Opened: May 20, with new locations spreading quickly through the city. Xintiandi, the Portman, and Dongping Lu, to begin with.

What: A popular French bakery chain with roots stretching back more than one hundred years. They are ubiquitous in France, and have planted hundreds upon hundreds of stores in countries across the globe on their march towards China.

Look: This store, in the popular Thumb Plaza, sets out a few tables for people to absorb some sunshine. Inside, it’s rustic, antique French, and a glassed-in kitchen churning out the baked goods.

Food: It’s a French bakery. Baguettes, brioche, croissants, chocolate éclairs, millefeuilles, and variants are probably the reason you’re coming here the first time. The second might be for one of the light, simple, and tasty salads or sandwiches. Remember, the cost of one sandwich will save you much more in the long run, as shopping here while hungry will invariably result in armfuls of baked goods.

People: Expatriates waiting for a quality French bakery would seem to be the obvious choice, although the company asserts 80 percent of their customers are locals who associate fine pastries with a romantic vision of Paris. Whatever, our visit just seemed to be a mix of people who wanted some decent bread and cakes.

Bill: Baguettes from ¥9-18, croissants for ¥9, éclairs for ¥19, and sandwiches from ¥30-40.