Des Gâteaux et du Pain was the first place that sprang to my mind when listing my top spots in Paris and probably also the first one that I mentioned to Sanne and Bart. I think the explanation is that, if there is one thing that symbolises Paris (or France in general) like no other, it is the croissant. Call me crazy but I have always been a “butter and jam” on my croissant kind of gal’, alongside a good “café noisette” (espresso macchiato).

Well, believe it or not, Des Gâteaux et du Pain got me to ditch the butter AND the jam because the flaky soft buttery croissants really don’t need anything else. It is, personally, the place I go to when I have some friends to impress at brunch or when I want to show off at work about knowing where you can find the best croissants in Paris. The thing it is really famous for, however, is the prize-winning chausson aux pommes.

As the name suggests, Des Gâteaux et du Pain also has amazing bread (I recommend the polka and their focaccias) and some darn good gâteaux. The very talented Claire Damon really stands out, in my mind, in a world of pastry otherwise dominated by men. Her approach is close-to-nature and she only works around fruits which are in season, using ingredients sourced in France and organic.

One last tip if you want to be sure to get your hands on a croissant: get there early!