Celebrate Bastille Day in style at 10 of Sydney’s best French restaurants and bistros.
Bastille Day has arrived, and Sydney is more than ready to raise a glass – or a fork – in honour of la belle France. Whether you’re after a buttery croissant and café au lait, or a full feast of steak frites, escargots and Champagne, Sydney’s thriving French dining scene has something for every kind of Francophile. There are classic Parisian-style bistros, beachside brasseries and modern French-Japanese fusion spots. This is our selection of the top spots to celebrate Bastille Day, or satisfy your French cravings any day of the year.
Bon appétit!
1. Bistro Rex
This modern French bistro and bar in the heart of Potts Point is putting on a full week of celebrations for Bastille Day this year. On Monday, there’s the Bastille Day Dinner which includes a three-course meal, cocktail and a side of live jazz (from $206, wine pairing available). Live jazz is also available on Thursday, where they’ll also be serving $17 gin cocktails, and the Tour De France menu gets a Lyon/Rhone Alps-inspired twist at this week’s event (Friday, July 18–Thursday, July 24).
Address: 50-58 Macleay Street, Potts Point NSW 2011.
Opening hours: Monday–Wednesday 5:30pm–10pm, Thursday–Saturday 12pm–3pm & 5:30pm–10pm, Sunday 12pm–8:30pm.
2. Monopole
Blending classic French technique with local Aussie produce, Monopole is a two-hatted favourite, where velvet curtains, vintage posters and soft lighting set the tone. Menu highlights include the dry-aged duck with plum, Soupe VGE – a rich beef consommé with black truffle and foie gras beneath puff pastry – and Boudin Blanc de Homard, a refined marron sausage served in shellfish bisque. The wine list is reason enough to visit: explore a selection of apéritifs, digestifs and bottles sourced from across France and beyond. Monopole is unpretentious, ingredient-driven and full of character.
Throughout July, the $160 set menu celebrates truffle season with the likes of Jerusalem artichoke tart, market fish with barigoule, and a rich Opera Cake, each elevated with black truffle.
Address: 16/20 Curtin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening hours: Tuesday 5pm–10pm, Wednesday–Friday 12pm–10pm, Saturday 5pm–10pm.
3. Bouillon L’Entrecote
A love letter to the classic Parisian brasserie, this restaurant keeps things simple: steak frites served medium rare with bottomless pommes frites and the delicious secret sauce. Start with snails or oeufs mayonnaise and end with crème brûlée. This Sydney CBD gem takes a nod from the original Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, the famous one dish steakhouse that opened in Porte Maillot, Paris, in 1959. Finish with flambéed crêpe Suzette served with Grand Marnier and orange sauce to light up your table.
Address: 6 Loftus street, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 11:30am–10pm. Bar only 2:30pm–5pm.
4. Felix
Step in from the CBD and into a Parisian bistro packed with charm. With mirrored walls, white tablecloths and a cheese trolley that turns heads, Felix brings French flair the heart of the city. Mosaic-tiled floors, antique mirrors and vast wine cases add to the allure, while chef Mike Dierliner’s classic French fare hits all the right notes. From steak tartare to French onion soup and escargot with garlic butter and crunch baguette, the menu is indulgent and timeless. There’s a full selection of seafood too, if you’re after crudo or oysters and Champagne.
Address: 2 Ash Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 12pm–3pm & 5:30pm–10:30pm, Saturday 12pm–3pm & 5pm–10:30pm, Sunday 12pm–3pm & 5pm–9pm.
5. Bistro St Jacques
A hidden gem loved by locals, Bistro St Jacques delivers heartfelt French cuisine with an intimate, neighbourhood feel. The menu is steeped in tradition, offering beautifully executed dishes including trout roe caviar tarts with French onion dip, house-made chicken liver pâté with pickled cucumbers and toasted brioche, and twice-baked cheese soufflé. Don’t miss the honey roasted duck for your main.
The wine list is thoughtful, with high-quality, sustainable, minimal-intervention wines, ranging from a refreshing Chenin Blanc to a bold Bordeaux or celebratory Champagne.
Address: 96 Pitt St, Redfern, NSW 2016
Opening hours: Wednesday 5pm–10pm, Thursday–Saturday 12pm–3pm & 5pm–10pm, Sunday 12pm–3pm & 5pm–9:30pm.
6. Chouchou
Translating to “darling” in French, Chouchou is all about easy-going charm and beachside vibes. It’s French Riviera meets Bondi. The focus here is on sharing plates: there’s the Petits Plats menu, filled with delicious bitesize portions designed to share, and the Bon Plats menu for larger meals. Highlights from the former include baked camembert with prosciutto and honey or olive tapenade – both with bread – and beef carpaccio with pickled onion and gruyere.
Larger dishes include gnocchi a la Parisienne, the camembert burger and duck breast served with fennel puree, purple cauliflower rice and orange and rosemary sauce. It’s casual but cleverly curated, with natural wines and just enough flair to keep things feeling special. Oh, and Happy Hour is every weekday 4pm–6pm.
Address: 13 O’Brien St, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Opening hours: Wednesday–Thursday 4pm–11pm, Friday–Saturday 4pm–12am, Sunday 4pm–10pm.
7. Franca
Chic, elegant and always buzzing, Franca is a go-to for polished French-Mediterranean dining. The room is glamorous with arched ceilings, marble finishes and soft lighting, while the food is equally show-stopping. Dive into dishes like Wagyu beef tartare with baby turnip, pan-fried mushroom gnocchi and duck a l’orange, all paired with a killer wine list. They serve daily specials and 5pm Happy Hour offers too, including $5 martinis, negronis and beer.
Address: Shop 2/81 Macleay St, Potts Point NSW 2016
Opening hours: Tuesday–Friday 5pm–11pm, Saturday 12pm–10:30pm, Sunday 12pm–3pm & 5:30pm–10pm
8. The Charles Brasserie & Bar
If you’re looking for grand dining with a side of theatre, The Charles delivers in bucketloads. This CBD favourite evokes the golden age of European brasseries, with soaring ceilings, vintage chandeliers, and impeccable service. On the plate, it’s rich, opulent fare: think chicken liver and foie gras parfait with rhubarb and Champagne gelée and fruit loaf, whole dry-aged duck à la presse and Wagyu shortrib agnolotti with chestnut mushrooms. For dessert, don’t miss the apple en croûte.
Address: 66 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 11:30am–12am, Saturday 12pm–12am.
9. Cafe La Mer
Saint-Tropez meets Chowder Bay, thanks to the owners behind another underrated French restaurant, L’Heritage. This hole-in-the-wall café opens early, serving coffee with freshly-baked croissants, pastries and paninis for early visitors. Come afternoon, it transforms into the perfect spot to unwind with a large glass of rosé and a plate of fresh oysters, prawns or a charcuterie board. Take a seat under one of the striped umbrellas and look out over the water as you image you’re on the Cote D’Azur.
Address: Magazine stores, 13/14/15, Chowder Bay, Mosman 2088
Opening hours: Monday–Sunday 7am–3pm, Friday–Saturday 4pm–7:30pm
10. Toki Bistro & Bar
Adding something a little different to our list, this new North Sydney bistro and bar combines French sophistication with Japanese artistry. Head chef Jay Choy has honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in the US. Across this fusion menu, his creations include chicken liver with unagi, tuna with smoked bonito and tomato ponzu, and sides of shokupan with mushroom butter or pomme puree with nori. There are several set menus available to take the pain out of choosing, if it all gets a bit much.
Address: T23–24, 100 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060.
Opening times: Tuesday–Saturday 7am–10pm.
