Flourish Craft Bakery in Watford

I’ve been coming here for years. Many times I’ve felt that the amazing food has forgiven the cold service. Today I felt compelled to leave this review. The waitress behind the counter in particular was very standoffish when I politely asked if the cruffins had eggs. She wasn’t keen on checking until I insisted and she was sure they do. Turns out, they didn’t. Since allergies are not displayed, it has to be ok for customers to ask and staff should be welcoming of the question. She was on her phone pretty much the whole time and I felt like my presence was disturbing her. Not very hospitable to say the least. The food is fantastic though! Serious question to the owners. People are not rude by default; are you treating your staff well enough to motivate them? Literally no one was smiling there- are you doing something wrong with your management style?

Lovely place. Very friendly happy server who was very knowledgeable and kindly let me change my order after I found out you can also order pizza from next door. Good choice. Diavola pizza was thin, crispy and delicious. Exactly how I like it. Barista coffee extremely good and biscoff cake very tasty. I will be returning soon.

Cute little coffee shop tucked away in an industrial estate - wasn’t a huge amount of designated parking but was lucky we got there around 3pm. Biscoff hot drink was a nice little warm drink esp for this time of year and can have milk alternatives too - but on the pricier side of £4+ quid for it though and would ask for extra hot too. Wasn’t too sickly but would also give it a good stir next time too

Very disappointed as I used flourish a lot for breakfast and I can’t complain about that but today I had a Victoria sponge cake and it was awful and extremely dry not light and fluffy as it should be it did not taste fresh at all probably the worst cake I’ve been served the only nice bit was the jam inside .

We found this little gem when looking for a brunch before going to the Harry Potter studios. The food was delicious, all freshly made on site, if I lived locally I would be here every week. Highly recommend for breakfast/brunch!

A busy place which speaks for itself.

We were seated quite quickly as only a few other customers. Took ages for someone to take our order - I actually thought we were supposed to order at the till and so went up. They weren't even busy at this point. Overpriced. Terrible for people who don't eat dairy products - they charge 60p, on top of the overpriced coffee, for non-dairy milk. They didn't even have margarine instead of butter but went onto charge extra for condiments with my toast! There are plenty of other places to eat where the service, food, value and atmosphere are miles better.

Great coffee, great atmosphere. Looks lovely, rude waitress.

Pain au chocolat stale & hard. Granddaughter left it . Unknown!

Just to be clear, this is not your average café in a typical dull industrial area😁 it’s actually quite good 👍🏻 my only criticism is that the service was so slow that I have to go to the counter myself to order breakfast😒

Good bakery, but not dog friendly.

Atmosphere is great. Ordered an egg royale. Poached eggs were butchered and extremely overcooked. Was difficult at time to get the attention of the staff. Overall, an average experience.

I have been many times to flourish and the service has been amazing at the start but has really gone down hill. Maybe on the this occasion the manager was having a bad day but not to even be greeted with a hello or what can I help little just said Next! And then when I asked to sit in they just pointed to a table over there! I have sat in on numerous occasions and staff have always been so lovely but littlest no excuse for poor manners and poor service considering the cost of coffee and cake which to be fair are great. Please actually try to remember flourish that everyone deserves grace and a genuine smile - very disappointed

Would have been better if we could have ordered the baked cakes and pastries while at the table so could have with the coffee/tea.

Nice place. Good breakfast/brunch type selection of food and loads of pastry/ sweet options Staff also seem lovely Will be going back

The place looks great, and the atmosphere is just what you need on a Sunday morning. Sadly, that's where the upsides end. We ordered a breakfast muffin (sausage, cheese and egg) and a cheese, mushroom and onion toastie. The cheese toastie was nice, but the cheese was so mild you couldn't taste it. Not terrible, but not what the menu promised. The muffin looked great. A good start, but sadly was inedible. The sausages were pink in the middle. I didn't eat my half, but my friend had already eaten his so he could be in for an interesting afternoon. We went to the counter to pay only to be met with silence from the 5 girls behind the counter who were sort of hanging about. Eventually I asked if we could pay and one came over. I asked if I could get a Reuben sandwich to take away so would like it with the bread separate so it doesn't go soggy. Not an unreasonable request for a bakery, you'd think. I was told that all sandwiches are pre-made "so all we have to do here is toast them" so I could only have it as it came. I decided against the pre-made sandwich and asked just to pay for what we had. I quietly mentioned that the sausages were not cooked, not to get this taken of the bill, but just so they could make sure others were cooked. The cashier told me that "they come to us that way" and that that's how they are supposed to be. I said that raw pork isn't good and she replied that it was cooked - that particular type of pork is pink in the middle when it's cooked so there is nothing wrong with it. I could see I was getting nowhere and left it at that. I left there with the feeling that not is all as it seems at this place. Just how many of their products are brought in? How much food prep do they actually do there? The information provided by the staff tell me that their food is no more freshly made than the daily sandwiches delivered to Tesco in little cardboard boxes.

We appreciate you coming back to us which has restored our confidence in your company. Your food is always spot on so we will definitely be back for sure. Thank you 👍

We appreciate you coming back to us which has restored our confidence in your company. Your food is always spot on so we will definitely be back for sure. Thank you 👍

We love Flourish! Especially brunch! Food always delicious and beautifully presented. They do the best cakes, highly recommend lemon and blueberry. Nice to see vegan options too. Staff always friendly and helpful. Big shout out for Ambar who's service and smile added to our visit. We will be back!

We love Flourish! Especially brunch! Food always delicious and beautifully presented. They do the best cakes, highly recommend lemon and blueberry. Nice to see vegan options too. Staff always friendly and helpful. Big shout out for Ambar who's service and smile added to our visit. We will be back!

What a fantastic hidden gem! Loved it. Service and food were outstanding thank you. The team were amazing in particular Ambar. It was my first visit but I will be back to try out some more delights on the menu.

A gem in the most unexpected location - an industrial park. The food, the baked products and cakes were out of this world.

Family have talked about this place and stated some items are good and some are not. For example the cakes are dry and they have tried at least 5 different items and not impressed. I went first time and ordered the chicken wrap- dry without any actual sauce or gravy. Chicken was super dry so that’s a 0 star literally. The pizza was so basic not worth the hype of loading bay. We had to go ask to be served as the guy wasn’t interested in serving us. When asked questions he was again not interested and when I asked for some desert the girl went to check which took 5 mins- how does it take 5 mins to check if you have any more of this type of dessert. So I turned to the guy and asked if they could warm up the cookie and him and his colleague looked at me like I was mad. Replied yes and then went on to do nothing but walk off. When he came back I said ok can I get that then, he then said are you being served. I mentioned the girl has gone to check but she’s standing there doing nothing. He called her and told her to warm the cookie to which she was confused and so he decided to do it himself and was more worried about getting the bill paid. Are you serious? This was one of the worst “table” services I have received if you can even call it that. I went to then ask for a box for our pizza, he never came back so I walked up to the counter with it. He got annoyed and gave the box but tried to shove me to the side as I was speaking to another customer. 0 stars if I had the options

Delicious baked goods. They do a fantastic breakfast and the service very good.

One of the best bakeries I've ever been!! I've loved everything thatI've tried, some of my favs: lemon and blueberry cake, brownie, apricot danishes. Highly recommended!

I came here today with my 5 year old daughter. It could have been a miscommunication but I asked if they could do her a ham sandwich, not on the menu, the man that took the order seemed happy enough. Any way she got a cheese and ham toasty, she doesn't like cheese. I took it back and explained that I had asked for a ham sandwich. There was a vibe that I was causing a problem for them, no apology, they took it and replaced with a really crusty sourdough type bread and about an inch of ham, no butter, she's 5?!? She couldn't even bite into the crust. It just felt like it had been angrily thrown together, plus the guy that took the order came out with the receipt ready to flash it at me like I was causing a problem. Still no apology. It didn't seem particularly busy. Maybe I should have said something at the time but didn't want to spoil the nice time we were having plus I needed to collect my car from the garage. It's continued to bother me though hence the review. The Reuben I had was tasty.

Nice food but poor service. This is my second time in same week and faced the same issue. Been here 30minutes and not a single person out of the waiting staff (about 4) has come to take the order. There were about only 4 tables with customers and yet poor service. Utterly disappointed as found the family who came after me got served straightaway. I wondering equality and inclusion is an issue?

My first time here and it was pleasant. Impressed with the place considering it's location. Menu and prices seemed fair, however what I ordered (Falafal wrap) wasn't great. Lacked depth of taste, and was a small portion. Lack of basic things on the table such as salt, pepper, and water (I asked twice and nothing was brought to the table). And was not greeted in our way out. So plenty of things to improve on, but I will return to give the cafe another go.

Fantastic bread, cakes and pastries. However the service was poor, waitress didn’t want to serve me, 20 minutes for coffee. However when the local came, the ordered, paid and left. My partner experience the service today. ????? Not sure if I will take family and friends from London

Such good customer service. They care about their customers and know how to treat people well. Everyone is so respectful plus food is so good.

The best bakery in Watford! Very nice shop with an amazing friendly team! Plenty selections to choose from!

Tasty top notch food. I love the interior and the fact you can see the bakery kitchen through the window. Nice little hidden gem. Great freshly baked bread, pizzas and cakes. A must visit cafe. I recommend the avocado on toast. Great coffee too.

Excellent and slightly different menu. Posh but not overly costly cafe in strange location on an industrial estate. Well worth seeking out.

Great bakery, good breakfast selection to have it in. Tucked away in the industrial estate. Decent price and fresh food. Good selection of sourdough breads, pastries, cakes and sandwiches to go.

Dirty bakery with stale, nasty items. they have a window where.you can see the bakers working and I saw one of them picking their nose. Absolutely revolting. I also saw a dead rat in the corner of the toilets.

I’m not being funny, I saw a baked ken in the window and couldn’t pass it up. The service was so cool and the taste… hmm

Lovely cafe and bakery. The food is tasty and the bread is fresh and delicious. If you are here, make sure to try the cruffins - they are ‘to die for’.

It's a great place for Brunch. Friendly service, tasty food. Parking during the week is a little hit and miss as its a busy area.

Always busy, for all the right reasons! Breakfast food and cakes are a must. Great selection and probably the best place for breakfast/brunch in Watford

Nice food slightly slow service but friendly and a good atmosphere

Absolutely love this place, my boyfriend and i are regular customers here and always get greeted with smiles, quick table service, super quick food that’s always super yummy and a lovely atmosphere!. would definitely recommend the avocado on toast with bacon and eggs or the french toast. 10/10

Well, it’s not often that we actually get pleasant surprises, but this certainly ranks as a great example of just such an occasion. On the way to HP world, wanted a bit of nibble and some good coffee. Google search “cafe in Watford” and initially presented with the standard fayre of Costafortune and Nerozero, but, on scrolling down a bit (always scroll down, folks) found this gem. And a gem it is. Service, choice, quality, ambience…all right out of the top cookie jar. And the coffee…:simply excellent. Despite the name, not at all about the show, but rather all about honest quality baking and a lush experience. To paraphrase a well known Austrian dude…we’ll be back.

Really lovely. Don't be put off by the location (or assume your GPS is wrong). Delicious food served by lovely staff in a really nice cafe. Thank you

Just had the best blueberry pastry of my life at Flourish Craft Bakery! It was so good, I think I heard a choir of blueberries singing hallelujah with every bite. If pastries had a Michelin star, this one would be the Gordon Ramsay of blueberries. Seriously, drop everything and go get one. Your taste buds will thank you.

I love this place and I have visited many times either as a couple, with family or with friends. The food is so tasty. Lovely menu. The tropical granola mix is divine! Poached eggs with smashed avocado on sourdough toast, yum! Food is always delivered to the table very quickly. Just one note for improvement, the service could be a bit sharper. I highly recommend getting a window table that overlooks the bakers. Kids will love watching the bakers prep all the different pastries.

I like this restaurant a lot. I came again to try a new breakfast today: Reuben, Bubble and squeak, and French toast. They all taste good.

Very nice bakery - super good food and very friendly staff. Top

An unlikely location, but makes perfect sense, a bakery with a cool cafe, with great sourdough menu (baked on the premises) , lots of breakfast options - this is a real find

Love this place! The Harissa Chicken Bap is the best thing I have eaten anywhere in a very long time! The atmosphere, friendly staff and very fair prices make Flourish a rare jewel! Congrats to the management! We will be back very soon.

Incredible. The muffin was PERFECT! The meat was so tasty, compliments to the chef. Coffee unfortunately needs a lot of work. Affordable and such high quality food. Parking is an issue but worth scouting for this place. Wifey had the bubble and squeak, she loved that too. Previously had salmon and eggs, Reuben sandwich, pancakes and pastries. Couldn’t be a better place to go for a great breakfast or brunch. Everything has always been fantastic. I’ve not been during lunch but I’m sure it’s just as incredible. Quick service, friendly staff. It looks like everyone has a great connection which helps create a great atmosphere

An amazing bakery. And the cafe was completely packed. Buzzing place, very good sourdough bread, and some nice but pricey pastries. Will def go again for the bread.

If you’re in or around Watford, this is the place for breakfast/brunch. I ordered the sourdough with fried eggs, streaky bacon with the beans and it was absolutely divine! My husband had the harissa chicken bap which he would not stop raving about the whole day, he loved it that much. We also ordered some desserts/pastries to take home which were super delicious. You can actually see parts of the kitchen where you can see the baking and cooking of the food. This is such a lovely place. We will now be regulars! This place is hidden away in an industrial estate but make no judgements, it’s a hidden gem. If you’re going on a weekend, be prepared to queue but deffo worth the wait. 👏

Really good selection of food, freshly made on site. Not the cheapest, but generous portions and always enjoy the food and coffee there.

Was very busy in the morning for breakfast. The pastries are amazing

I've always had take-out, and the food and service are great, both pastries and the sandwich/bap selections!

Was a great place and have been here several times Near DVSA aswell

Food and service are always amazing!!

They messed up my cake order but I am not even mad- the coffee is great, the bakery delicious and very comfortable seating area, good chairs and non-flimsy tables.

A lovely place to grab a coffee or bite to eat. It was our first visit and we were impressed. It took a while for them to provide us with a high chair but otherwise great! It is hidden away in an industrial estate and they have their own bakery!!! I love trying new places and I will most definitely visit again when I get the chance 🙂. If I still lived in the area, I think I would be a regular! 😉

The best pastries, food and coffee. The mushroom toastie & blueberry danish are my faves!

An unassuming bakery tucked away behind industrial buildings, upon entry you’re greeted with a buzz of activity and good food. The staff here are friendly and seating is abundant, however this place is very popular so come early if you don’t want to wait for a while. Everything is great here, the Shakshouka and Reubens Sandwich being must haves here, along with a croissant and coffee. Definitely come here if you’re in the area.

a lovely gem in a middle of a industrial esstate. excelent coffee and food. very atentive staff good competative prices. would be nice to see a new cafe menu or new things aded too it. maybe some vegi burgers or chips being aded to the menu but cant fault it at all. keep up the good work guys. this review is for pizzeria next door too both brilliant

Nice food and coffee but they don’t accept cash.

Went here with some friends the other day and they don't accept cash! Having an option to pay by cash is freedom of choice which has been taken away!...Some folk like to pay by cash!

Best pastry in town. And the prices are modest.

good food and service! very clean, and cozy. definitely recommend

Went there for a breakfast around 10h30 and highly recommend. Had the shashuska and it was so tasty and rich and came with the biggest bread slides. Delicious coffee as well

This is a bit unusual because it's on an industrial estate, but the food, drink, service and atmosphere are excellent.

Breakfast for Mrs and myself after the school drop off. Opens at 8am so perfect timing. Ordered poached eggs on sourdough with crispy bacon + poached eggs with avocado. Tea and coffee. The sourdough bread of course is lovely. Both dishes were well presented and very tasty. Enjoy watching the team in the bakery working through the windows making all the sweet treats.

Love this place: I discovered it completely by chance whilst waiting for my car to be serviced and MOT'd by the local mechanic just up the road. Freshly baked bread, outdoor seating, great coffee and fab brunch/lunch menu. It can get busy, meaning possible queues and service can be a little bit slower, so patience is helpful. I so hope Flourish flourishes and grows - we need more places like this! :-)

Lovely place and very friendly staff. We had some really nice cake and coffee on this occasion, but we'll be heading back to have lunch there soon.

Forget the bland backdrop of the industrial estate, for tucked away within its heart lies Flourish Bakery, a haven for the senses! From the first bite, it's a symphony of delightful contradictions: an oasis of artisanal magic amidst the desolate warehouses, a celebration of fluffy sweetness balanced by savory indulgence. Oh, the French toast! Imagine Panettone, that airy Italian icon, reborn as a breakfast masterpiece. Each golden-kissed morsel, soaked in creamy custard and kissed by fire, bursts with a chorus of textures: soft, yielding crumb within, a crisp caramelized crown above. It's a textural adventure, each forkful a melody, begging to be savoured note by note. Then there are the pancakes, pillowy clouds, cradling whispers of vanilla and buttermilk. Light as a summer breeze, they melt on the tongue, leaving behind a trail of sweet satisfaction. Pair them with golden syrup and flavoured yoghurt, each a poem in itself – . But wait, the sourdough toastie demands attention! Imagine bread, a symphony of tang and char, cradling a molten heart of melty cheese. Each bite is a textural delight, the tangy sourdough playing counterpoint to the creamy richness. It's a savory serenade, leaving you humming with contentment. A minor misstep – overdone poached eggs . Flourish Bakery is more than a bakery; it's an experience, a testament to the transformative power of fresh, quality ingredients and passionate craftsmanship. So step away from the ordinary, and let Flourish Bakery sweep you away into a world of delectable wonder!

Nice food, but was surprised to only see one line of chocolate in my pastry pain au chocolate when normally there should be two :(

Amazing experience - Food and service was excellent. Jason the Manager was very accommodating. We will be back.

This place is an absolute find.Tucked away in an unassuming industrial estate, you wouldn't believe the amazing dining experience they provide. Perfect for any occasion from a family breakfast to a cheeky daytime date or a girlie catch-up; i really enjoyed dining at Flourish Craft Bakery. You cannot go wrong with any choice from the menu but I have to say that the HOT BISCOFF drink is heavenly. I could have downed multiple. It does get busy but the friendly staff manage the demand well. I was was seated quickly and our food arrived shortly after ordering. Thank you Flourish, see you again soon.

Homemade rustic bread & amazing cakes, delicious breakfast

Great spot! Really recommend the Shakshuka. Always a buzzing atmosphere with people around. Plenty of inside and outside seating - worth a visit!

Delicious baked goods. Very tasty sourdough toasties and great coffee. Everything you want really for a weekend brunch.

Nice products and quality from bakery . The restaurant quality is average, which is a little of a let down as prices are premium. But if i could pick faults in food, not really. Bakery products, they are great. Service is not amazing.

Actually went back to flourish. I’ve not been there in a few months. Coffee and the croissant were great, but this time around why am I being asked to give a tip on the credit card machine? This is not America and it now makes me think that you’re not paying your staff correctly, and why should I have to make up the windfall? The craziest thing I went to the counter and paid myself so what am I tipping for and why.

Best Reuben Sandwich ever. Toasted bread, crispy bacon, brisket cheese burger sauce pickles oozing everywhere, this is a delicious sandwich, congratulations flourish!

Best place in Watford for breakfast or lunch. Lots of really tasty options on the menu. Also, some super tasty bakery treats to take away.

Glad I don’t live near here I’d be eating all day everyday 😋 mmm

Nice coffee and good food. Poor service due to the blond waitress constantly coughing and sneezing into her her hands without washing it on several occasions. Handling food, coffee or packaging cookies straight after is unacceptable. Poor hygiene standards.

Two English Breakfast Teas and Toast with butter and jam for two people cost just under £16!!!!! Two slices of Sourdough bread very slightly toasted with butter arrived on one plate. We advised we had ordered toast for two people and jam aswell. The jam arrived, so we ate one slice each. Reminded our waitress we had ordered toast for two people. Another two slices of warm bread arrived, had to ask for butter! Charge for one slice of warm bread with jam £3.50 extra charge of £1.50 for the other slice! Absolutely disgusting. Check out the new venue round the corner …….. SOUL SURVIVOR !!!! 5-7 Greycaine Rd. Will never go to Flourish again!

Thank you so much for amazing service really appreciated your ability to set up a meal that fits with what I want to eat thats not listed on the meal great show team thank you.

I am still waiting to be served - unbelievable chaos….

What an Amazing Find!! I was bought here for lunch for a business meeting. First of all I was shocked as to how busy it was as its in the middle of Nowhere on a Trading Estate .. what can I say... I had the Bubble & Squeak and it was the best I've ever had! .... This is a MUST visit to any that is in the area.

Thank you very much everything perfect 👌👌👌

Not a great take away experience I'm afraid. My partner drove a long way to get some Sourdough for a dinner party this evening. The hot sliced loaf had been placed in a clear plastic bag and and then tied tightly. The hot bread was ruined by the time it arrived home, there was so much moisture in the bag. For an Artisan bakery, I would have expected better. A waste of time and money when I have eaten their delicious Sourdough in a Fitzrovia restaurant (so I know it is excellent!). The bakewell tarts however were wrapped beautifully in paper.

Went in with my family, fantastic food, fresh and delicious, also great variety. The staff are lovely too.

Interesting & popular mid-size café, weirdly on the edge of an industrial estate, with on-premise bakery so you can't get fresher bakery products. Excellent selection of cakes, pastries and breakfasts with fair coffee at reasonable prices. Very good service from friendly staff. Why go to anemic chains like Costa when there are much better experiences like this?

This establishment has the potential to be amazing but the service is appalling. Sat for 15minutes with children's high chairs being forced though gaps, hitting my seat but ignored by every waiter on duty. I eventually waved down someone and ordered a coffee which arrived soon after but no tea spoon provided so used a fork. Then ordered my breakfast again by waving someone down. This again arrived pretty quickly but both poached eggs were undercooked and no butter, margerine on toast so sent them back. A fresh. Breakfast arrived 5 minutes later again without butter on toast but very tasty. When I ordered a fresh cup if coffee and it arrived a few short minutes later, no tea spoon was provided or offered. Since the early days of Jamie Oliver wealiding his salt grinder on the Naked Chef, Table Salt has become unfashionable but it exists for a reason, chewing on lumps of sea salt isn't desirable. Sea salt and grinders are for food prep not intended as a condement. Flourish has the opportunity to be amazing, the food is top notch, the ambiance of the restaurant is thriving and enticing but maybe due to the age of the staff lacks the professional courtesy and polish needed for it to achieve it's potential.

Great breakfast. The place had a good atmosphere and staff were great. Food was delicious

Went today with my family for first time eating in (grup of 3) the stuff are lovely food is fresh and delicious. We ordered Rueben sandwiches . The best hot sandwich I ever had in my life Tanks to all the stuff who were really friendly and polite- specially Davina who served us Congratulations to the chef for the excellent job Definitely we will come back

Small menu but great food. Pricing matches the quality. We'll definitely be back.

I'm very disappointed by this bakery, unfortunately. It has a lot of variety of pastries and breads, but when we got home, we found the croissants and pastries to be quite stale.

In this unexpected location we went today for coffee and cake. The flat whites were delicious. I had a slice of carrot cake, which was a generous portion and was very tasty. We also had a pain au raisin, which was good, with plenty of raisins. We sat outside in the sun, but there is also lots of seating inside. Very friendly staff and fast service. No available WiFi though, which was unfortunate for me.

Great way to start a Sunday - food is fresh and delicious. We also bought some sourdough bread and cakes to take away. Will definitely I come back when we return to Watford. Thanks to all the staff who were really friendly and a big shout out to Alex who recommended that we visit.

Very popular, obviously their variety of fresh bread being a big plus. Polite, staff, acceptable prices for the days we live in, tasty food. A bit if confusion when is very busy, but is nothing to be put off