Le Cordon Bleu London

**A Fantastic Experience at Le Cordon Bleu London!** I recently attended *The Art of Making Beef Wellington* short course at Le Cordon Bleu London, taught by Chef Colin Westal, with wonderful support from assistants Laura, Teddy, and Ruby. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional. Chef Colin explained and demonstrated each step of preparing Beef Wellington with Madeira Sauce clearly and confidently. His teaching style made even the most complex techniques feel accessible. The assistants were incredibly helpful—answering questions, offering guidance, and keeping the kitchen running smooth and tidy. I was amazed by how much I learned, even in areas where I thought I already had solid skills. It was truly a fabulous way to spend a day: learning, cooking, improving, and of course—tasting! The Beef Wellington we made was absolutely *delicious*. Le Cordon Bleu provided everything we needed, including an apron, kitchen towel, and a cloth carrier bag. My only suggestion would be for the school to offer heat-safe plastic takeaway containers so we can bring home our finished dishes more easily. I highly recommend this short course to anyone looking to elevate their cooking skills. A memorable and inspiring experience!

Been a grand diplome student here for the past 8 months now. The training is overshadowed by how profit-driven the school feels. Failing by something as small as 0.24% and being charged £250 to retake an exam — regardless of how well you performed throughout the course — says everything about their priorities. The environment is tense and competitive instead of supportive, and it often feels like they value fees and strict scoring more than the students themselves. For such an expensive programme, the lack of compassion and educational support is shocking. The courses here make you discouraged to continue in this field. I understand working in a professional kitchen will be tough. But this is a school which is supposed to nurture your passion not hate it. This is not a masterchef competition where we fight each other for marks and grades. Here to learn. And that didn’t happen. Lost passion for this field.

I attended the Pâtisserie Techniques 4 day course at Le Cordon Bleu London, Fleet Street, from 16th to 19th September 2025. The course was very professionally run and was full of content, not to mention the delicious cakes and desserts to take home at the end of each day! Whilst learning professional level techniques and tips from an experienced pastry chef, the course was also made to be a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it and hope to return for further courses. Many thanks to chef Marco and all other staff involved for making this a great experience!

The Culinary Essentials Technique four day short course at Le Cordon Bleu London is an outstanding introduction to classical French cooking. The curriculum is well-structured, covering fundamental techniques from knife skills and sauces to filleting and butchery. Each session is hands-on, guided by experienced and passionate chefs who provide clear, constructive feedback and demonstrate with precision. The facilities are top-tier – professional, spotless, and fully equipped – giving a real sense of working in a high-end kitchen. Whether you’re a confident home cook or just starting your culinary journey, the course offers a strong foundation that builds both skill and confidence. It’s not too intensive yet highly rewarding, and by the end, you’ll leave with a genuine understanding of core culinary techniques. A brilliant experience for anyone serious about developing their cooking ability in a professional and inspiring environment. Shoutout to Chef Sebastian and Leah for their ability to teach and assist students in a friendly and professional manner.

all I can say, it please, take the leap and attend this school at any opportunity you can. I had the honour of completing the grande diplome course, experiencing cuisine, patisserie & boulangerie modules too with all the wonderful teaching chefs and I can whole heartedly say from the bottom of my heart that it changed my life. The growth, personal development & purposeful healing that you will experience cannot be described nor recreated anywhere else. The chefs who work here are so kind helpful and all care so much about you learning as much as you possibly can, all done with such respect & passion- as well as pushing you to your full potential and encouraging full accountability and determination. I am no longer the same person after attending LCB London, I have changed for the better in so many ways I didn’t expect , and most importantly I’ve found my purpose in life. Even if it’s just short course I would recommend joining in on the wonderful atmosphere that has been created here. I guarantee you will leave feeling so fulfilled & inspired, sparking your passion for food and leaves with new kitchen skills you never knew you were capable of. This experience will stay with you for life and I Thank Le Corron Bleu London for helping me kick start my dream career and take the leap to follow your dreams :))

Lucky enough to have done a knife skills short course in an evening under the instruction of Chef Anthony Boyd. It's a real privilege to learn from someone with such depth of experience and it was approachable, fun, and I was pleasantly surprised at the meal I ended up with at the end. Highly recommended for anyone passionate about food or cooking!

I attended the Patisserie Techniques short course in October. It’s well-structured and well-paced. Chef Marco Borgato brings out the very best in novice and experienced cooks alike. Under his guidance, you will produce delicious and extraordinary culinary creations and gain the confidence to reproduce them effortlessly at home. Game-changing!

Had the most fantastic experience doing the day course of Breakfast Baking. The chef was incredible, so patient and clear with his demonstrations. Learned so much in only a few hours. Will be back, thank you!

My favorite place for tea & breakfast in Bloomsbury. Great breakfast and a wide selection of French pastries - to die for!!!

Get there before 11am for the hot bfst - the egg and bacon sammy's are glorious. Worth paying a bit extra to eat in and bask in the warm atmosphere.

Cafe attached to a the cooking school. Very clean, delicious pastries and baked goods. Good coffee. Outdoor seating on a nice day.

Great little place to pick up coffee and breakfast items. Was staying at a nearby hotel where they were charging $24 p/p. Here I could get two americanos, pastries plenty enough for two for that same amount. I went back there every morning. Everything tasted good. I mean come on, its Le Cordon Bleu. Oh it's attached to their school located in London, found in the rear of the building.

On the way to the British Museum and wanted a quick and light snack / lunch. Walked by the famed Le Cordon Bleu (UK version). I figured the pastries had to be good at the very minimum. The visit did not disappoint. It is a nice cafe through the back of the school. We liked everything we tried; the service was professional but also stern if we ordered something that was on the menu but too late to be served, like the breakfast items or something sold out.

This cafe which is attached to the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school has a lovely range of baked goods on offer. The macaroons at 4£ each may seem a bit expensive, but they are so delicious. Flavours change daily, so you never know what to expect. They serve tea cakes by the slice or you can buy a whole pound cake to take home with you. They have both indoor seating and outdoor seating (in a courtyard behind the building) They do offer some savoury eats too, but since I've only ever been here after 6pm, I haven't had the chance to try any of it (they make limited quantities that run out quite quickly) I can however vouch very heavily for the cakes / pastries and other sweet bites on offer. The coffees are perfect to take away and they are quite obliging in serving you coffee, even if you arrive 2 minutes before they close (unlike a lot of other cafes in this area)

Best. Bread. Ever. The other stuff is delicious too, even if you're like me and you aren't into desserts or sweets in general. Full disclosure: I studied here 7-8 years ago, so I may be a teeny bit biased. On the other hand, I think it also means I know what I'm talking about. THE FOOD Nothing beats the smell of bread, still warm from the oven, and begging you to rip off a hunk and eat it then and there. I managed to resist temptation since I had cheese waiting for me back at my hotel. I've had a hard time finding decent, much less good, baguettes and croissants in an awful lot of places (Sydney, Honolulu, New York, LA, San Francisco, to name just a few). You probably wonder what makes the bread and pastries special. Well, it's made onsite. Daily. Not in a huge factory somewhere. And it was the only croissant I could promise wouldn't disappoint my boyfriend after a pretty unexciting one at breakfast. He had to add butter to eat it and he left part of it behind. THE PRICE People complain that the prices are high. Um, no. For example, the crappy croissant my boyfriend had at breakfast? £2.50 (plus 12.5% service charge) and look at it below. The Cordon Bleu one is a perfect example of what laminated dough should look like. If you can't see the layers, why even bother? The boulangerie, viennoiserie, and all the other food is prepared by Cordon Bleu chefs, and if a student is good enough to be hired by a place like the Ritz or other fancy restaurants and hotels, those students *might* hired to work in the cafe kitchen. Also, the ingredients - they use really good ingredients. I haven't looked in the kitchen personally, so I couldn't swear it, but I would guess that the same ingredients are used for the cafe offerings as what we used in class, and what we used in class was the good stuff, like dry butter for puff pastry. You can taste/feel the difference. Think of it this way. If you were at the Fat Duck or the Savoy or the Ritz, would you complain about the prices? Because those are the places where these students are headed, and from where the chefs were recruited. Any comparisons to Patisserie Valerie when comparing prices fails to take into account the quality of what you actually get. A limited run of a painting or something is worth way more than something mass produced. So please, don't compare an apple to an orange, then bitch and moan about how they don't cost the same. Yes, I mixed my metaphors, but not nearly as much as some of the other reviews confused what they were comparing. THE AMBIANCE - CLEAN AND BRIGHT This isn't a restaurant-y cafe. It's a cafe attached to a cooking school. The courtyard is wonderful, weather permitting. It's clean and bright inside. What's to complain about? Aren't you there for the food? Personally I think the clean, bright space has a beauty all its own. I never worry about whether I have to watch people's hygiene, which makes me so happy. If you want slouchy sofas to hang out on, then no, this place isn't for you. If you like really good food, and appreciate wonderful ingredients managed with expertise, then go immediately. (In my case, it was the latter combined with not having enough space to make my own at home, not to mention mine still need work.) ALUMNI - DISCOUNT! I didn't realize this, but alumni also get a discount from the boutique. It didn't occur to me to try at the cafe, so who knows? I didn't remember my student number, but they looked me up on the system and gave me a discount on the extra probe I bought to take home.

Stumbled upon this shaded secluded courtyard after escaping the crowds of the British Museum where I spotted this cafe. I later found out that this is the first cafe in Europe opened by the culinary institute, Le Cordon Bleu. Inside they had simple sandwiches, patisserie (éclairs, tartes au citron), boulangerie (baguette, pain aux olives, pain de campagne) and viennoiserie (croissants, pains au chocolat, brioches à tête) and these colorful sugar sculptures. Student "projects" I'm sure. There's seats inside but shared a passion-fruit macaron and a cappucino in a shady area of their courtyard. It was fairly quiet with a few businessmen lingering over lunch. Definitely a very French/European experience! PASSION-FRUIT MACARON W/ WHITE CHOCOLATE | £3 Light & flaky crust with a rich passion-fruit gelee. Noticeably larger, they remind me of the ones from the Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. The filling was a little cold and dense from being stored in the cooler (created a distinction between filling and cookie). I'd suggest letting them warm up to room temp. Delicious and very good but Ladurée is better and cheaper! Definitely would come back! More like 4.3. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/GWeEuO9SvFKldRJBVJFBcw?select=_MnrzH2U8aZz3pF8gJjcqw#_MnrzH2U8aZz3pF8gJjcqw)

Cute little cafe off the side of the school. It has a comfortable seating area next to the cafe, great pastry, lunch, and drink options. The espresso-based drinks are heavenly, especially the mocha which is layered in a long cup. Not overly sweet or creamy. Great ambiance right in the square behind the London Review Bookshop. Kind staff and clean facilities. Can get a bit noisy when classes break and students flood the area to eat lunch, but it's quite neat to see them in their uniforms--future Michelin chefs in training. :)

Nice, quiet cafe in a quiet, almost hidden location. Smiling service topped it off. Had the sandwich de la mer which had fresh, tasty crayfish in a tangy mayonnaise sauce. The salad was a bit small but overall good balance.

Oh 'tis neat to be Elite! I celebrated my 2015 badge with a hot chocolate here, based on the lovely reviews below. It's a super quiet spot for Holborn especially - well lit, clean and with an array of fancy baked goods. One tiny quibble is that the prices seem high, unlike as mentioned below, but still twas a good spot to natter with my bestie, and will for sure come back and sample some food! The real treat was this gorgeous pattern on my foam: http://instagram.com/p/xfEiR1tpvB/

The croissants are delicious freshly baked. The coffee is very good too . It is not cheap but it is worth the price. The service is excellent . What a nice place to have a coffee! The smell of the viennoiserie takes you to Paris!

This Le Cordon Bleu is attached to the cooking school (I feel like I'm required to start my review this way... as everyone else has) and has an understated atmosphere, almost hotel lobby-esc. While the atmosphere is nothing to write about, the food is. Delicious pastries, soups, and sandwiches. It takes a bit of time to prepare--seems like it's a grab and go type kitchen--but they carefully prepare the items that need fixing. Very good.

We had breakfast here every day the week we were in London. The food & price can't be beat. They have a limited menu but what they have is delicious. The croissants and pastries are excellent! Staff are friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.

Tucked away in an adorable courtyard off of Bloomsbury Square, Cafe Le Cordon Bleu is something of a hidden gem. When I first visited a few weeks ago it was mid morning and there were only a handful of patrons despite the fact that the cafe is only about a block away from the British Museum. If I'm not mistaken this place is run and staffed by the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, and it shows. Inside you'll find what looks like a typical cafe, only everything is just a little bit nicer than what you'd expect. At the front is the till and lovely selection of gorgeous pastries, including croissants, pain au chocolats, fruit tarts, macarons, and lots of different breads. I went with a latte and a croissant, while my dining companion opted for a pain au chocolate and a coffee. The coffees were great, but the pastries were even better. This is not a delivered-frozen-from-a-truck-every-morning type of cafe. Everything here looks like it's made fresh. The best part about Cafe Le Cordon Bleu is that they don't charge gourmet prices. You can easily grab breakfast here for under £6 and avoid the crowds of the British Museum while you're at it. That's a win-win in my book.

We happened across this great little find, secreted away in London after a trip to the British museum. We had just left the museum and were thinking about having something to drink and we spotted it by chance. We were very glad we did. We went in and found they had very polite and good humoured. I had an Americano coffee, and my companion had a tea with 3 macaroons. She was in heaven. My coffee was very good too. We sat outside and enjoyed the sun and watched the day and people pass us by. We had a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon together. Anytime we go near to the museum or in this part of London we visit them.

We were staying at a nearby hotel and found this place a couple of days into our trip; wish we had found it sooner! Best croissants I've ever had hands down- the almond was my favorite. Good coffee and hot chocolate too. It's very quiet, which is saying something in this part of London, especially since it's so close to the British Museum- we were the only tourists there both of the times we went, which was a nice change of pace!

Came to this cafe everyday whilst doing my patisserie diploma, best service, best spiced Apple cider during Xmas, and lovely chai lattes. Also good for the price too. Highly recommend, also try the cakes, muffins and cookies. Its all made fresh in the LCB kitchens by the cafe bakers. Absolutely love! Some of the best memories of my life were created here.

If you're looking for a traditional French cafe off the beaten path (read: quiet) in London, try Le Cordon Bleu cafe in Bloomsbury Square and very near the British Museum. Tucked inside the famous Le Cordon Bleu, you'll find true French pastries, breads and an assortment of sandwiches. Our group of four chose a variety of breakfast items and coffee drinks and were pleased with our choices. The apricot croissant was filled with whole sections of the fruit. The ham & cheese croissant was tasty but light in both fillings. A traditional baguette (with real French butter) was classic. Lattes and hot chocolate were presented nicely in a Le Cordon Bleu cup and saucer. Service was friendly and attentive. Prices were a little more than elsewhere in London for a similar type of cafe. Take time to sit and enjoy the cafe indoors or outdoors. The school is upstairs so don't be surprised to see students in chef garb walking around. There is an assortment of LCB items on display and for purchase, including dish towels, cooking utensils, spices, and other souvenirs marked with their logo. Check website for Open House and workshop/schedules if you're interested in bringing out your own culinary art.

Nice place with a great outside area, a little bit hidden but very central. Good spot relax a bit, enjoy some coffee and pastry while enjoying the sun (if there's any) and get away from busy Tottenham court road.