Le Pain Quotidien

This charming Belgian chain, a bread-lover’s heaven, is a comfy all-day hangout. Groups of girlfriends meet to gossip and splurge on pastries, couples swap newspaper sections over coffee, and solo diners strike up conversations at huge communal wooden tables. Breakfast offerings are simple—frothy café au lait; baskets of rustic European breads, croissants and brioche; soft-boiled eggs; granola-yogurt parfaits. Come lunchtime, there’s a long list of salads and intriguing open-faced sandwiches, including egg salad with capers and bracingly salty anchovies, and smoked salmon sprinkled with dill and scallions. For dessert, Le Pain Quotidien’s extensive offerings include pretty fruit tarts, brownies and enormous cookies. Or you can opt for crunchy hazelnut ficelle or plump pain au chocolat topped with a dollop of jam, chestnut cream or the addictive hazelnut-praline spread, jars of which are at every table. Another reason to love Le Pain Quotidien: The company emphasizes organic products, including eggs, vegetables, cheeses, flour and even fruit soda.