Cafe de Beaumarchais

Whether you’re on a romantic gambol, taking nan for a drive, or rendezvousing with a time-travelling pre-revolutionary French aristocrat, this cafe is la bombe. The light fittings and mirrors drip with curlicues, and the pastries and platters (brie, cheddar, pesto, garlicky tzatziki, olives, salami, smoked salmon) are equally rich. There must be a cow’s worth of butter in the capsicum and goat’s cheese flan crust; likewise the medallion of egg-packed quiche. If your heart stops, order a defibrillating coffee and avert your eyes from the cake display: burnished seville orange; luminous macarons. And are there baguettes and croissants? Bien sûr.