Best Date Bars London: Where to Find the Juiciest, Most Delicious Sweet Treats

When you’re looking for a snack that’s sweet, chewy, and actually good for you, date bars, a simple, natural snack made from dried dates, nuts, and sometimes oats or coconut. Also known as energy bars, they’re the go-to choice for people who want something satisfying without refined sugar or artificial junk. In London, you don’t have to hunt far—these bars are everywhere, from bustling farmers’ markets to quiet vegan bakeries tucked down side streets. They’re not just for gym-goers or health nuts. Locals grab them on the way to work, pack them for weekend hikes, and even serve them at birthday parties because, let’s be honest, they’re just delicious.

What makes a great date bar in London? It’s not about fancy packaging or organic labels. It’s about texture—soft but not mushy, sticky but not gooey. The best ones use Medjool dates, a touch of almond butter, maybe some chopped walnuts or cacao nibs. You’ll find them at vegan bakeries, shops that make desserts without eggs, dairy, or honey like those in Peckham or Camden, where the staff knows your name and how you take your coffee. Some places even make them gluten-free, using oat flour or ground flax instead of wheat. And if you’re watching your sugar intake, look for bars with no added syrup—just the natural sweetness of the dates themselves.

You’ll also spot them in London sweet treats, handmade desserts that focus on flavor and quality over mass production stalls at Borough Market or Maltby Street, where vendors sell them beside handmade chocolates and spiced nuts. These aren’t the plastic-wrapped bars you find in supermarkets. These are made fresh daily, often in small batches, and sometimes flavored with cardamom, orange zest, or sea salt. One bakery in Islington adds tahini for a nutty depth that keeps people coming back. Another in Shoreditch rolls theirs in coconut flakes and calls them "date fudge bars"—and they sell out by noon.

There’s a reason these bars keep showing up in so many of London’s food stories. They’re simple, real, and made by people who care. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, just tired of sugary snacks, or you’ve got a sweet tooth that won’t quit, there’s a date bar out there for you. And in London, you’ve got more options than you think.

Below, you’ll find the top spots where locals buy, love, and sometimes fight over the last one. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just the real places that make the best date bars in the city—right now.