (not crispy anymore)

The pastries are excellent but the staff don't really speak English. They couldn't really tell me whether a pie had almonds in it and ended up giving me the wrong pie from under the counter, which I only noticed when I was miles a way. A bit disappointing overall.

Loved the vibe of the cafe. From the quality of the food to the service of the employees, everything makes me want to visit the cafe again! ❤️

We happened to pass this beautiful patisserie as the owner arrived. His passion and conversation was lovely…then he gave us a macaron each to try…these were divine. So we couldn’t possibly leave without treating ourselves. Seven hours later, I’m on a train having just devoured the most incredible raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake. If I didn’t live in Devon, I’d be back tomorrow. 😍😍😍

Thanks Shrija for being super friendly and for the excellent service. Loved the black forest dessert. Very good coffee as well. Definitely on the pricier side though especially given the portion size and quality.

I had an incredible experience at this café! The staff is fantastic, with Maria, the manager, standing out for her exceptional service. The pastries are amazing—don't miss the pistachio and raspberry tart; it's a real treat! The quality of everything is top-notch, and the atmosphere is welcoming and bright. Highly recommended!

Treated better than in Italy! Thank you so much, delicious espresso and wonderful desserts 🫶 The manager was super nice and sweet ❤️

The manager is a really sweet lady! She is so caring and loving! The pastries I ate are so yum and fresh. Except that the food here is good, there is a nice atmosphere! I highly recommend this place!

Lots of lovely cakes and pastries. We tried almond croissant and a pastry filled with pistachio crème patisserie and both were delicious. We shared a croissant filled with chicken and spinach which was amazing

Had a Paris Brest 'sharer for 6' cake. Was phenomenally good! Great customer experience. Helpful staff. RECOMMEND!

Very nice and friendly staff. So welcoming and efficient. So many pretty cake to choose from. Great patisserie.

Absolutely loved the Croquembouche with 80 choux we ordered for a party. Great communication by email, delivery on time and our guests were blown away by this rather typical French dessert. Such a shame I cannot post a picture here.

Best patisseries ever! Their Belle Epoque cake is to die for!

The belle epoque tart was amazing. The decaf coffee, not so good

A serious treat. Wonderful cakes!

I always (always) leave with something 🤣

I ordered a fruit tart for someone's going away gathering and it was absolutely delicious - we all loved it. It was beautiful to look at and to eat. They made a little chocolate plaque with writing that was sweet too. It's pricey, but worth it. I am glad they are in the neighborhood.

Beautiful cakes, beautiful renovation with comfy seating and decent sized tables. Cakes are extraordinarily beautiful especially at the patisserie. Paris Brest was exceptional. Lovely friendly staff who served to our table.

Always good quality, reliable cakes. A staple in the neighborhood.

I love a pastry and the pain au raisin I had at Belle Epoque is the best I've ever tasted, absolutely delicious. A great hot chocolate too, just the right amount of chocolate and sweetness, perfect. Very friendly staff, I'd 100% recommend this lovely little patisserie.

THE BEST pain au raisin I have EVER tasted anywhere, absolutely delicious .. plus a fantastic hot chocolate to go with it. Lovely service too, 100% recommend this wonderful place

The best patisserie in north london thanks to the staff so . friendly .

What an amazing place! Great desserts and great service. We were served by two girls, a blonde and a brunette with glasses, very kind and excellent service, thanks for the fantastic experience! We will definitely be back, even my girlfriend was really satisfied ❤️

Their pastry was okay, however, instead of a black americano I was served some tea with milk. Strangely, the light in the second room is blue which makes it look more like a school canteen than a luxury patisserie. The loo doesn’t look good.

We tried the pear & raspberry tart and the belle epoque chocolate pastry which was quite mediocre and overpriced. They didn't taste fresh either. The pastries look a lot nicer than they taste unfortunately.

I am a regular customer and couldn’t recommend a better place for cake and coffee on Upper Street. There are so many absolutely scrumptious cakes (my favourite is the Paris Brest which gives the best taste of hazelnuts), one of the richest selection of patisserie you can find in only the best bakeries, as well as other baked goods including the breads which are very high quality and have no additives. I recommend slicing the bread at home and placing in freezer to keep fresh, so that you can carry on eating for days.

Lovely cakes, I’ve been going for years and do recommend it. Love this place but the staff could be a bit more personable, smile maybe and could be more knowledgeable about the items on sale. Also it would be helpful if they could answer the phone 🤷‍♀️

Delicious but made a little too fancy. The desserts don’t invite the spoon

The Black forest "cake" was perfection! Me and my friend shared as its rich and deep in flavours. So many options to chose from too! Love the variety here. The venue lacks "atmosphere" purely because the decor doesn't match the wow of the food items. But I highly recommend this cakes!

The cakes are good, not exceptional as I tasted some in Paris, however good enough to pair with a tea and enjoy a nice moment either with friend or alone.

They are kind but not many bread and cake even at noontime.

The signature pastry is 'to die for'

Had an almond pain au chocolat which rivaled a very delicious one I had in Paris. I highly recommend this establishment. Good coffee and nice employees. Would most definitely frequent again.

Not amazing, coffee mediocre as are the pastries, both severely overpriced for what they are. 2 stars for having an outdoor space, but can’t give more stars because the food is just par, no wifi and poor mobile service and loud. Not recommended as a place to work, even if for an hour. Would only recommend if you want to get an overpriced coffee and pastry and catch up with a friend by shouting at each other. However several people around me left half eaten pastries, which is not a great sign.

Given how many coffee shops there are on upper street the Coffee was quite poor but the patisserie were excellent, fresh and dealious and they had a really nice seating area with an outdoor garden too

얼마전에 이곳에 다녀갔습니다. 직원은 놀랍도록 친절했고 빵과 커피도 만족스러웠어요 무엇보다 매장의 편안한 분위기가 가장 기억에 남습니다🥰

Nice environment and tasty pastry.

As a French person, I can confirm this place has authentic great French cakes. Staff is very nice and prices more reasonable than the ice creams shops across the street.

Great service and well maintained café

I loved this for a Saturday morning coffee and the choices of cake were lovely......

Really delicious croquembouche, loved the praline filling!

Exceptional croissants and friendly service.

Delicious desserts but the pastries are not fresh and not tasty

I really like their viennoiseries, quiches and patisseries. Now that they have moved a couple of numbers south, they have a very nice sitting area. Service is usually very nice and efficient

Beautiful little place with stunning cakes. I had this pistachio and apricot gateau that was ten times nicer than I could have imagined - and those are two of my favourite flavours!

This place is home to the best cheesecake ive had! but also that is the only thing i have tried there

The cakes look very nice in the window but don't taste as good as excepted. Also the interior could do with an update. Overall, a disappointing experience.

Whilst the cakes are undoubtedly amazing, when you buy takeout the staff are charmless - frankly robots could do a better job. Which is incredible given the elegance of the product they’re selling.

Amazing desserts, a few tables to eat in. Vegan one was very fruity. Reasonable prices for higher quality patisserie, way better than many bakeries nearby

The best quiche I have ever tried, often remember about it (need to be back for it). Desserts are perfectly balanced, not too sweet but still so delicious that you want more. Not like some other places make them so basic and sweet with nothing special that after one bite u don’t want it anymore.

to the manager - this is not a false feedback ! there is so many other reviews documenting how badly you treat staff members and customers with children . your response just confirm you are unable to change because you are just not a nice person . i feel sorry for you !!! the manager( old short grumpy lady) is the most unprofessional, rude person I came across in a coffee shop ! as documented on so many reviews she is unfit to manage a team, she is rude and abusive towards her staff who consists of young students trying to earn a living and rude to customers, including small children !!! HORRIBLE Not only she doesn't try to better herself she responds to review with negative comments and defends her disgusting behaviour ( yet another example of her lack of intelligence and decency ) please avoid at all cost do not support this kind of behaviour

I thoroughly enjoy Belle Epoque. Whether on Upper Street, Newington Green or the selection @ Selfridges. Fresh selection daily.

If you're in the mood for some of the best pastries and cakes in London, head to this shop in Upper St here. The warm decor and friendly staff create a delightful atmosphere, but it's the delicious treats that keep people coming back for more. Don't miss out on their mouth-watering selection of cakes and pastries! So proud to have them in Angel.

Patisserie is really good, good customer service too. Spent 20£ on two hot drinks and two desserts.

Awful service! We spent £40 on tea and cake and the manager had a massive go at us after our son (who is 2) took out the sugar sachets from the jar to practice counting. We have been there several times over the past few years as the cakes are nice but the older lady is so miserable it sours the experience. Take your money elsewhere (especially if you have young children).

Nice French desserts with some twists.

Great bakery with amazing products. Shame about the staff. Besides few exceptions, most of them have no concept of how to treat customers, especially returning one.

I just realised that my review disappeared and was probably deleted by the owner Hulya Rousseau. So I’m posting it again. Extremely poor customer service. I live nearby and used to be a frequent customer, but unfortunately today is the last time I’m coming here. I ordered some tea in a to-go cup as I could only stay for 5 minutes or so and it was too hot to drink it in such a short amount of time. However, the woman at the counter (short dark hair, glasses, in her 70s, short stature) was very rude and told me to “get out” as I asked for a to-go cup even though the cafe was almost empty (not surprised why). I was shocked and explained her politely why I ordered it in a to-go cup and offered to pay pay more if needed, so I could stay for 5 minutes to reply to my email and drink some tea, but she insisted that I must “get out”. I asked for her name to write a review but she got even more aggressive and abrupt, and told me to go away and to never come back. This was the worst customer service I ever had in my life and my first negative google review. I will never come to this place anymore. I also understand from other reviews that she is a wife of the owner so I guess she’s not going anywhere despite all negative reviews regarding her awful attitude towards others. I strongly believe that she should definitely not be in a role where she needs to communicate with other human beings I just received a reply to my above review from the owner Hulya Rousseau who (1) lied and said that I shouted when I was very calm and polite with her even after she told me to “get out” after I spent my hard earned money in her cafe and did nothing wrong. I even suggested to pay her money on top if she was worried about the price difference between to-go and stay-in cup. I would like you to please look back at CCTV which should have our conversation recorded as evidence. (2) Even her reply shows that she should not be communicating with people on a day-to-day business and she lacks any professionalism and customer service skills as she is lying and being totally patronising by saying that I should do other things in life instead of writing a google review about appalling customer service provided by her - the owner of the place! I see there are quite a few other reviews before me complaining about a bitter owner, rude staff and awful customer service. Now I understand that the message is coming from the top and this is not going to change unless Hulya Rousseau understands that she should not be at the counter as she does not have any culture, social or soft skills

Beautiful patisseries but it looks better than it tastes

Incredible flavour, aesthetically very pleasing and elegant vibe

Unique and delicious tarts . Extremely creative with their use and blend of ingredients

Hygiene!!! To start with, I am a returning customer. Or used to be after today’s experience: the customer guy who was buying things before me grabbed a madeleine with his bare hands from the jar having an allowance to do so from the staff. Like what?! How do I know where were his hands at and what kind of bacteria he has generously shared when carelessly putting his hand in the jar? Why would you guys even bother with all the ingredients, flavours etc if you allow such things? Honestly, this is so disgusting and disrespectful to other customers! Idk why I even bought something today from them, I guess I was too shocked. But I’ll throw this away for sure, I don’t want to get sick for days/weeks after their desserts. Who knows what else do they neglect in hygiene?

Delicious food and very friendly helpful staff

Excellent patisserie! My favourite place to go for cakes and pastries

The go-to French boulangerie and pâtisserie at the heart of Islington. Fabulous cakes – beautifully adorned, with layers of yummy mouse inside. The cakes also come in individual sizes. The mouthwatering window display is something to behold.

I ordered a cake for my partners birthday and this team meticulously stuck to the brief and replicated my partners guitars in chocolate for his 60th birthday. I was blown away by their expertise and attention to detail Absolutely brilliant

Stale pastry. When I requested exchange…Manager came to our table and verbally attacked me. Also overpriced together with the hideous service. Many better options in the Islington area.

Beautiful and delicious cake, very artistic

Wonderful cakes & patisserie selection 💕

Amazing Patisserie in the Main Street of Angel. I tried croissant and a couple of different cakes & pastry and they were incredible ! Thank you ! You have got a new regular now :)

The place is lovely small seating area inside the staff were friendly with some customers they are familiar with obviously with me wasn’t that friendly anyway i went there ordered cappuccino was really good strong coffee which i would love to go again to have it , ordered as a takeaway the famous Belle Époque cake chocolate mousse and glaze with chocolate sable cream brûlée insert with orange and crunch base loved the flavors really nice , chocolate eclair is so good , pistachio raspberry choux filled with pistachio ganache and raspberry insert , apple black currant crumble tart loved the flavors of sweet slight sour and crumble was lovely, last thing Almond croissant 🥐 is delicious

Visited Belle Epoque in Angel yesterday and was completely ignored by the staff as I waited at the counter. Belle Epoque in Newington Green is so much friendlier!

Always excellent although cakes and patisseries a bit expensive. Good selection of tarts. Friendly service well served. Most enjoyable.

The quality is always outstandingly good, the selection is quite random and depending on the day but as long as you're not mega precise - the seemingly high-ish prices are well worth it for a proper French treat.

Having just returned from a short trip to Lille without managing to eat any flan pâtissier I was craving this pastry which is not commonly found in London . I was thrilled to source it via Google at Belle Époque yesterday . I called and the assistant kindly reserved me the last three slices It is creamiest most deliciously authentic flan I have ever tasted!!! What quality !Will definitely be back !

Purchased a variety of small cakes and spent £35.60. These were for a birthday celebration. As the birthday boy took another forkful, a hair appeared. I gently tugged the hair to see if it was on, or in the cake. The rogue hair was 'baked in' it was in the very heart of the dome. This was so off putting that the remainder of the cake and another three remained uneaten. We made a written complaint, as we live many miles away from the patisserie, but had no reply and no apology. What terrible customer service. In terms of taste we found the cakes to be as bland as a school blancmange on a dry, unedifying biscuit base.

Overpriced rank cakes. I bought a strawberry tart and the cream tasted off, the tart ended up in the bin. Staff were snappy when I asked for allergy information. They need to be trained as they lack basic customer service skills. Don’t waste your money here, plenty of other nice places along upper street.

This patisserie is a real gem in our area. Beautifully presented and enticing. I once had the great pleasure of meeting the French owner whose charisma was as noteworthy as his skill as a chef. We spoke about the history of the new dessert he was perfecting... which originated in Napoleon's time. He offered me a sample. The memory of his enthusiasm, generosity, and the exquisite taste of his cake stayed with me. The cakes are always excellent - we are regular consumers of the eclairs. I just wish the staff didn't look like they were doing us a favour by shopping there. They almost always look miserable and put upon. If you want great cakes but aren't that fussed about a warm welcome, a goodbye or the absence of friendliness and customer service, this is the place for you. Culture always comes from the top and I well remember meeting the lady co-owner of the operation who was allergic to smiling - she's no doubt hard working and has achieved a lot - a few shops and a bakery - but she is totally lacking in friendliness or warmth. I just wish those in the service industry could take more pleasure in their jobs. Or at least try and pretend to be friendly occasionally. Because it really translates in the transaction. Life is hard and I get that it is difficult, especially at the moment. But a smile and engaged eye contact costs nothing. A conversation is also free and hugely enhances the chance of return custom. A little bit of sunshine and outward looking customer service would really enhance the experience of this brand's superior cakes. I kept thinking it might just be me, but after at least twelve to fifteen visits, I now feel justified in this view. But I will still go for the cakes (especially the eclairs) and so should you! I just block out the freeze and charmless service when I enter the shop and try and remember the French chef owner. They would do well to wheel him out more often but expecting him to bake the cakes and sell them would be like having your cake and eating it.

Stopped here on one of our exercise walks for a deserved treat and I’m so glad we did. Super friendly staff. We’ve now been back twice. We’ve tried the egg custard flan which is our fave and to die for. We’ve also had the raspberry flan and raspberry and apple crumble all drooling gorgeous to the point where we realise we are addicted.

I went in and asked the guy behind the counter if he had any vegan options, he replied with no we don’t this is a FRENCH PATISSERIE. In the rudest most patronising tone. Well you know what they even have vegans in France now a days! No need to be rude about it.

I don’t have a sweet tooth, so the gorgeous cake display is only a feast for my eyes and a very convenient way to treat my husband. The sourdough loaf is very good and always served with a cheery smile.

I was just passing and the patisserie seemed tasty and beautiful. I tried the flan tart and was very good. And the slices are big!!

Bought a quiche and a cake. Cake was ok, not amazing and quiche pastry was quite soggy. Not sure if it was very fresh.

I have visited this patisserie several times and ordered cakes for birthday parties. Their cakes and tarts are absolutely delicious. Everything they prepare is top-quality and I like that they have seasonal offerings together with all-year-round classics. Staff is very helpful, especially when ordering cakes to take away, they have provided great recommendation in several occasions.

Poor and unhygienic. Toilet needs fixing. Unmotivated staff. Coffee and pastries ok, but we were worried about the server not washing his hands.

Moved to the local area and discovered this on a walk down Upper Street. I had the most amazing eclair I’ve ever had. Would definitely return!!!