Comptoirs De France Bakery offers an array of tasty and colourful choices, including 15 different cakes, 20 types of chocolate, 20 types of bread, 16 types of breakfast buns, 8 cookies and 8 macaroons, besides coffee, ice-cream and other drinks, according to chef Philippe Ancelet, who has been in the trade for 35 years and pastry chef for many five-star hotels.

The making of some pastries involves French alcohol, such as Cointreau Grand Marnier or Marc De Champagne. Also available is French imported Valrhona chocolate, a top-quality chocolate in Europe.

In an attempt to localize and cater to Chinese tastes, the bakery combines French specialities with Chinese flavour. For example, one chocolate is flavoured with Sichuan pepper, while one of the colourful macaroons has a green tea flavour. And the pastry making uses less sugar, because Chinese people do not like very sweet food.

Some typical specialities are almond croissant, muffins with raisins, blueberry or chocolate flavours, caramel Fleurdesel, spicy pears & caramel, as well as strawberry tartlet.

A Napoleon slice costs 12 yuan (US$1.5), the smallest size fresh fruitcake is priced at 65 yuan (US$8.13), and a tuna sandwich costs 28 yuan (US$3.5).

Location: 102 Bldg 15 China Central Place, 89 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District
Opening hours: 7 am-9 pm
Tel: 010-65305480