I gotta admit, I giggled a little when I first read the name of "Le Crobag" many years ago. But I have to give it to them... they run the best mass-market bakery in town, and I can say that with the authority of having eaten hundreds of their cheese croissants.
"German bread is the best in the world" says everyone in Germany, but I find the mass-produced rolls from most chains to be pretty tasteless. The pastries are equally uninspiring, considering that the city's beloved Franzbrötchen always seems to be served semi-damp.
The two exceptions to crummy chain bakeries in Hamburg (in my experience) are Le Crobag and Junge. Le Crobag takes (obviously) a more French approach to baking, and they serve croissants, baguettes/ficelles, and other frenchy things, along with Franzbrötchen (which, legend has it, was local bakers' attempt to reproduce a croissant for Napoleon's invading forces).
My go-tos at Le Crobag are the cheese croissant and the ficelle (any variety, but serrano ham is especially good). At the Le Crobag in the Jungfernstieg train station, they also have Frühstücksbrötchen (breakfast sandwiches) that are smaller and cheaper versions of the ficelle.
For lunch they have hot pastas and casseroles, along with panini that they will heat on a press for you. They also serve coffee and espresso drinks. It's a great place to go for a quick and casual breakfast or lunch, and the prices are reasonable. read more
