Why locals love this award-winning French café in south London
Crowned Lewisham’s Best Café at the 2025 Mayor of Lewisham’s Business Awards, Le Delice are one of the award-winning businesses fronting our Discover Lewisham this summer campaign, encouraging people to enjoy our fantastic local businesses and explore what the area has to offer.
At the heart of Le Délice is owner Karine, who grew up in Normandy and has called south London home for the past 30 years. Inspired by a passion for French baking, she and her husband opened Le Délice in Ladywell, to bring authentic French pastries and flavours to south London. After the success of their Ladywell café, they set up their second space in Hither Green in 2021.
“When I arrived, I noticed there wasn’t any French cake or French croissants. So, with my husband, we came up with the idea to make our own”.
From buttery pastries and stunning French cakes to homemade hot meals and grab-and-go favourites – everything feels like a taste of France, crafted with love. And a must try? Their bestseller, the macarons.
But Le Délice is about much more than sweet treats and coffee – it's about having a warm place for the community to come together and enjoy delicious food.
"My customers are like family. We know their names, we know their kids' names, we know their dogs' names".
Customers rave about Le Délice, with one regular saying “it’s always very friendly” and another mentioning the “lovely atmosphere”. That warm, welcoming and authentically French atmosphere, created by Karine and her team, has helped put Le Délice on the map. Now, with the title of Lewisham’s Best Café to its name, the future looks bright.
“Winning the award was amazing and it was really a shock. We felt the love; the response was overwhelming. It just pushes us to do better”.
Discover Lewisham this summer
Lewisham has it all. A buzzing food scene with flavours from across the globe, award-winning parks, independent businesses, outdoor markets and festivals and a standout arts and culture scene.
Love Lewisham? So do we. This summer, show some love to the local businesses that make our borough special. Pick up a coffee from your favourite café, pop into an independent shop, grab lunch locally or try somewhere new. Every pound spent locally helps support local jobs, businesses and the high streets we all love. Find out more about Discover Lewisham this summer and where to eat, shop and visit locally.