Le Pain Quotidien

Everything about this cafe is painfully French: the fresh-baked breads with hazelnut spreads, the strong coffee, the open-faced sandwiches with tapenade and gruyere and, to top it off, the servers' dismissive attitudes. The communal table can be fun or frustrating depending on who you're sitting with, so err on the side of sanity and check for single tables in the back before you sit with the crowd. Or skip seating all together and take one of the decadent desserts to go.

See more: SoHo restaurants, French restaurants