A guide to all things pistachio in London: 8 places to get a taste of the latest craze

We can admit it. This pistachio craze was not on our bingo card for this year's food trends, but even we can’t deny that this green nut has taken London by storm. Everywhere you look it’s pastel coloured croissants, doughnuts, even pastas. It seems the limit does not exist when it comes to pistachio flavoured treats, with the #pistachio tag currently boasting almost 2.5m posts on Instagram. 

Many people credit the coffee chain Starbucks as being the ones to bring about this trend, with its pistachio flavoured latte that hit the shops in 2019, which arrived with little fanfare before being discontinued. It was upon its return in 2023 that things really started to kick off, with ice cream parlours and bakeries across London jumping on board to mix up their desserts. Nowadays, there aren’t many places in the capital where you can’t get at least one pistachio flavoured bite to eat.

So what is it about this humble nut that’s dominating the food industry? Well, for one, it’s hard to look away when the bright green snacks pop up on your social media feeds, drawing you in with the promise of that sweet and salty balance. Pistachios offer a little bit more substance than other nuts, a refreshing taste that perfectly compliments a wide selection of sweet treats.

It seems unlikely that this trend is going away any time soon, so you might as well get on board. From pistachio croissants stuffed with ice cream to vibrant green pastas, London’s food scene has gone nuts. If you’re unsure where to begin then don’t worry, we’ve scoured the city to bring you some of our favourite treats. Read on for our complete guide to all things pistachio in London!

Pistachio Ice Cream Doughnut at Greedy Cow Bakes, Hackney

What: Greedy Cow Bakes really took social media by storm with its Korean-style milk doughnuts, a ginormous version of the classic that comes in a variety of flavours. With queues out the door every weekend, you might need to wait to get your hands on this pistachio ice-cream doughnut, but that’s a small price to pay in our opinion. A fluffy, sugared doughnut comes sliced, and layered with pistachio ice-cream and drizzled in sauce for some extra pistachio-goodness.
Where: 395 Hackney Road, E2 8PP
Book now: Greedy Cow Bakes

Pistachio Gelato Croissant at Badiani, Covent Garden

What: Why go for one sweet treat when you can combine two? Badiani has almost 100 years of experience under its belt when it comes to all things gelato, so they know what they’re talking about. But if one dessert isn’t quite enough to satisfy your cravings then be sure to go for this pistachio ‘croiss-ato’: a buttery pastry that comes filled with gelato and topped with pistachio sauce and crushed nuts.
Where: 2 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9QP
Book now: Badiani

Pistachio Pasta at Sugo82, Hackney

What: You might not have expected this trend to spread past desserts, but Sugo82 are proving the versatility of this little nut with its pistachio pasta. This tiny Italian eatery is found in London’s Netil Market, and has only one table - so be sure to book. If you can’t snag the table, then be sure to grab something to go, including this freshly made pasta which is cooked in a vibrant green sauce with crushed pistachios on top for an extra crunch.
Where: 13-23 Westgate Street, E8 3RL
Book now: Sugo82

Pistachio Pasticciotto Pies at Capilungo, Covent Garden

What: Cafe by day, wine bar by night; Capilungo offers a true taste of Lecce with traditional dishes hitting the menus of this family-run spot. Whilst there’s plenty of baked goods on offer, its pasticciotto pies are the true calling card - an authentic recipe straight from Italy that offers oven-cooked cakes with a gooey centre. They come in a whole host of favours but obviously, the pistachio ones are our favourites.
Where: 76 Long Acre, WC2E 9LB
Book now: Capilungo

Pistachio Doughnuts at Specialty Cafetiere, Hackney

What: If there’s one thing better than pistachio flavoured snacks, then it’s a pistachio fountain to drizzle across your snacks. Edgy east-London coffee shop Specialty Cafetiere has taken its place as somewhat of a pistachio connoisseur with doughnuts, croissants, profiteroles and even hot chocolates on the menu. You name it, they can make a pistachio version! All of this, and more, comes served alongside one of the site’s freshly roasted coffees which is just another great reason to visit.
Where: 389 Hackney Road, E2 8PP
Book now: Specialty Cafetiere

Pistachio Croissant at Crome, Marylebone

What: Looking for a pistachio pastry in London? Crome’s eye-catching designs and funky shaped snacks are constantly plastered across Instagram, even more so now that they’ve added pistachio croissants to the mix. Take a seat in this turquoise and lilac-tinted restaurant, with its geometric tables and neon lights and tuck into one of the signature crolls (a circular croissant) smothered in pistachio sauce.
Where: 36 James Street, W1U 1ES
Book now: Crome

Pistachio Ice Cream at Hans and Gretel, Chalk Farm

What: More of an immersive experience than an ice-cream parlour, Hans and Gretel have cooked up plenty of witchy creations and over-the-top cones, stuffed with funky flavours and decorated to the nines with heaps of sweets and sauces. Go all out with one of the Kinder Bueno or bubblegum, or you can keep it a bit simpler, but no less tasty, with a pistachio cone, smothered in pistachio sauce.
Where: Unit 91 Camden Market, NW1 8AH
Book now: Hans and Gretel

Pistachio Cookie at Cedric Grolet, Knightsbridge

What: Renowned pastry chef Cedric Grolet had already conquered Paris before he set up shop at The Berkeley. Best known for creative and eye-catching desserts, we’d recommend popping in to grab one of the pistachio ‘trompe l’oeil’ cookies. These optical-illusion treats are made with pistachio paste, pistachio ganache and topped with caramelised pistachios for that full nutty flavour! 
Where: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL
Book now: Cedric Grolet

Craving some more sweet treats? Have a browse of our favourite dessert spots in London that are serving up some super tasty puds.