Cafe Beaubourg, Paris

I don't care if it was designed by a Pritzker laureate. Some cafes just scream 1980's. Like the Cafe Beaubourg, overlooking the Pompidou Centre in Paris, Tel +33 1 4887 6396. Grab some shoulder pads, pop on the Wayfarers, and slide that old Billy Ocean tape into your walkman. It's 1987 again and the markets are crashing...

Pain au Raisins, Bechu

Boulangerie Saint-Louis, Paris

Paris has much to recommend it, not least the fact that whenever you are feeling a bit peckish, no matter where you are, there will be a half-decent boulangerie within spitting distance. Just pop in, pick up a croissant (and maybe a few other treats), and munch your way happily down the street. This croissant, for example, was just the kick I needed after a few hours stomping across Paris. It wasn't very buttery, but it was very good. I love the way the light, fluffy layers of pastry squish together as you take each bite.

Boulangerie Artisanale Pain d'Epis, Paris

If you like your pain au raisins loaded with fruit, then the Boulangerie Artisanale Pain d'Epis is the place to go, 63 Avenue Bosquet, 75007 Paris, Tel +33 1 45 51 75 01. Personally, I prefer a light spinkling of sultanas in my pain au raisins, so this was a bit too fruity for me. But I know plenty of people who like it fruity, so I'm sure this would appeal to them. The croissant was superb. Light and slightly flaky on the outside, and very soft and buttery in the middle. I tend to eat my croissants as they come (without any additional butter or jam), so the more built-in butter, the better.

Croissants, Rue Cler

The boulangerie diagonally opposite Le Cafe Du Marche in the middle of Rue Cler does a nice buttery croissant, which was equal to anything I had in Paris. Does anyone know how much butter and fat there is in an average croissant? If so, please don't tell me.

Les Deux Magots, Paris

In England, they give their pubs strange names like "The Slug and Lettuce" and "The Fighting Cocks", so you could be forgiven for thinking that "Les Deux Magots" was named after a couple of flesh eating grubs. But it turns out that a "Magot" is some kind of Chinese statue. And "Les Deux Magots" is the name of a very famous "literary" cafe at 6 place Saint Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris, Tel +33 1 45 48 55 25.