Aux Castelblangeois — Specialty Store in Les Halles, Paris

Aux Castelblangeois is an independent bakery and pastry shop on Rue Saint-Honoré in Les Halles, a few minutes from the Louvre. The window display faces the street, and novelty-shaped cakes sit among the pastries.

The baguette sandwiches are what to order. Salmon, Caesar, Energy and ham come on bread with a proper crust, filled generously. The croissants are made with pure butter, and the pistachio éclair has a very thin coating and is not too sweet. The trompe-l'oeil pastries are novelty-shaped and not too sweet; the pear and pistachio tart is the more traditional option.

Inside, the shop is cramped. There are narrow standing tables fixed to the wall, maybe 15 to 20 cm deep, where you can eat a quick bite, but most of what leaves the door is takeaway. Payment is old-fashioned at the cashier, with the amount written on a slip of paper. If you want to sit somewhere green with your sandwich, the Tuileries is the obvious direction.

Prices sit below what you would expect this close to the Louvre: a pear tart at €3.60, a round of sandwiches and a chocolate fondant for under €16. Come at lunch and the queue looks longer than it is, because the counter moves fast; come late in the afternoon and the trays are thinning out, so the éclair you wanted may be gone. No coffee is served.

The shop suits anyone who wants a real sandwich and a pastry to carry to the river or the gardens.