When Lannan opened its doors in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge in July 2023, the city’s pastry scene gained one of its most talked-about new arrivals. The bakery is the first solo venture from Scottish baker Darcie Maher, whose career began aged just 15 in the Scottish Borders. After six years working as a chef, Maher turned her attention exclusively to pastry, refining her skills in acclaimed restaurants and bakeries across the UK before founding her own consultancy business, teaching fellow bakers throughout Britain and Europe.
Lannan marks Maher’s return to hands-on baking, balancing classical technique with playful curiosity. The bakery’s regularly changing menu features both familiar favourites and creative showstoppers, from buttery viennoiserie and custard slices to cardamom buns and pains suisses. Seasonal specials often spotlight local ingredients in imaginative combinations, such as:
- Maple and Pecan: maple and pecan butter, toasted and malted milk whipped custard, maple candied pecans
- Pear, Chocolate and Sauternes: pear compote, milk chocolate custard, Sauternes mascarpone cream
- ‘Jaffa Cake’: buckwheat and brown butter financier, sea buckthorn jelly, chocolate ganache
Savoury offerings are equally tempting, with pala romana slices, sandwiches and pastries filled with quality produce from I.J. Mellis and The Ham & Cheese Co. Highlights include:
- Corn, Habanero and Primadonna: charred creamed corn, fermented habanero chilli, Primadonna cheese
- Leek and Ogleshield: braised leek and Ogleshield cheese
- Mortadella, Fennel and Pistachio: mortadella, fresh fennel and pistachio pesto on focaccia
For those planning ahead, pastries can be pre-ordered via lannanbakery.com/shop for collection from Lannan Pantry, the sister shop next door. Orders open Tuesday to Sunday for pick-up the following week, with a minimum of £21 and a maximum of 18 pastries per order.
Inside, Lannan is as beautifully composed as its bakes. The space is flooded with natural light from wrap-around windows, centred around a long counter overlooking a kitchen hatch where guests can glimpse the team at work. The design mixes traditional quarry tiles, brass fixtures and handwoven cotton curtains with artwork by Maher’s mother, Caroline Milne, while the bakery’s chic croissant and ‘Lady Lannan’ logo comes courtesy of designer Hannah Robinson.
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Alongside pastries, visitors can purchase organic cotton tote bags, handmade ceramics by Claire Henry, and a curated range of merchandise online.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm (or until sold out), Lannan has already won widespread acclaim, including being named ‘Pastry Opening of the Year’ at the 2024 La Liste Pastry Awards. For Maher, the bakery represents not just a bricks-and-mortar milestone but the next evolution of her lifelong dedication to pastry craft.
