London, 2018

Harrods Roastery and Bake Food Hall

Good quality design is a very sound investment. A beautiful environment, the experience of shopping as a delightful way to spend time and is what we owe our customers. Harrods has always recognized the importance of great design to be a critical element of retail allure and performance. It is perpetual though. You will never get to the point where a project is finished. The quest for better has no endpoint. Again, this, for me, is exciting and, obviously, is great for design studios!

This idea of nothing ever being completed is something you need to go with. I adore the space as it is but already, we are in the process of refining, moving, lowering. It is not about something being designed incorrectly - it is the pursuit of perfection, and it is where client and designer need to have respect and appreciation for each other. Fortunately, our dialogue, our connection, with David Collins Studio makes this a fascinating process.

Alex Dower, Director of Food & Restaurants, Harrods

Harrods commitment to quality and product makes them the perfect partner for our studio, as we share the same values. Quality of design is so important to us both, which ensures this historic store evolves with longevity, timeless precision and exacting presentation. It's such a pleasure collaborating on the food halls; the highly experienced teams, inspire and evolve the creative process and our vision marries seamlessly - resulting in beautifully restored rooms, which have been updated and reimagined to respect, yet firmly project forward, ensuring Harrods remains at forefront of luxury food retail.

Simon Rawlings, Chief Creative Officer, David Collins Studio

Cakes arranged like precious jewels in glass cases, fresh spices in bell jars that lift to reveal rich aromas and a floor-to-ceiling altar of bread. Harrods doesn't do things by halves. Today the department store unveiled its new art deco-inspired Roastery and Bake Hall,

housing a bakery and coffee roastery, tea tailor, gourmet grocery and new destination coffee and cocktail bar. Designed by David Collins Studio (DCS) it signals the largest redevelopment of the store's historic Food Halls in more than 20 years.

The Telegraph

A space where heritage meets innovation, the Roastery & Bake Hall at Harrods is a contemporary reinvention of one of London’s most iconic culinary institutions. As the first of four interconnected Food Halls—including Fresh, Dining, and Chocolate—this space forms the foundation of a £300 million transformation, celebrating the artistry of food within an architectural setting that balances tradition with modernity.

Set within the Grade II-listed* grandeur of Harrods, the design restores the hall’s original 1925 proportions, revealing Carrara marble floors, decorative ceiling cartouches, and pressed-glass panels that echo the light and rhythm of the space. Against this backdrop, contemporary details in ribbed brass, dark timber, and fluted glass introduce a tactile contrast, while bespoke leather bar stools, each individually embroidered in deep blue, lend an air of craftsmanship and refinement.

At the heart of the room, the Coffee and Patisserie Bars serve as a focal point—curved ceramic counters sit beneath brass and holophane glass lighting, evoking the glamour of a classic espresso bar. From here, the hall unfolds across four distinct elevations, each designed as an immersive experience.

To the west, the Bakery is a theatre of artisanal craftsmanship, where fresh loaves and pastries emerge from the ovens in a carefully orchestrated ritual. A central clock, its hands moving with quiet precision, underscores the art of baking as an act of measured timing, while a bell chime announces each new batch—transforming the passage of time into an audible moment of anticipation.

To the north, the Roastery commands attention. Encased in glass, a jet-black and brass Probat roaster stands as a sculptural centrepiece, where beans are roasted, aged, and blended on site. The experience is heightened by a coffee tasting counter, inviting guests to discover new blends and create bespoke roasts.

Opposite, the Tea Room provides a refined counterpoint, with loose-leaf teas displayed like rare artefacts. The Flavour House, dedicated to bespoke blends, allows customers to develop their own signature teas, stored for future reference, reinforcing a sense of ritual and exclusivity.

To the south, the Gourmet Grocery presents oils, vinegars, and fine produce on sculptural fixtures, their varying heights encouraging exploration. The east is home to Harrods’ seasonal hampers, framed by aged brass shelving and mirror detailing, transforming a heritage tradition into a curated retail experience.

A study in contrasts—where the historic meets the contemporary, and precision meets spontaneity—the Roastery & Bake Hall sets the tone for the new Harrods Food Halls, where craftsmanship, provenance, and design converge in an atmosphere of refined spectacle.

Photography by Kensington Leverne