Jolie Miche Batignolles — Specialty Store in Les Épinettes, Paris

Jolie Miche Batignolles is an independent bakery on Avenue de Clichy, in Les Épinettes, and the first thing that meets you at the door is the smell of warm bread and pastry coming out of the oven.

The croissant is the one to buy first: a crisp shell around a chewy, buttery inside, and the standard the rest of the counter is measured against. The flan is set firm and custardy, the pain au chocolat comes out fresh with a good ratio of chocolate to dough, and the Paris-Brest carries a praline cream that regulars come back for. A lemon tart is bracing and sharp, with a thick biscuit base. Baguette sandwiches are made fresh, and there is a hot chocolate with a strong cocoa taste if you want something to drink with it.

Seating is three tables on the sidewalk and a small counter inside for your things, so on a wet morning you are eating standing up or taking it away.

Prices sit high for the neighbourhood. A Paris-Brest runs close to €6, a croque monsieur €9.50, a baguette €1.40, and a six-slice galette des rois €34. Breakfast here still undercuts a hotel rate, and a croissant with a coffee is the cheapest way to eat well.

It still suits anyone chasing a proper Parisian croissant without the queue at the famous names.