London’s Must-Try Pistachio Desserts

How far would you be willing to go for a chocolate bar? Maybe 100 metres to the nearest corner shop? Perhaps even 500 metres to the nearest Tesco, if you were really dedicated to the cause? But what about 4,000 miles? This is how far some people have travelled for a taste of the viral Dubai-style chocolate. A smooth, nutty centre paired with crunchy kadayif pastry (usually found in baklava), united with luxurious layers of chocolate: utterly indulgent. This sweet treat garnered millions of views on TikTok and it was declared the trendiest dish globally by Deliveroo last month. 

Global chocolate companies are missing a trick here, you might be thinking – and Lindt had the same thought. Yesterday, they unveiled a new chocolate flavour coming to UK stores: Dubai-style chocolate. Containing all the same ingredients as the beloved ‘Can’t Get Knafeh of It’ bar, this coveted chocolate is now available at four stores in the UK, including Bicester Village, Leeds Trinity, McArthurGlen (Cheshire Oaks) and Bluewater, Dartford. So don’t worry, you can try this viral treat and still save your travel points.

But this isn’t the only green-coloured treat taking off right now: pistachio is in and social media is flooded with the flavour. Google Trends shows a 60 percent increase in searches for ‘pistachio’ since 2019 and Tastewise found that pistachios featured 10 percent more in social conversations. Here are some of London’s tastiest pistachio desserts.

Best Pistachio Desserts In London

Pistachio Croissant at Crome, Marylebone

If you’re on social media, you can’t miss the buzz around Crome’s pistachio croissant. She’s magnificent – buttery layers, thick pistachio cream, raw pistachio nuts sprinkled liberally on top. Countless TikTok videos show eager fingers tearing into one of these beauties while the filling oozes out, and they always have hundreds of users salivating in the comment. Not to be dramatic, but trying on might just change your life, so get yourself down there now.

TRY IT: crome.com

Pistachio Croissant at Badiani, Chelsea

This Italian bakery is serving up a different kind of pistachio croissant, but it’s just as delicious. Staying true to tradition, their croissant is a half moon shape, stuffed with a whipped pistachio cream and drizzled with a vibrant pistachio sauce – so smooth it shines. You can order it with a pistachio hot chocolate on the side or, for the festive season only, a pistachio panettone – you can’t get more Italian than that.

TRY IT: badiani1932.com

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Chocolate Slab at Venchi, Covent Garden

Not a big pastry fan? Don’t fear: Venchi, which can be found at several different London locations, is offering a pistachio slab. It’s thick, creamy, crunchy – a sensory dream – and full of whole pistachios. One TikToker, whose whole account is dedicated to London’s pistachio hotspots, tells followers to ‘forget about the Dubai pistachio chocolate’ because Venchi’s pistachio slab is just that good (and a lot closer to home).

TRY IT: uk.venchi.com

Pistachio Cookie at Sablé, Wandsworth Bridge Road

Don’t like chocolate either? Sometimes, that’s just how the cookie crumbles, speaking of which… Sablé cafe doesn’t just have one, but two varieties of pistachio cookie – one which is plain pistachio (for the purists) and one which is pistachio knafeh (for anyone wanting their dessert Dubai-style). The cafe interior makes the perfect backdrop for his viral treat, with a clean, minimalist design and a glass front. You’ll have plenty of natural light for your Instagram post and it’s a perfect place to unwind with a cookie and a drink.

TRY IT: sablelondon.com

Pistachio Ice Cream at Hans and Gretel, Chalk Farm

Hans and Gretal is the taste of fairy tales and childhood. It specialises in the whimsical and ‘extra’ – this really is a world of pure imagination. On its menu you’ll find all manner of dessert creations: candy floss gelato cones, cinnamon dusted chimney cakes, lollipops and pick ‘n’ mix. But if you’re not swayed by some of these more fanciful options, they also serve a delicious pistachio gelato, slathered in pistachio source and loaded into a cone.

TRY IT: hansandgretel.co.uk