It’s getting haute in here.
The best French restaurants in Sydney to try right now offer a taste of the joie de vivre the French are famed for. Whether you’re a food-obsessed Francophile, have a penchant for crepes or flaky croissants, or can’t afford a European escape, here are 26 of the best French restaurants to try in Sydney right now.
THE SHORTLIST
Best for fine dining: Armorica Grand Brasserie
Great for special occasions: Atelier by Sofitel
Best for a romantic night out: Franca
1. Armorica Grand Brasserie
Executive chef Jose Saulog has brought elegant Parisian bistro vibes to Sydney with flame-licked faves such as the steak cooked over the custom-built Josper grill and served with golden frites. The ambience at Armorica brasserie screams Midnight in Paris as diners from the top end of town fan out around the curved banquettes in the dimly lit space. Menu highlights include the lavish seafood tower and gold-dusted chocolate bar.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Elegant
Location: Shop 1 & 2/490 Crown St, Surry Hills
2. Atelier by Sofitel
Atelier by Sofitel has, like the brand itself, more than a few French flourishes. The word atelier translates to ‘an artist’s workshop or studio’, which is fitting given the painterly precision executive chef Sam Moore applies to the preparation and plating of each dish. Prepare to practise your French with the sophisticated staff who are justifiably proud of working at the $500 million hotel, which has views of Darling Harbour.
Price: $$$$-$$$$$
Atmosphere: Smart and sophisticated
Location: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Level 3/12 Darling Dr
3. The Charles Brasserie & Bar
The Charles is all old-world charm with ornate lighting and rich timber tones, curved caramel-hued banquettes and soaring ceilings. It’s the ideal setting to savour a stunning European experience curated by talented executive chef Billy Hannigan (The Ledbury, UK; Guillaume at Bennelong). The Charles is not strictly French, it’s more European but deserves its spot in our guide for the spatchcock and squab en croute. You’ll also find the flavours of France in the whole dry-aged Aylesbury duck à la presse and chicken liver parfait.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Euro flair
Location: 66 King St, Sydney
4. Pont Dining
Pont Dining is part of Sydney’s stellar Sandstone Precinct on the Bridge Street entrance to the heritage-listed InterContinental Sydney. Here, chef Kanishka Amunugama coaxes the best out of ingredients such as sweet Bangalow pork with chorizo jam and Vegemite butter and oysters topped with burnt cucumber and lychee granita. The sleek eatery includes moody navy-blue hues, and a statement light installation that ties in with the timeless elegance of the hotel.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Slick
Location: 12/117 Macquarie St, Sydney
5. Chez Blue, Rozelle
Sydney’s obsession with French bistros shows no sign of abating with Chez Blue in Rozelle celebrating the impeccable credentials of former Bistro Moncur head chef Mark Williamson. You could easily make a meal of excellent entrees such as salmon rillettes with avocado and croutons, and the tuna tartare Nicoise, with potato galette, egg, and green beans. But the mains are also memorable: steak frites are a staple at the relaxed neighbourhood eatery.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Bistro-chic
Location: 599 Darling Street, Rozelle
6. Bistro Red Lion
French-born chef Manu Fiedel drew inspiration from family recipes for the bistro menu at the revamped 196-year-old Inner West Sydney pub, the Red Lion Expect to see staples from the Fiedel family table such as French country-style pâté served with prune and Armagnac jam on sourdough passed down by Manu’s father. Or his grandma’s matelote (fish stew) of cod and mussel with speck, mushroom and red wine sauce. The new 120-seater dining room is warm and inviting and oh-so-French helping establish the pub as one of the best in Sydney.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Gastro pub
Location: The Red Lion, Level 1/726 Darling St, Rozelle
7. Franca
The dining room of Franca resembles a scene from a vintage Paris poster. It seems like that is intentional and the experience is tres bougie. Head chef Luke Davenport (Noma, Hubert) works alongside executive chef Jose Saulog (Armorica, Parlar) to produce very French fare that is as sophisticated as the surrounds. Think coral trout paired with spanner crab and a mille-feuille topped with vanilla custard, blackberry and rosemary ice cream. Expect to see a who’s who of Eastern Suburbs A-listers on the weekend.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Classy and convivial
Location: Shop 2/81 Macleay St, Potts Point
8. Bistro Rex
Bistro Rex is chic and elegant and evocative of big, grand Paris dining rooms from the 1950s with French oak, mosaic tiling, a zinc-topped bar and copper finishes. Expect modern French bistro favourites from the team led by Fabio Salvatore (ex-Lumi, Icebergs & Totti’s) such as steak frites, cheese soufflé and chicken liver parfait topped off with a pear frangipane tart with honey whiskey ice cream. Bistro Rex is part of the new Potts Point Village precinct.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: A showstopper
Location: Shop 1, 50/58 Macleay St, Potts Point
9. Bon Vin Darlinghurst
Wondering where Sydney’s bon vivants go to celebrate Bastille Day? They pour into the subterranean sandstone dining room Bon Vin , a much-loved fixture hidden down a laneway in Darlinghurst. Here, you’ll find chef Lisa Nicholson who has fixed her gaze on creating upscale French cuisine with a twist. The sense of joy at Bon Vin is paramount, and it has all the feels of a house party in Perigord wine cellar. Do order the duck confit.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Romantic
Location: Stanley Ln, Darlinghurst
10. Chouchou Bistro & Bar, Bondi
Forget the more formal French bistros of old. The new wave of French bistros in Sydney represents the best of the classic neighbourhood bistro. Chouchou is well and truly on that train in Bondi. It’s the kind of place we want to see more of. Expect to see Alliance Française students practising their language skills with the French staff and country-style dishes such as magret de canard or gnocchi a la Parissienne.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Rustic
Location: 13 O’Brien St, Bondi Beach
11. Claire’s Kitchen
Olympians feeling nostalgic for Paris should book a table at Claire’s Kitchen in Surry Hills for a throwback to an authentic French brasserie experience. From Tuesday to Friday, the mezzanine level, Le Salon, puts on a bit of red lippy and goes all Moulin Rouge offering diners a cabaret show alongside their three-course French menu. Whether you’re here for the show or the cuisine, you’ll be treated to exceptional service by Marc Kuzma, also known as Clair de Lune, and his dedicated team.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Fun and fantastic.
Location: 35 Oxford St, Surry Hills
12. Four Frogs
The four French owners behind the Four Frogs brand opened their first restaurant in Mosman in 2013. More than a decade on, the crêperies have sprouted everywhere from Circular Quay to Randwick, Lane Cove and Mosman. Whether you like your crêpes sweet or savoury (galettes), the crêpes are cooked to order with a diverse array of fillings. Enjoy Nutella, strawberries and vanilla ice cream crêpes to cap off a romantic dinner date.
Price: $$
Atmosphere: Busy and bustling.
Location: Gateway Sydney, 1 Macquarie Place
13. L’Amuse Bouche
Say cheese! Your bouche will be firmly amused at L’Amuse Bouche in Surry Hills with the indulgent option of all-you-can-eat raclette, which is poured over potatoes and charcuterie. Rally the troops and head into this rustic bistro in a sandstone terrace in Surry Hills for rustic French fare prepared with care by chef Rudy, who hails from Marseilles. The restaurant is known for everything from its anchovy spread to its quiche and crème brulee.
Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Oh so French.
Location: 2/411 Bourke St, Surry Hills
14. Bouillon l’Entrecôte, Sydney
In Paris, a bouillon is traditionally a brasserie with a casual ambience that serves a variety of simple delicious dishes. And that almost always includes a rich beef bouillon or broth that is enriched by simmering short ribs. Sydney’s Bouillon l’Entrecôte dips its beret to Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, the famous one-dish steakhouse that opened in 1959 Paris. It brings the best of both worlds together with its simple, quality menu and great cuts. And oui, the bouillon forms the basis for a lot of the dishes.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Casual and chic
Location: 6 Loftus St, Sydney
15. Martinez, Quay Quarter
Executive chef Alex Wong (Lana) has looked to the south of France to produce crowd-pleasing mains at Martinez that are reminiscent of the region. Order a plate of tuna cru a la Nicoise and a glass of Champagne and sit on the sun-splashed terrace, which has views of Sydney Harbour. The precinct also has some of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. Oh, and did we mention there’s rosé on tap at Martinez? Secure an early evening table to graze the night away.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: TGIF every day of the week
Location: 50 Bridge St, Sydney
16. Frenchie’s Bistro & Brewery
Frenchies is a viable contender for the best Aussie-French bistro in Sydney. The 120-seater bistro at The Cannery, Rosebery, attracts brew dogs as well as expats and tourists who go full force on steak frites nights on Thursdays. It’s easy to appreciate the simple, rustic style of cooking on offer here. Want to combat the #cossylivs crisis? The Thursday night special is just $39 for a butcher’s cut steak, bottomless hand-cut fries and a beer or wine. Buy a freshly baked baguette from adjacent Frenchie’s Bakery and chew the end off like a wannabe Parisian.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Gastro pub with great French grub.
Location: The Cannery, 6/61-71 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery
17. L’Heritage French Bistro, Chowder Bay Mosman
Don your best Riviera wear and pass the Beaujolais. L’Heritage is one of the best French bistros in Sydney for both its location and authentic French fare. There are occasions when chef Julian Audibert might wield his tweezers (such as when he’s adding a squid ink crisp to the lobster, tuna and salmon tartare). But what L’Heritage leans into are comforting French classics such as bouillabaisse or mussel marinières frites. A viable contender for the most romantic French restaurant in Sydney.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Darling location for date night.
Location: 7b Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman
18. Bistro Moncur
Bistro Moncur is quite the institution having occupied the same corner spot in Woollahra for more than three decades. To this day, Bistro Moncur is considered one of the most romantic restaurants in Sydney, as perfect for a dinner date with your new crush as a spot for a special anniversary. Head chef Tom Deadman is a wizard at French fare. Much of the produce used in the kitchen is sourced as locally as possible, such as the plump cèpes plucked fresh from the forest. Dining here is as much about the excitement of securing a table under the monochrome mural as it is getting a feel for the well-heeled Woollahra life.
Price: $$$$-$$$$$
Atmosphere: A temple for Francophiles.
Location: 116A Queen St, Woollahra
19. Monopole
Sydney’s acclaimed Monopole restaurant has relaunched as a French restaurant. And it’s giving ‘gatho at your mate Jean-Claude’s digs in the 9th arrondissement’. The word ‘monopole; is a derivative of a French term meaning ‘single vineyard’. It could also mean single-minded, which has been the modus operandi of Monopole since it moved from Potts Point to the city. Expect pretty posies and convivial vibes in the warm, inviting space where Brent Savage’s signatures mille-feuille d’anguille fumée and burger de Canard are de la mode.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Classic French
Location: 20 Curtin Place, Sydney
20. Gavroche
Gavroche is one of the jewels in the crown of Chippendale, otherwise known as Hippendale for its street art and buzzing backstreets. Walking through the imposing oak entrance feels like stepping into an antique postcard with vintage touches such as brass-railed banquette seating, hand-painted tiled walls and a VeloSoleX motorised bicycle from the 1950s. The menu designed by chef Batiste Gouraud pays homage to classics one might see scrawled on a Parisian bistro blackboard such as escargots de Bourgogne or canard confit with Paris mash. Dig in.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Casual-chic
Location: Level 1/2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale
21. Loulou Bistro
Nobody will bat an eyelid if you arrive for dinner at Loulou Bistro with a baguette with the end bitten off. You see, Loulou is equal parts boulangerie, bistro and traiteur – a triple threat nestled on a corner spot in Milson’s Point. Spot the smug locals who stroll to the restaurant from their mansions in Lavender Bay or Kirribilli, knowing the bistro is one of Sydney’s best French restaurants. Highlights include a caviar service and an extensive selection of champagne. Don’t try to resist the ridiculously good chicken liver parfait with brioche or apricot mille-feuille.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: The French bistro of our dreams.
Location: 61 Lavender St, Milsons Point
22. Bistro St Jacques
Bistro St Jacques is the little French bistro that could. Unpretentious, timeless, and honest are all words bandied about to describe the dinky dining room that has been going strong for a decade. Housed in a charming terrace on a tree-lined street in the heart of Redfern, Bistro St Jacques keeps the focus on traditional Gallic recipes with dishes such as the coquilles a la St Jacques’ roasted scallops, mushroom duxelle, gruyere bechamel and souffle au fromage. Combat the #cossylivs crisis with the lunch special of Champagne and oysters for $45.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Like stepping into a vintage French poster.
Location: 96 Pitt St, Redfern
23. Macleay St Bistro
Macleay St Bistro has long been of the best French restaurants in Sydney. The timeless institution – all soft sage-green and deep-red hues – has been lovingly recreated at the Paris end of Potts Point just a few doors down from its original Macleay St location (now home to the Grumpy Baker and Bar ). The food is better than good, with chef Callum Brewin known for serving up memorable French classics using locally sourced ingredients. The signature Chateaubriand served with a peppercorn jus with hand-cut triple-cooked potatoes and greens is a standout. As for the crème brulee: it’s a classic.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Paris wine bar from the 50s.
Location: 96 Pitt St, Redfern
24. Porcine
Your Paddington mate is not telling porkies when he says Porcine is one of the best French restaurants in Sydney. Porcine is led by firm friends Nicholas Hill and Harry Levy who have worked together at Sepia, Saint Peter, Don Peppino’s and the three-Michelin-starred Ledbury in London. Let your evening routine include a drink downstairs at P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants before heading upstairs to the homey bistro which is perennially packed with Paddo locals. Compulsory is the canard à la presse, Sydney’s only tableside duck press service.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Atmosphere: Be transported to the epicentre of France.
Location: 268 Oxford St, Paddington
25. Beckett’s Bar + Dining
You will be sheltered from prying eyes from all sides while bunkered down in Beckett’s , one of the most beloved French restaurants in all of Sydney town. Housed within a sandstone cottage that was built in 1857 for a Sydney pharmacist, the restaurant went on to become home to Darling Mills, the original farm-to-table restaurant. Playwright-director Wendy Beckett is behind the restaurant and cocktail lounge so expect a bit of theatre. Now headed by chef Frederic Plat, Beckett’s still echoes with stories from Sydney’s past, all of which have become amplified in the new space.
Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: New York meets mid-century Paris.
Location: 268 Oxford St, Paddington
26. Bistro Grenier
The French word grenier translates to ‘attic’ ‘loft’ or ‘granary’. And this French bistro suspended within one of Sydney’s best bars is a whole lotta fun. The bistro is a top spot to visit after binge-watching the annual Alliance Française French Film Festival flicks with your Francophile friends. Odd Culture Group is known for its inclusive approach to hospitality and any place that advertises ‘the freaks are welcome’ gets a big tick from the team at Australian Traveller. Forget about pulling your hair into a neat bun. This is Newtown babes. Therefore, you can rock your skullet and enjoy yourself over a pissaladière or bavette steak.
Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Fun and freaky.
Location: 266 King St, Newtown
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