Located on Mayfair’s North Audley Street is Naya, a premium new London patisserie whose offering includes sumptuous chocolate eclairs and creamy basque cheesecake, perfect for a pick-me-up when you’re perusing the area’s luxury shops and art galleries.
The patisserie was founded by brothers Can and Cengizhan Ayan, who are the fourth generation of the family behind Turkish chocolatier Pelit. ‘Naya’ means ‘new’ or ‘fresh’ in Sanskrit, while eagle-eyed readers may have also noticed it is the brothers’ surname backwards. The new outlet acts like an exhibition space, showcasing intricate pastries that combine decadent flavours with buttery and flaky pastry.
Inside the sweet world of Naya
‘Our family started in the chocolate business back in 1957, so opening Naya in London felt like a calling for my brother and me – we wanted to create an experience that bridges the old and the new, showcasing our rich family traditions, whilst sparking curiosity with modern elements,’ says Can Ayan.
Naya is more than a grab-and-go bakery, also catering to dine-in guests and offering drinks, chocolates and an expansive wine list. The Ayan brothers worked closely with British designers India Hicks and Anna Goulandris to make sure the interior accommodated the variety of offerings, felt local to the area, and also nodded to the brothers’ heritage.
Open bakery countertops greet visitors, while bespoke hand-painted scenes by design company de Gournay adorn the walls. The dining area is made to feel like a homely sitting room, with warm tones and soft fabric. Touches of leopard add a bold sense of glamour. What anchors the room is a large tree, which branches out throughout the space.
The menu includes sweet dishes crafted from recipes that have been passed down the Ayan family for generations. Magnolia pudding is a taste of comfort and nostalgia. There are also savoury options such as lobster rolls and bresaola sandwiches to curb more substantial cravings. Drinks include an array of coffees, as well as matcha and other tea selections. Champagne and wine from French and Italian regions are also available – and when visiting Naya, who needs a special occasion to tuck into a decadent cake with a glass of champagne?
-
The bespoke Jaguar E-Type GTO melds elements from every era of the classic sports carECD Automotive Design’s one-off commission caters to a client who wanted to combine the greatest hits of Jaguar’s E-Type along with modern conveniences and more power
-
Casa Sanlorenzo debuts in Venice as a new hub for contemporary artThe luxury yachting leader unveils a stunning new space in a palazzo restored by Piero Lissoni – where art, innovation, and sustainability come together
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on lifeThanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being rebonr as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
This Hackney bar is reviving London’s legacy of lesbian spacesDesigned by Studio Popelo, La Camionera emerges as a vital sanctuary for London’s FLINTA* community, honouring it right down to the details
-
Time-travel to the golden age of the cruise ship at Sea Containers LondonThe South Bank hotel celebrates its tenth anniversary with four new suites inspired by period cabin design, from Edwardian elegance to 1980s glamour
-
Twin Peaks’ Double R Diner is coming to London (for a day)Mubi marks Twin Peaks’ 35th anniversary with pop-up diner and streaming release
-
Ukrainian restaurant Sino adds to London's diverse food culture with warming traditions that feel familiar yet newPronounced see-no, the new Ukrainian restaurant in Notting Hill, by Polina Sychova and chef Eugene Korolev, is built on the intimate relationship between people and nature – offering beauty in simplicity
-
Art, pasta and maritozzi: this is Locatelli at the National GalleryChef Giorgio Locatelli is the National Gallery’s new Italian master with the latest chapter of his beloved London restaurant
-
A local’s guide to London – Climax Books founder Isabella Burley’s favourite hauntsCreative consultant Isabella Burley credits growing up in the English capital with shaping who she is today. She takes us on a tour of some significant spots
-
This new London restaurant is a Greek island idyll on a plateMyrtos by Asimakis is a flavoursome ode to Kefalonia, conceptualised by Vernon Viljoen and Block1:Design
-
Late-night spring shopping comes to London’s Chiltern StreetOn Thursday 22 May, those in London can enjoy the Chiltern Street Spring Shopping Evening, including a programme of in-store drinks, offers and workshops
