The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne
Live out your Parisian dreams with escargot, caviar, steak frites and lobster thermidor at these exceptional French diners in Melbourne.
The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne
Live out your Parisian dreams with escargot, caviar, steak frites and lobster thermidor at these exceptional French diners in Melbourne.
Melbourne's love affair with French cuisine continues, perhaps owing to the classic nature of flavours that never get old, or the accompanying ambience that is probably stylish and a little sexy, or the fact that it's the closest you can get to a romantic, day-dreamy evening out in Paris, without having to step foot on a plane.
When it comes to French restaurants in Melbourne, there are many old-timey establishments where regulars have their favourite tables and bottles of wine reserved, but there are also a handful of more playful spots making French fare more accessible and approachable; you just need to know where to find them. So we have rounded up the best French restaurants in town where the champagne is flowing, the baguettes are lathered with butter, the steak is doused in béarnaise, and the crème brûlée is cracking. Bon appétit!
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A true legend of the game, France-Soir has been dishing up French-accented goodness from its charming Toorak brasserie since 1986. Many consider it a go-to for those timeless, simple French classics, thanks to its menu of expertly executed fare. From escargots and white wine mussels to steak frites and duck a l’orange, it’s a study in essential Euro flavours, done well but without unnecessary fanfare.
But it’s not just the food that keeps the Parisian-inspired restaurant packed after more than 40 years. The intimate, understatedly elegant atmosphere of France-Soir is nearly impossible to replicate, and its old-school sense of hospitality is hard to resist. Throw in an extensive, internationally recognised wine list featuring thousands of French labels, et voila — there you have one of the best restaurants in Melbourne.
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Yet another hit from legendary chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Marion), Gimlet is a suave Melbourne restaurant and cocktail bar located in the 1920s-built Cavendish House, which, while not as strictly French as some others on this list, given its strong French (and Italian) offerings, still earned a spot here. A dapper fitout by Acme features soaring ceilings, geometric tiles and honeycomb chandeliers, while the food and drink offering is that of a very chic French bistro.
Like the space, the menu is also a little bit indulgent — expect caviar, champagne, and lobster. The menu, which evolves with the seasons, boasts plenty of French delights such as Comté tart with fried zucchini flower and fig mille-feuille with vanilla diplomat.
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Bistro Guillaume in Crown isn’t the kind of place you visit to be surprised — unless you’re not expecting top-quality classic French fare — for everything here is done by the book. Chef Guillaume Brahimi isn’t trying to reinvent the cuisine. He isn’t even trying to make it contemporary. His menu shows how he is a purist — executing the French favourites without deviation. And we can only applaud him for this.
Perhaps you will start with Soufflé au Roquefort and Escargots Persillade, before savouring a classic French onion soup and chicken liver parfait with pear chutney. For the main event, steak frites with bearnaise is hard to resist, as is confit duck or beef bourguignon.
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A part of Society — also home to Society Dining Room and The Lounge cocktail bar — Lillian Brasserie is where you go for some of the best French food in Melbourne CBD. It’s dark, moody and throws chic Parisian late-night dining vibes — with all the frivolity and joie de vivre centred around the various dishes.
Dive into lobster and leek croquettes with a fresh herb emulsion before moving onto beef tartare with potato crisps, confit duck with lentils, and a hanger steak with peppercorn sauce, fresh off the woodfired grill. The wine list is impressive, too. Just be sure to ask the staff for help choosing, because there are over 10,000 bottles in the Society cellar.
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On one of Jason Jones’ trips to Paris, he stumbled upon three rules of Parisian dining worth abiding by. Keep it simple. Serve it till late. And never shirk on the fries. The signature steak frites remains popular as ever, finished with the Secret Herb Butter Sauce, giving the dish its instantly recognisable velvety green look. Crowd favourites like escargot, beef tartare with egg yolk and mustard leaf, and chicken liver parfait continue to hold their place on the menu. And if you’re not going for the steak frites, it’s likely that’s because you’re drooling over the Entrecôte Cheeseburger Royale with truffled brie and frites.
A place for special occasions or bougie nights out that give the credit card a workout, Entrecôte offers many special dishes and drinks that’ll make you feel fancy and fun. Go for caviar bumps with a One Sip Vodka Martini, or a glass of NW Taittinger Cuvée Prestige, or go all-in with the caviar service featuring pommes Anna, crème fraiche, capers, shallots, egg, and chives. There’s a gourmet seafood platter, oysters served with champagne mignonette, and an array of creative cocktails, including the Elderflower Gimlet and the Parisienne Paloma.
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This French fine diner sits within a striking three-storey Edwardian corner block, painted a dazzling winter white — outside of which you’ll often find stacks of locals sipping on chablis and sampling fresh oysters on a sunny day. When the less favourable weather comes, pull up a stool at the bar and tuck into its signature tartines (open sandwiches). They change seasonally and have gained somewhat of a cult following.
It wouldn’t be one of the best French restaurants in Melbourne without a banging wine list. Sample old-world drops and natural skin-contact vinos by the glass, or dive into classic cocktails made with top-shelf spirits.
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Melbourne has landed a rebellious take on French dining at 1/15 Collins Street. Frenchie brings classic French flavours, techniques and dishes to the city, with one obvious difference — the price tag. Frenchie’s big drawcard is that everything on the menu is priced at $14. Yes, you read that correctly. All plates, cocktails, bubbles, and beers are $14.
Those plates play into classic bistro dishes reimagined for a new generation. Share plates are bold and flavourful, and tableside service and roaming trolleys add a dramatic flair to the dining experience. Channelling the spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Frenchie takes social dining to a new level, being loud, playful and unapologetically fun. There is red velvet at every glance, mirrored staircases, an enviable marble bar, cinematic lighting and flirtatious energy. It’s Moulin Rouge meets Melbourne.
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From the moment it opened its doors in early 2024, Bistra became a Carlton classic. A white-tablecloth affair with a decidedly Australian flair, an evening at Bistra is always sophisticated, never stuffy.
The traditional yet undeniably intelligent menu is the kind that causes diners to consider ordering one of everything. How should we choose between chicken liver pâté with traditional accompaniments, tiger prawns with fermented chilli and parsley, or an asparagus salad with poached egg, parmesan, croutons and tarragon? For mains, many cannot resist the classic cheeseburger, or an eye fillet with peppercorn sauce and fries. However, the Sommerland chicken with Jerusalem artichoke and truffled jus is also a quiet contender for a winner. Whichever you choose, there is sure to be an expertly picked wine to match, with Bistra’s wine list comprising a collection that the owners have been building together for over ten years.
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Northcote’s High Street is in no short supply of great bars and restaurants, but Ruckers Hill stands out as one of its greatest — not for being all showy and full of theatrics, but for providing a proper local neighbourhood drinking and dining experience that is both polished and casual.
David Murphy (ex-Bistro Thierry, Bar Nonno, 1800 Lasagne and PM24) takes inspiration from the Parisian ‘bistronomy’ movement, which emerged in the ’90s as an antidote to the posh, Michelin world of French haute cuisine. Bistronomy is more about the vibe: a combination of bistro atmosphere and fine-dining techniques, at a price to suit the average wallet. And that’s exactly what you get here — expertly executed French eats and great wine at a reasonable price.
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Melbourne now has its own dedicated steak frites restaurant. 7 Alfred has opened at, you guessed it, 7 Alfred Place in the CBD, drawing on the traditions of steak frites restaurants globally, which do one thing, and one thing well, creating an efficient, streamlined and fuss-free dining experience. You won’t have to waste time pondering over the menu at 7 Alfred, as you will be there solely for the $48 steak frites showcasing Gippsland’s O’Connor scotch fillet.
The hardest (and only) decision of the night will be to decide whether you go for the umami butter, chimichurri, peppercorn sauce or veal jus. The accompanying thin-cut fries are cooked in beef tallow, and you can add on a salad to freshen things up. The drinks list and dessert menu follow suit in keeping things concise. There are seven classic cocktails to choose from, and a few house wines and beers on tap. The restaurant doesn’t close between lunch and dinner service, so pop in between 4 and 6pm for $7 schooners, house wines and spirits, and $12 cocktails. For dessert, there’s only New York cheesecake with vanilla ice cream, so if you’re lactose-free, you may have to skip this one.
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Opened by renowned chef Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda and Longrain), Chancery Lane is located at 430 Little Collins Street on the historic Normanby Chambers site. The space is kitted out with moodily lit dining zones, curved banquettes and arched windows framed in dapper black steel, while the Euro-accented bistro serves up fare that’s at once timeless and unafraid of modern technique.
The expansive seafood selection features a range of caviar, alongside bites like chicken liver parfait, wagyu beef tartare. A grand, globe-trotting wine cellar rounds out the fun at one of Melbourne’s best French restaurants, including a pick of top-shelf wines displayed artfully in a former safe within one of the dining room walls.
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Gitan is a very Melbourne interpretation of a modern French bistro. Dining here feels like you’re sitting in a hole-in-the-wall eatery in Paris, but the Spanish, Italian and Australian influences are hard to miss.
Typically French dishes like buttery escargots, croque monsieur and liver parfait sit effortlessly alongside tuna with yuzu dressing, and octopus and sobrasada terrine. The wine list is worldly also, with drops from Spain, France, Italy, Australia and New Zealand — which are available by the glass, the pichet or the carafe, as well as a lengthier list of wines available by the bottle. It’s easily one of the best French restaurants in Melbourne and well worth a visit.
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Renowned chef Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda and Longrain) transformed his former Italian restaurant Lupo into the Parisian-inspired Smith St Bistrot back in 2021. The bistro and bar celebrates the French chapter of Pickett’s own culinary training.
Classic European flavours star throughout a long list of finely tuned dishes. Design-wise, expect old-school Parisian glamour — think brass chandeliers, antique mirrors and wrought-iron balustrades, with a spiral staircase leading to a mezzanine level and a second private dining space.
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98 Lygon Street quietly opened its doors in early 2025, but quickly became a neighbourhood go-to with its old-world charm, generous food, and warm service. Head Chef Brian Macalister, hailing from Ireland, brings a breadth of experience from Michelin-starred international kitchens to leadership roles across some of Melbourne’s most beloved restaurants, such as the Builders Arms Hotel and Cutler. His menu blends classic bistro dishes and Mediterranean flavours, while also showcasing local produce, so while not exclusively French, it contains enough of the classics to make it onto our list.
Depending on the season, you might be lucky to sample starters such as crudités with green sauce, baked scallops with wild garlic butter, or a shallot tart tatin with Dijon mustard. For mains, market fish may arrive with a delicate leek beurre blanc, and grass-fed sirloin served with 98 Pepper Sauce. Quality ingredients are allowed to shine without overcomplicated additions. Finish with a crème brûlée and some cheese for fabulously French-leaning night out.
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The team behind French dining juggernauts L’Hotel Gitan and Bistro Gitan have set up another French restaurant and bar in Cremorne — Frederic. The original two restaurants strongly focus on French classics, But Frederic has a bit more contemporary creative flair. Yeah, you’ll still find your classic beef tartare, chicken liver pate and steaks with generous portions of fries, but the chefs go well beyond these French favourites.
Here, one of the best French restaurants in Melbourne, you’ll also find a huge selection of French and Aussie wines — that you can let the team talk you through — plus plenty of classic and signature cocktails. We are particularly fond of its seasonal martinis — best paired with some cheeky pork croquettes either street-side or on one of the pass-side tables.
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Luke Mangan is well known for serving up classic French cuisine in Sydney — with restaurants in the Hilton Hotel Sydney, Kimpton Margot Hotel Sydney and the Pylon Lookout inside the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Bistrot Bisou follows the same tried-and-tested formula, albeit in Melbourne. Mangan has set up a contemporary French restaurant in another city hotel — this time, Melbourne’s Hotel Indigo.
At Bisou, you can find the classics such as confit duck legs, steak with Café de Paris sauce, and French cheeses. There may also be a few surprises, such as wood-fired king prawns with garlic, chilli and charred lime, or burrata with olives and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette.
Top images: Entrecôte by Alex Squadrito.
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