It took a lot to get here… After eight years working for others (Kafei, Cup 28°), Vittoria Laforgia finally has a place of her own! And as the name suggests, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into – especially of the crunchy kind, as well as coffee to help you live the good life, from Brussels-based roasters Wild Awake. Whatever your potion, there’s a wide selection of sweet treats to match, like the matcha and white chocolate cookie, or the wildly addictive “crookie” – a perfect hybrid between the croissant from Mains and the house-made cookie dough. The sandwiches are also a winner, with fillings switched up according to the seasons, like the Italian stuffed with grilled eggplant, homemade pesto, parmesan and arugula, or the Freshness of Greece with tzatziki, tomatoes, black olives and oregano, which were available last summer. // Jean Gourmand

THE HIDDEN GEM: The aforementioned croissant from Mains, this time filled with homemade crème brûlée (€4.50) – best kept out of reach of hyperglycemics (€4.50).