Mamiche — Specialty Store in Canal Saint-Martin, Paris

Mamiche is a specialty shop on Rue du Château d'Eau, in Canal Saint-Martin, and what you notice walking in is bread stacked in the windows, the look of an old bakery. The counter is the whole show: pastries, loaves and sandwiches laid out together, and a queue that forms early and stays.

The chocolate babka is where to start. It is cut to order by the slice, still warm, gooey in the middle, chocolatey without being too sweet. The croissants are crisp and buttery, the pain au chocolat light with a balanced amount of chocolate, and the almond croissant has chocolate inside. The vanilla chou has a crisp shell and a vanilla cream that stays balanced rather than sugary. For something savory, the ham and cheese roulé and the filled baguettes, including a vegetarian version, hold their own next to the sweets.

Buying works simply: you join the line, order at the counter, and take it away. There is no seating to speak of, so you eat standing or walk to the canal. The babka also comes as a whole loaf or by weight if you want more than a slice. Staff are friendly and efficient, though the wait can be long and the line moves slowly at busy times.

Prices sit in the €1–10 band, with bread and a pastry the everyday spend and a larger babka or a sandwich pushing toward the top. A card minimum applies: a single croissant on its own may not be enough to pay by card, so pair it with something else or bring change.

It suits anyone building a breakfast around pastry and bread rather than a sit-down meal.