We’ve all been to Paul, which is probably the cutest yet most elegant cafe on the GW campus. It has, without a doubt, the best coffee and the best customer service. The ambience, the vibe, and the overall feel just keep us coming back from more. So here are eight things that we’ve all thought at least once during our time at Paul Bakery:

1. “There is definitely no way I’m fancy enough to be here.”

Paul is usually replete with businessmen and women, which means that the people sitting around you are wearing business attire. Even people who aren’t stopping by for a break from work always look put together, which brings us to inevitably question whether our casual appearance is socially acceptable. Obviously, people don’t really care, but it’s just a feeling of self-consciousness.

2. “Perhaps I should learn French.”

Paul, being a French bakery, naturally attracts many Francophones. Hearing them converse in rapid French at the table next to yours makes you want to be able to speak the beautiful language, does it not? How satisfying would it be to be able to order in perfect French? Donnez-moi un café au lait, s’il vous plaît!

3. “Is it possible to be in love with a chandelier?”

The chandeliers make the cafe even more classy. Each one of them is a little different, and they’re really fun to stare at meaningfully as you ponder the important things in life.

4. “I’m never going back to Starbucks.”

The lines are always a mile long at Starbucks, and you have to wait a century to get your drink. Plus, there’s never any room! Paul is a lot more spacious, and you have the option to get your coffee in cute mugs instead of the to-go cups. Save the planet! Paul also has comfier chairs and bigger tables. (And last time I checked, Starbucks never had any chandeliers. Refer back to #3.)

5. “Can I actually just live here?”

Why wouldn’t you want to live in a mini-France?

6. “Even their packets of sugar are fancy."

Gone are the yellow Splenda packets that you’ve become very familiar with during your coffee-drinking career. Say hello to long, skinny, black packs of sugar that say “sucre blanc.” French just makes everything fancy.

7. “Must not make a mistake, must not embarrass myself, must not make a mistake…”

Many people find that this is something they think on a daily basis, but this thought is only amplified in Paul. The businesspeople, the chandeliers, the Frenchness… It makes you want to be your best self.

8. “Who even is Paul?”

We’ve all wondered where exactly Paul got its name. But at the end of the day, we’re just thankful that it exists.