Spectacular French bakery on Magazine Street

Talk of the town: King Cakes, a Mardi Gras staple, are a speciality here. Inside each is a small plastic baby - getting the slice with the toy may be lucky, but it also means next time it's your turn to buy the cake.

La Boulangerie is an Uptown bakery with a line-up often out the door, so powerful a draw are the wonderful smells of baking bread and the sight of glistening French patisserie. Come here for excellent bread, baguettes, croissants, pain au chocolat and Mardi Gras King Cake, but don't leave without one of their tarte aux pommes, tarte tatin, or an apricot Danish.

The owners are from France, and you may detect a little authentic Frenchness in the service as well as the goods. Cash only.