Heppni Bakeri: “Tommy Banks recommends this bakery - I can see why"
In the North Yorkshire culinary scene, the peach-orange exterior of Heppni Bakeri is a familiar sight.
Opened in 2024, Heppni Bakeri is a Scandinavian-inspired bakery on Swinegate in York.
It has gone viral online, but this bakery also comes recommended by Michelin-starred chefs.
“You’ll mainly find me there at the weekend with a coffee and pistachio cream, dark chocolate and vanilla custard pain au chocolat,” Tommy Banks, chef and owner of The Black Swan Oldstead, told The Yorkshire Post in a previous interview.
In another interview, Adam Degg, head chef at FIFTY TWO, echoed this sentiment. Describing his ideal weekend, Adam said: “I'd head into York with my family; first stop Heppni Bakeri for a flat white and a pastry; they’re genuinely up there as some of the best I've ever had anywhere in the world.”
After being intrigued by Heppni Bakeri for a while, last weekend I finally found myself in York. It was already 2pm – hardly the time to catch a bakery at its best, especially since Heppni shuts at 3pm. But I couldn’t resist taking a look.
Arriving outside, I was immediately struck by its curb appeal. With a gabled entrance and pale-peach exterior, Heppni Bakeri adds a sunny touch to the overcast skies in York.
Inside, a counter on the right-hand side had an assortment of pastries. I peered through the glass, considering the cappuccino cruffins and the laminated “Paddingtons,” before settling on the last available Nutella twist.
For a drink, I gambled on the Copenhagen latte, aromatically spiced with cardamom syrup. Both the pastry and latte totalled £12.08.
Seating was limited, but as I ordered, the barista whispered that a group was just leaving, waving towards a breakfast bar with stools.
If closing time was on the horizon, both staff and customers hadn’t got the memo. The atmosphere was still buzzing. As an open-plan bakery, there was a constant view of the “kitchen team,” who all seemed busy at work. At Heppni Bakeri, everything is prepared from scratch.
Seated across sofas and bar stools, the customers were a combination of young friends, families with tots, and couples, one of whom had brought a cockapoo.
I saw online that Heppni Bakeri’s founder, India Luck, has launched a run club, and even seated inside, it felt like there was a real sense of community.
The barista appeared with my coffee, served in a handleless mug and crowned with latte art. Taking a sip, it wasn’t unlike a chai latte – just creamier, with a really silky mouthfeel.
The Nutella twist was nothing short of decadent. Topped with smashed nuts and hardened chocolate, the pastry was so large that it hung off the sides of the plate.
The whole experience felt like a respite from the chaos of The Shambles and crowded Saturday shopping in York. After visiting Heppni Bakeri, I understand the hype. Next time, I’ll be visiting earlier and trying more.