Heart And Lova

Andrea Hartlova established this bakery in 2014, transforming a derelict video rental store on Belsize Road into a bright, working kitchen and café. Although Hartlova originally trained in the Czech Republic and spent years supplying cakes to luxury retailers like Harvey Nichols, this space was built to serve the immediate neighborhood rather than the central London crowds. The counter serves as the focal point, filled each morning with French-style viennoiserie baked with organic flour. You see trays of croissants, almond pastries, and pain au chocolat arranged next to fruit danishes and cinnamon rolls. The baking is continuous and visible, producing a steady supply of fresh sourdough and baguettes that often disappear before the afternoon. Beyond the breakfast staples, the kitchen produces intricate patisserie, including dark and white chocolate mousse cakes that are frequently ordered for local celebrations. The room itself is airy and often described as "aesthetic" by regulars, but it resists functioning as a co-working space. There are no power sockets for laptops, a deliberate omission that encourages customers to drink their Monmouth coffee and eat their pastries without lingering over screens. It remains a high-turnover spot where the noise comes from the espresso machine and chatter rather than typing, catering to locals who treat it as part of their daily routine.