The Best French Restaurants in Sydney
Most chefs start their training in classical French cooking, and for good reason: Gallic techniques are the cornerstone of modern cookery. In fact, we owe a lot of our culinary terms to the French. Chefs, sommeliers and maître d’s? All français. The same goes for the front- and back-of-house structures of modern restaurants, which originated in eighteenth-century Paris.
Sydney has no shortage of stellar French restaurants, with a notable showing at the Paris end of Potts Point. From brasseries and bistros to bastions of both haute and nouvelle cuisine, these are our favourites around town.
Restaurant
Armorica Grande Brasserie
Seafood towers and five types of steak frites are just some of the highlights at this stylish brasserie from the Franca team. Slide into a red leather banquette and admire the capacious dining room – or perhaps that perfect spiral of lemon peel floating in your Martini.
Restaurant
Porcine
“A French bistro above a bottle shop” sounds like a straightforward brief. But there’s nothing straightforward about this cosy inner-city restaurant. (Or the bottle shop for that matter.)
Restaurant
The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar
Under soaring ceilings in an art deco building, The Charles evokes Europe’s grand brasseries with plenty of thoughtful touches – including a roaming dessert trolley, and tableside saucing and carving. Order the whole dry-aged duck for a show-stopping signature.
Restaurant
Bistro Grenier
This slick French bistro, in Odd Culture’s loft space, isn’t all that serious. Expect classic French fare – like savoury French tarts with Cantabrian anchovies and a hibachi-grilled bavette steak. Plus, rare vintage drops.
Restaurant
Bistro Moncur
This institution has been in business since 1993, deploying seasonal Australian produce across a menu of consistently excellent French fare. Likewise, the cellar is split between local and French drops – but it’s hard to look past the deep list of house Martinis.
Restaurant
Franca
The menu at this opulent brasserie twists and turns its way through regional France and nearby Mediterranean coastal havens. The dining room matches the brief with art-lined walls, beautiful velvet furniture and jazz pumping through the speakers.
Bar
Cricketers Arms Hotel
Chez Crix is the Cricketer’s Arms’ cool little upstairs bistro. Head here for French-leaning fare such as LP’s saucisson with guindilla chillies or house-made chicken liver parfait with cornichons. For something bigger, order the classic steak frites with bordelaise.
Restaurant
Loulou
A bistro, bakery and deli serving up a slice of Parisian life north of the bridge. Pick up a coffee and kouign-amann in the morning, pop in for salade niçoise and chardonnay at lunch, and get a fresh baguette at any time of day.
Restaurant
Bistro Rex
Sophisticated yet accessible, Bistro Rex is a pillar of Potts Point’s French dining scene. It sticks mainly to Gallic standards, but the in-house nose-to-tail program and lengthy list of French and Australian wines sees this place punching well above its weight.
Restaurant
Monopole
The French heavy-hitter draws on classic with a twist. Expect a duck burger and a smoked eel mille-feuille with tiny cubes of green apple. Plus, an impressive wine list splashed with burgundies.
Restaurant
Bouillon l’Entrecote
Steak frites is king at this two-storey French bistro in the heart of the city. But sophisticated Gallic standards are just one part of the picture – you'll also find a formidable wine list spanning Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone Valley wine regions.
Cafe
Bellevue Cottage by Antoine
Built in 1896, this heritage-listed cottage is home to an exceptional bistro by an alumnus of Alain Ducasse, one of the world’s most renowned chefs. Its bushland location – which is accessible by water limo – has incredible harbour views.
Restaurant
Frenchies Bistro and Brewery
Cheese, beer, bread and charcuterie. What more do you need?
Restaurant
Gavroche Chippendale
From the haute menu right down to the ’50s-era French motorised bicycle strung from the ceiling, this bistro pays tribute to its Parisian counterparts with more swagger than most.
Restaurant
Manon Brasserie
From the duo behind Lola’s Level 1, this all-day brasserie is turning out a roll call of French classics including croque monsieur, steak frites and crab bisque souffle. Take a seat in the handsome dining room, or people-watch Parisian-style at a streetside table.
Restaurant
Bronte Road Bistro
Steak tartare and confit duck plant this casual joint in French territory. But the occasional Mediterranean flourishes are a reminder that you’re in the eastern suburbs, where a bowl of pasta pomodoro is never far off – even at a French restaurant.
Restaurant
Bistro Papillon
Loved for its raclette nights, this nostalgic spot might recall the bustling little joints you ate at on your last European holiday. But if you’ve never been to France, Papillon is where you can try the country’s cuisine in a very accurate reproduction of its candlelit dining rooms.
Restaurant
S’more
Former Lotus head chef “Big” Sam Young and his partner Grace Chen met in the kitchen at Ms G’s. Now they’re running their own restaurant, with a menu peppered with luxe ingredients. Visit for haute cuisine with an Asian bent, a stellar wine list and plenty of caviar bumps.
Restaurant
Bistro St Jacques
A convivial neighbourhood spot for nostalgic French dining. There's no pretension here, just homey Gallic standards backed up by a cracking list of French wines from Burgundy and beyond. Find this gem on a tree-lined inner-city backstreet.
Bar
The Old Fitzroy
Woolloomooloo’s great-grandfather of a pub has fine-dining chefs in the kitchen and a celebrated indie theatre downstairs. The 150-year-old boozer has outlasted many of its operators, but its latest incarnation – from the team behind Newtown's Odd Culture – might be the best one yet.
Restaurant
Whalebridge
Formerly an oyster bar, this al fresco French diner evokes the Mediterranean with its unmatched harbour views and sterling seafood. It's got you covered for all occasions, from pre-theatre snacks to big-budget lobster and champagne dinners.
Restaurant
Chouchou
The owner of this cosy little French spot wants to bring the warmth of the Parisian bars and bistros he grew up with to the beach. Dine on French comfort food – including melty raclette and beef tartare with frites – as Edith Piaf is piped through the speakers.
Restaurant
Bistro Manly
The Novotel Manly’s all-day brasserie is the definition of a French-Australian restaurant. The canon of Gallic cuisine is reimagined with local produce, in a dining room overlooking one of Australia’s most iconic stretches of sand. It’s a winning combination.
Restaurant
Martinez
Martinez is about as close to the French Riviera as you’ll get without leaving Sydney. This handsome rooftop combines a breezy outdoor terrace with harbour views and a dining room serving up dishes from south-east France.
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