The buzz: With the arrival of TCDC, Warehouse 30 and untold shop-house bars, Charoenkrung’s come on leaps and bounds in the past 12 months. If this latest arrival's name, Maison Chatenet, rings any bells, that’s because chef-proprietor Marcel Chatenet is the older brother of Albert, the star Laotian-French baker who whipped Bangkok into a frenzy with his croissants a couple years back.

 

The decor: A melange of glass, concrete and brick that hits all the home-comfort notes without any twee frills. The sun-dappled ground floor is home to an open kitchen that’s a hive of activity, but the real heart of the place can be found upstairs where a long wooden table is meant to recreate the setting of traditional French family gatherings.

 

The food: The pastries take center stage, including, of course, the croissant: flaky, chewy goodness that’s the result of a painstaking three-day baking process. Sweet tooths are truly spoiled thanks to options like brioche feuilletee (B110), apple tart filled with almond cream (B50) and chouquette filled pastry cream (B35). Solid savory bites include the hefty boeuf bourguignon quiche topped with melted cheese (B150), porchetta sandwiches (B150) and gougeres (choux pastry with cheddar cheese, B20)—best paired with a cold beer.

 

The drinks: To go with a croissant, grab an espresso (B80) or cappuccino (B120) made from beans sourced and roasted in Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai. An iced chocolate (B120) makes a fine caffeine-free alternative. Beers and wines are on the way.

 

Why we’d come back: Beautifully buttery croissants and scrumptious quiches mere minutes from some of our favorite creative spaces guarantee repeat visits. The promise of more substantial French comfort food (and wine) in the near future also has us salivating. Kankanok Wichiantanon