Boulangerie Painorama — Specialty Store in Les Halles, Paris

Boulangerie Painorama is a bakery on Rue Saint-Honoré in Les Halles, a few steps from the market and the Châtelet crossing. You notice the window first: trompe-l'oeil pastries shaped to look like fruit, and trays of golden croissants behind the glass.

The Tradition baguette is the one to get. It is soft inside, warm shortly after the 7 am opening, and comes in a size about twice a standard Japanese baguette. Croissants and pain au chocolat, including almond croissants, are buttery and rich. Baguette sandwiches come with generous, original fillings such as goat cheese and figs, artichoke and shrimp, or Serrano ham. The trompe-l'oeil mango pastry has a balanced sugar level rather than a cloying one, and the tarts are worth a look too.

There is no seating inside. You order at the counter and take everything away; the queue can stretch onto the street but moves fast. The croque monsieur is heated and crispy, a practical breakfast on the way to the Louvre, and nearby parks give you somewhere to sit with it.

Prices sit in the moderate range. A sandwich is a full meal for the money, and the pastries are fairly priced for the neighbourhood. Get there early at lunchtime if you want a choice of salads. The shop opens at 7 am Monday to Saturday and 8 am on Sunday, closing at 8 pm on weekdays and 5 pm on Sunday.

The shop suits anyone staying nearby who wants breakfast or a takeaway lunch, and anyone passing through Les Halles who wants a baguette to eat in a park.