Oui Chef! Sydney’s French Dining Hotspots

French cooking is one of the most renowned cuisines in the world, thanks to its history, fresh and high-quality ingredients, and intricate techniques that produce luxurious and classic dishes. This refined and elegant way of preparing food has transformed the culinary world, with French gastronomy officially recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. 

You can always recreate your favorite French dishes at home with a bottle of French Champagne, but heading into Sydney’s city center offers something even better. Dining at these French restaurants will make your next date night feel like you’ve stepped out of Sydney and straight into a Parisian dream.

French Restaurants

Monopole

For 12 years, Monopole has been an award-winning wine bar and restaurant. But co-owners Nick Hildebrandt and Brent Savage have decided it was time for a refresh, transforming the popular dining spot into a French restaurant, complete with a refreshed makeover and a brand-new menu. 

The food and beverage menu leans heavily toward French cuisine, offering spectacular dishes such as river trout terrine with globe artichoke and roe sauce, Sommerlad chicken, and Balmain bug vol-au-vent, as well as a decadent chocolate mousse with hazelnuts and raspberries. These are served alongside wines from renowned French regions, including Burgundy, Alsace, and Champagne.

Martinez

Martinez, which opened last year in Circular Quay’s Quay Quarter Tower, is an idyllic eatery inspired by the sights, sounds, and flavors of the south of France and its neighboring villages. While you can’t go wrong ordering the famous steak frites served with bone marrow butter, Executive Chef Alex Wong thrives in his mastery of cooking vegetables and seafood. 

Enjoy your meal surrounded by leather banquette seating, a plush carpet, curved velvet chairs, and sophisticated flashes of marble and wood. The deep and moody tones are cut by Mother Nature herself, with plenty of greenery, including the largest fiddle leaf fig you have ever seen, taking centre stage. 

Porcine

Ideally perched on the first floor above the natural wine shop, P&V Wine and Liquor, guests are warmly welcomed to Porcine by a giant vat of house-churned butter and fresh bread sitting at the top of the stairs. 

The menu is structured and straightforward, offering a small selection of dishes,…