Caveat: I base my review only on one baguette, a croissant, and Polaine’s stellar reputation. That said, they were hands down the yummiest bread items I’ve eaten, and five years later I still remember them vividly. The baguette had a crisp, tangy crust and a soft, flavorful inside. The croissant, which was small, surely contained at least three sticks of butter! Worth the trip. And, while I don’t remember the name, there’s a shop at the other end of the street, on the same side, where my mom had the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted. Basically, a melted candy bar. Poilane now offers online ordering and international shipping, but only for a limited variety of their breads that travel well (generally, the harder and darker loaves).

Delicious sourdough bread made the traditional way; Poilane is a bit of an
establishment in France when it comes to sourdough bread. I think the first
shop opened in the 1930's on the Left Bank.

If you are struggling to get to that particular store, you can also find
Poilane breads in most Waitrose outlets...

Best way to enjoy it: toast slices, slightly butter them, and use them like
French 'tartines' (which means dunking in hot coffee or chocolate). Heaven!