Overview
A city-wide celebration of all things France will return this July when the Bastille Festival takes over the Sydney CBD from July 11–14. It's gearing up for the biggest program yet, with events focusing on French wine, food, art and film all on the docket. But hanging around The Rocks and Circular Quay isn't the only way to indulge your inner Francophile this year. You can also feast on raclette, pretend you're in Paris for the night, slurp freshly shucked oysters and sip Champagne with the best of 'em.
While a trip to France might not be on the cards anytime soon, you can still plan a French-inspired staycation right here in Sydney. Base yourself at the new West Hotel on Sussex Street, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, and you'll be a pétanque throw away from the Bastille Festival and other Frenchie activities around the city. Grab your stripes, your beret, a baguette and read on.
Black Bottle. Image: Nikki To.
SEEK OUT SOME OF THE CITY'S BEST APERITIF HOURS
The French do 'happy hour' well. And while Sydney tends to have more aperitivo hours than aperitifs, there are a few places championing the beloved apéro. And one of the best is Restaurant Hubert. Available Monday to Saturday from 4–6pm, the aperitif menu features beaucoup cheap eats and drinks, including $5 G&Ts, $10 negronis, $5 glasses of house wine, $10 burgers, $5 croque monsieur and $5 parfait.
In Darlinghurst, Black Bottle offers a very French atmosphere (thanks to the fact that most people working there speak the language) alongside an incredible Thursday deal — $2 glasses of wine and $2 pintxos from 5pm. Busy Thursdays? Pas de problème, there's also a daily apéro offering $5 Aperol spritzes, $10 negronis, $15 wine carafes and $1.50 oysters from 5–7pm.
Handpicked Cellar Door.
FEAST ON EVERYONE'S FAVOURITE GOOEY FRENCH CHEESE
Raclette is really having its moment in Sydney, with the gooey French cheese popping up all over the city. Typically, the cheese is melted and then poured on top of potatoes, cornichons and a plate of mixed charcuterie. At Surry Hills' Loluk Bistro, you can nab an all-you-can-eat version of the stuff for $49 per person. Or head to Chippendale's Handpicked Wines every Tuesday and Thursday in July for a $24 plate of raclette, with a $20 vego option available, too.
But the originator is the CBD's Bistro Papillon, and it has brought back its own version this winter — a two-course Monday feast for $55. It includes one of the bistro's French-style entrees (like garlic and parsley baked snails or a chicken liver pâté), followed by the raclette — scraped right from the cheese wheel — on top of smoked and cured meats, potatoes and baguette slices.
Felix.
PRETEND YOU'RE IN PARIS FOR THE NIGHT
If you really want to immerse yourself in Parisian-style surrounds, Sydney has you sorted there, too. Start by stepping back in time at CBD cocktail bar Kittyhawk. It boasts a French military atmosphere with a never-ending WWII liberation party vibe — and a drinks list, Parisian street food and decor to match. Plus, you can enjoy those 'liberation drinks' a little more before 6pm each day when a whole heap of them are just $6.
Merivale's Felix offers its own authentic bistro feels, with its buzzing atmosphere, crisp white tablecloths and gorgeous wooden finishes. Tuck into the 'plat du jour', chicken liver pâté or freshly shucked oysters, all with champagne in hand. Or head down the block for more Hubert action, where its upstairs wine bar Bridge Bon Appétit is waiting to welcome you with natural wines, share plates and creative cocktails.
VIEW FAMED ARTWORKS BY FRENCH MASTERS
While you won't find the likes of the Louvre in Sydney, you can view famed French artworks just by heading to the European Galleries at the Art Gallery of NSW. Here, you can get up close to paintings by several French masters, including Delacroix, Cézanne, Lorrain, Soutine and Cazin. The wing spans five different collections, with works from the 15th century through to the 20th century on display. You could spend hours immersing yourself in these galleries, feeling like you've been transported to Paris in the meantime.
Once those museum legs kick in, head back to West Hotel to refuel at its restaurant, Solander, which is offering 50% off food throughout July.
CATCH A FRENCH FLICK AT LE MULLED WINE CINEMA
If you missed out on the Alliance Française French Film Festival earlier this year, the Bastille Day program gives you a second chance to catch some (less high-brow) French and French-inspired flicks. It's offering a wintertime outdoor cinema experience, complete with lounge chairs, blankets and mulled wine aplenty — plus views of Sydney Harbour to boot. The festival will host screenings of eight movies set in France, including French hit comedy Welcome to the Sticks, Coco Before Chanel, Julie & Julia, Les Miserables and the live action Beauty and The Beast. Rug up with vin chaud in hand and grab some popcorn and lollies while you're at it. Two films will be screened per night (at 5.30pm and 8pm) so you can settle in for a Frenchie double feature. For the full lineup, head here.
The Artisan Cheese Shop.
HEAD TO ONE OF SYDNEY'S SPECIALTY CHEESE SHOPS
Though France is, of course, the world's top cheese destination, Sydney's specialty cheese game is not to be looked down upon. One of our favourites is Newtown's Stinking Bishops, where you'll find varieties you've never heard of, plus a mac 'n' gruyere that's a thing of legend. On the lower north shore, The Cheese & Wine Co serves up artisanal cheeses and Australian wines to Neutral Bay, and in Manly, you'll find The Artisan Cheese Room, which offers a whopping 50 types of cheese from around the globe. But Surry Hills' Formaggi Ocello takes top marks with over 200 types of cheese available for purchase — here, you'll tuck into fromage from across France (and beyond). There's tangy, nutty cheese from Corsica, chevre and brebis (sheep's milk cheese) from the Midi-Pyrenees, creamy cheese washed with Chablis wine from Burgundy and, of course, the bold, buttery Roquefort blue cheese.
Damian Flanagan.
SIP CHAMPAGNE LIKE FRENCH ROYALTY
You can't let Bastille Day pass you by without having at least one Champagne toast, and you should do so at the Sydney bars where you can sip some brands that aren't so common in Australia. Start at the Queen Victoria Building's new Champagne bar, Reign, which offers over 150 drops until 2am, including Pierre Gimonnet and Nathalie Falmet Champagnes. Choose from glasses, bottles, tasting flights and signature Champagne cocktails, alongside a menu of French-style snacks like plates of oysters, duck liver mousse and steak tartare.
Barangaroo offers its own go-to in the form of Solera, which is just a five-minute walk from West Hotel. The small bar has a full list of cocktails, wines, beers and spirits, but you should come for the Champagnes like Deutz, Pol Roger, Louis Roederer and Krug. It's not exactly cheap but it's a wonderfully luxe way to celebrate.
WANDER THROUGH THE ROCKS' FRENCH-STYLE MARKETS
The Rocks' Christmas in July Markets will return for its second year from July 11–14. Coinciding with Bastille Day, the festivities will again take on a French village theme, with 25 wooden chalets being shipped over from Europe. This year, the markets will also have its own kind of alpine ski resort with snow machines, antique ski racks and Christmas pines, plus heaps of themed food markets. Wander through the Customs House Parisian Foodie Village and snack on saucisson, crepes and raclette. Head to east Circular Quay for the Gourmet Produce Alley, where you can find truffles, macarons and cheese aplenty. Or check out the French Food Fusion Village for camembert arancini, mushroom gnocchi and cheesy 'French' burgers. Mulled wine, fairy lighting and Christmas carolers are also on the docket.
La Renaissance
ENJOY A FRENCH PASTRY FROM SYDNEY'S BEST BAKERIES
From croissants and baguettes to macarons and chocolate eclairs, Sydney has authentic versions of all the French treats you love — you just need to know where to look. During your staycation, head out for a petit déjeuner and grab yourself a pastry from one of the city's top bakeries. The Rocks' hidden gem La Renaissance is the perfect place to start. It's owned by French-trained, award-winning pastry chef Jean-Michel Raynaud and serves all the treats you'd find in a boulangerie from pain au chocolat to quiche and baguette sandwiches. Rozelle's Victoire Boulangerie also offers authentic French breads aplenty, plus all the usual pastries, macaron-topped desserts and lemon tarts. Or head to Surry Hills' Lavie & Belle, where you can nab chocolate eclairs, raspberry tarts and praline cream-filled chou pastries.
The Clam Bar, Image: James Adams
GO FOR FRESHLY SHUCKED OYSTERS ON THE CHEAP
Pretend you're at a grand brasserie in France, and opt for some fresh, raw seafood. Sydney's newest raw bar addition, The Clam Bar, is a 30-seat wine bar located in Marys Underground. It has a dedicated chef shucking and plating oysters to order, along with lobster, crab and sea urchin. If you want a place that's right near the hotel, a five minutes walk will bring you to Barangaroo's rooftop venue Untied, which offers its own oyster bar fare. Go on Thursday night between 5pm and 8pm to score $2 oysters, along with $15 glasses of G.H.Mumm Champagne.
And, of course, The Morrison is a regular go-to for its own $1.50 oyster hour every Wednesday between 6-7pm. Plus, it's also offering a negroni and raw oyster pairing till July 24.
Bastille Festival runs from July 11–14. Extend the celebrations with a stay at West Hotel and discover more ways to indulge your inner Francophile around the city.