The Dusty Knuckle Bakery

You'll find yourself on Abbot Street in Dalston, squinting at a deliberately understated shopfront that doesn't shout about itself. Inside, it's all exposed brick and the kind of casual energy that comes from people genuinely queuing for good bread rather than the idea of good bread. The counter display changes daily—sometimes it's focaccia studded with proper toppings, sometimes laminated pastries that'll make you reconsider what you thought croissants were supposed to be. It's the sort of place where you'll see builders grabbing sourdough alongside people who've made a special trip from Stoke Newington.