Edinburgh's Viral Lannan Bakery: Is the £7 Pastry Worth the 24-Minute Queue?
Edinburgh, a city celebrated for its compact charm and culinary delights, is home to Lannan Bakery—a establishment that has skyrocketed to fame since its 2023 launch. Garnering accolades like a spot among Britain's "best bakeries right now" from the Great British Food Awards, which praised its "very best baked goods not just here but in Europe," Lannan has become a social media sensation. Its generous laminated pastries draw queues that snake around the block, with marked zones on the pavement to manage the crowds. But is the hype justified? I visited to find out.
The Queue Experience: A 24-Minute Wait for Pastry Perfection
Arriving at Lannan Bakery around 10am, just an hour after opening, the infamous queue was already in full swing. As I joined the tail end, the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, and through the glass windows, staff could be seen working diligently. Adjacent to the bakery, a pantry store showcased jars of pasta and fresh produce, including tomatoes so vibrant they seemed cinematic. Resisting the urge to explore, I stayed in line, timing my wait at over 24 minutes from pavement to shop entrance—a significant commitment, though the queue moved briskly given the crowd.
Inside, the bakery was a feast for the eyes. Glass cases displayed rows of pastries, while metal racks at the back held more, evidently fresh from the oven. The variety was overwhelming, but I settled on a hot chocolate, a pork, cider and bay sausage roll priced at £7, and a box with two croissants and two pain au chocolat to share later, totaling around £26. Staff were friendly and efficient, serving customers in mere minutes without making me feel rushed during my brief two-minute visit.
Tasting the Hype: Decent Delights or Overrated Treats?
With no seating available, I took my haul to Prince's Street park. The hot chocolate was a standout—rich, smooth, and deeply satisfying. The sausage roll delivered with its buttery pastry and herb-infused filling, but the real stars were the croissants and pain au chocolat. Their enormous size impressed my friends, and they were undeniably photogenic, perfect for Instagram. However, when I tried a pain au chocolat later, while delicious, it didn't surpass a Marks and Spencer alternative in my opinion.
Overall, the experience was enjoyable, and Lannan Bakery is a lovely spot for fresh, scrumptious treats. I'd recommend it for those seeking quality baked goods. Yet, if I'm honest, the single word to sum it up is decent. I still don't fully grasp the excitement around queueing extensively for a pastry. Perhaps I'm not a die-hard food enthusiast, but I'd rather spend less time in line and the same money on supermarket indulgences for a treat. In the end, Lannan offers a solid bakery experience, but whether it's worth the wait depends on your patience for pastry perfection.
