There is something rather charming about this little bakery, tucked away in ward place opposite singer showroom. It is quaint, understated and very much the sort of place you could walk past without realizing that there is actually some rather good baking happening inside.
We stopped in for a plain croissant, an almond croissant, a cafe mocha and an Americano. And, for the most part, everything was very good.
The coffee, in particular, deserves a proper mention. Both the cafe mocha and the Americano were exceptionally good, beautifully made, well balanced and, importantly, coffee that actually tastes like coffee. No unnecessary theatrics, no burnt bitterness masquerading as strength. Just a very good cup.
The almond croissant was also lovely. I wouldn't go as far as calling it extraordinary, but it was genuinely good: buttery, nicely baked and satisfying without becoming excessively sweet or heavy.
But the plain croissant was the interesting one.
You could tell almost immediately that this was a very well-made croissant. Inside, it had that beautiful, airy honeycomb structure you look for, light, delicate and properly laminated. The interior was fluffy without being bready, and there was clearly some serious baking skill behind it.
Unfortunately, the croissant was microwaved for about ten seconds before being served.
Now, It was I who requested to heat it as nobody wants to eat a cold croissant. But ten seconds in a microwave is enough to take something beautifully flaky and turn the exterior just a little soft and soggy. And that was the unfortunate part here, because the croissant itself deserved better.
A croissant like this wants a little heat that restores its crispness an oven, an air fryer, even a small bake oven would do the trick. Something that brings the butter and pastry back to life while keeping those lovely layers crisp enough to shatter slightly when you bite into them.
Instead, we had this wonderfully crafted pastry with a rather unfortunate, slightly damp jacket.
And that, honestly, was my only real gripe.
The service was excellent genuinely warm, attentive and efficient without becoming intrusive. There is also something very pleasant about the place itself. It feels relaxed and unpretentious, which is increasingly refreshing in a world where every tiny café seems determined to become an “experience.”
Is it worth all the hype? Personally, I wouldn't go quite that far.
But is it good? Absolutely.
The coffee is excellent. The baking is very good. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is charming. And sometimes, that's more than enough.
I would happily come back particularly for the coffee and the pastries. I would simply plead with the kitchen to reconsider the microwave. A beautifully laminated croissant should arrive crisp, flaky and slightly glorious, not soft around the edges from just ten seconds of nuclear intervention.
A small criticism, but an important one when the underlying product is this good.
There is clearly talent here. Just let the croissant finish the journey it started in the oven.
Very good coffee, very good pastries, lovely service and a charming little spot.
