L'Atelier du Bagel (CLOSED)

With its three busy staff simultaneously handling takeaway orders, the queue and service, this bagel shop on the Rue Saint-Lazare can feel slightly chaotic at times. But even if it can take upwards of 10 minutes to get your order in, the highly original bagels and fillings are worth it.

L’Atelier’s standout bagel flavour is the punchy emmental and chilli, a perfect match for the ‘Burrata’ filling (creamy burrata, sun-dried tomatoes, aubergines, pesto and rocket). Generous fillings spill out the hole in the middle – which, depending on your perspective, makes them either slightly fun or slightly nightmarish to eat. The big seller is the luscious smoked salmon and avocado, while other specialities include smoked turkey and cream cheese and the ‘Vegetarian’ with edam, avocado, cream cheese, pesto and iceberg lettuce.

A single bagel is €6-€8, so for better value try one of the set menus, like the ‘Grand Atelier’, (bagel, dessert and drink, €11.90). The various American-themed desserts include two brilliantly smooth cheesecakes (raspberry and green tea or oreo), a sticky three-tier caramel carrot cake and, for the more healthily inclined, some whopping great fruit salads. Take away or eat on the benches at the back (seating 10).