Whole Foods Market

You'll smell the sourdough before you see it – the bakery counter at this Piccadilly Whole Foods does proper bread alongside those glossy American-style cupcakes that somehow justify their £4 price tag. Tucked between the cheese counter and the prepared foods, it's become the go-to for West End workers who've given up on Pret's sad pastries. The almond croissants are genuinely flaky (rare for a supermarket operation), and they do a decent line in seasonal fruit tarts that look almost too perfect to eat. Yes, you're paying Mayfair prices for what's essentially upmarket supermarket fare, but when you're rushing between meetings around Regent Street, sometimes convenience trumps authenticity. The Sunday opening hours are frustratingly short though.