20/05/2026
What’s one pastry that takes you straight back to your childhood? For Sylvie at it was the mini raisin Danish. 🥐
Founded over a century ago, Rinkoffs is a Jewish family business. The story started in Ukraine in 1885 with the birth of Hyman Rinkoff, who later made his way to London with his beloved recipes. At just 25, he opened his first shop on Old Montague Street.
In the 1950s, his youngest son Max joined the family business. He went on to run the bakery right through to the early 2000s, together with his wife Sylvia.
A lot has changed since the early days (including a distinct lack of waxed moustaches), but the soul of the bakery remains the same. Today, you’ll find three generations on the shop floor at once — from master baker Ray (Max and Sylvia’s son) to his daughters and grandsons — fusing Hyman’s original Challah with modern icons like the Crodough. 🍩
The Migration Story:
🌱 Five Generations: A legacy built, nurtured, and passed down since 1911.
🥨 Fusing Cultures: Traditional recipes meet contemporary London ideas.
🏛️ Community Hubs: More than a bakery—an inclusive space for "people and pastries".
Next time you’re in Whitechapel, stop by for a treat – and a taste of London’s living history.
For Jewish Culture Month we're spotlighting the story behind an East End institution:
📍 224 Jubilee St & 79 Vallance Rd
🎞️ Swipe through to see: Max & Sylvie (c.1950), Derek & family (c.1970), Rinkoff's at Old Montague Street (c.1970), the family, Hyman (c.1911), Daniel, and Ray.
📁 All photos courtesy of the amazing .
