This bakery has it’s bearings – and they’re pointing both north and south! On Rue de Flandre, Provence-born Romain Garcin (after what seems like a thousand culinary lives, including at Aube) teamed up with Nilfour De Pépé (ex-Pompe in Marseille and Morgen in Ghent) to create a bakery with a split personality, marrying Mediterranean sunshine with Nordic precision. Inside the sleekly minimalist space (exposed brick walls, a brushed stainless-steel counter, an oven reigning proudly over the proceedings) the duo turns out well-crafted sourdough breads (baguettes with a bold crust and airy crumb, wonderfully rustic einkorn bread), flawless pains au chocolat made with proper Ardennes butter, generously squishy cinnamon rolls and, best of all, totally moreish pompes à l’huile (olive oil brioche) that are beautifully fragrant and deliciously chewy. That’s Brussels, baby! · Barnabé Gueule

The hidden gem: Surprise, surprise, the pompe à l’huile, every bit as good as the ones in Marseille (€2.80), with chocolate-chip version for good measure (€3.50).