What started as a bakery for Eduardo García’s Máximo Bistrot and Lalo is now unintentionally a speakeasy for pastry lovers. To get in, ring the bell on the street, wait for the buzzer, then follow the winding, shadowy alley to a Nordic-minimalist room with an open kitchen offering pastries, breads, and sandwiches. Zero in on the guava “croffin” (croissant and muffin hybrid), the perfect balance of crispy and light, with pastry cream and almonds adding extra magic. Or the not overly sweet chocolate croissant—the bitter dark chocolate hits all the right notes and is rich without being overwhelming. If you’re lucky to snag one of the six seats at the communal table, do yourself a favor and eat the ham sandwich on-site. The smoky ham, comté cheese, mustard, and fluffy scrambled eggs combo on their crunchy-soft bread is next-level and even better with a flat white.