When you need a pastry and a seat, its best to find yourself on Ursuline between Royal and Chartres. Croissant D’or is still a treat (even tho tourists now line up at 8:30 and knockoff folk art surrounds you).
The surroundings can take you back to Brocato’s Italian Ices or just since the bakery came to be there maybe 25 years ago. Still, even with the tourist line, if you get there early or late, you can have a great baguette and a strong cup of espresso…