Bakery Thévenin Saint Placide — Specialty Store in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris

Bakery Thévenin Saint Placide sits on Rue Notre Dame des Champs in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a few steps from Saint-Sulpice station.

The palmiers are the reason to come: buttery puff pastry, and one regular who has tried palmiers across France names these the finest, crediting Laurent. The ganache brownie is a chocolate brownie that one regular buys on every visit. Croissants are soft and fresh, a common early breakfast choice, and the passion fruit macarons are good enough that a visitor from Norway bought sixteen to take home. The Black Forest cake is the signature cake for birthdays. The tartelette framboise is a raspberry tart praised as beautiful and delicious.

The shop works as a bakery, pastry counter and tea room in one. You order at the counter, and there is seating inside and outside for coffee and snacks. A microwave in the dining area lets you heat food yourself. Sandwiches and lunch parcels are available to eat in or take away.

The prices are high for what you get. Coffee and croissants are under €2 each, which makes an early breakfast the best value here. Opening at 7 am every day, including Sunday, suits a morning visit before the neighbourhood fills up.

The queue can be chaotic. The shop suits anyone who wants a proper French pastry breakfast early in the day.