Sink your teeth into a perfect eclair and, just for a moment, be transported to the cafes of Montmartre. Chef and owner, Neil McKenzie, is wowing the Melbourne’s northern regions with his latest; Parisian Patisserie Boulangerie in North Essendon, where locals regularly queue out the door.

Previously owning North Melbourne’s French Quarter and Essendon’s St Germain, the pâtissier and his wife bring the magic of what they learnt whilst living in Paris to the streets of Melbourne.

With a brioche recipe that has taken six years to perfect, the buttery balls suggest they have definitely reached their goal. From the Croissant d’Amande, to the tangy Tarte aux Citron, McKenzie’s dedication to bringing a touch of Paris to Melbourne is evident – a culmination of 17 years as a chef and recent training at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school.

The demure sunny white space and Parisian detailing are a tidy backdrop to the window-full of golden pastries (made with Warrnambool butter) and sugar dusted cakes, all baked on site daily.