Boulangerie Basil — Specialty Store in Passy, Paris

Boulangerie Basil is an independent bakery and pâtisserie on Rue François Millet in Passy, a few minutes from Boulainvilliers station. What you notice first is the bread: loaves made with sourdough and local flour, baked properly, which is rarer than it should be. The shop itself is cosy, and the team greets you as you come through the door.

The cinnamon rolls are the reason to come. They are crisp on the outside, tender brioche within, and one of the few pastries here that people go out of their way for. The sourdough loaves follow close behind, and the 100 percent rye is a favourite of regulars. The pain au chocolat and croissants are the standard morning order, the baguette has a crisp crust and soft crumb, and the flan is silky and rich on puff pastry. Walnut bread and a seeded gourmet loaf are worth carrying home.

The shop runs as a classic counter service: you order at the counter, the bill is presented on a tablet at the back, and the team will wrap bread and pastries for the trip home. The savoury tarts have a crisp, fragrant crust and a filling that melts with just the right amount of cream. There is no seating to speak of — this is a buy-and-go bakery.

Prices are high on some items: a small spelt loaf at €3.90 for 54g works out at over €72 per kilo, and the baguette at €1.50 is on the steep side for what it is. Bread comes out around 7 am, and by 7:10 there is already a queue, so an early start is worth it. Sunday hours are short, 7:30 am to 12 pm, and the shop is closed on Mondays.

The bread and pastries are the draw, and they are made with care — the flan, in particular, is made with real ingredients rather than industrial powders. Come for the cinnamon rolls and the sourdough, and go early.