Sweeney & Todd

You'll find Sweeney & Todd tucked on Castle Street in the heart of town, and honestly, it's the sort of place that makes you understand why people queue before opening. The smell alone—that deep, yeasty hit of fresh bread and butter-laden pastries—is worth the walk. Everything's made on-site, and you can tell the difference immediately. Grab a sourdough for tomorrow's toast, or just surrender to a still-warm croissant and a coffee. It's the kind of neighbourhood bakery Reading's been missing, the sort where you'll see the same faces regularly because people make a proper trip for it.