VIVE LA FRANCE!

From the buttery layers of a morning croissant to the comforting depth of a slow-cooked duck confit, French cuisine is having an elegant revival across the region. Rich in soul and steeped in tradition, the French have long understood the poetry of food.

WRITTEN BY DONNA RISHTON-POTTER

There’s nothing stuffy about this French food renaissance. From the coast to the caldera, chefs and pâtissiers are bringing finesse, warmth and a touch of je ne sais quoi to every forkful. Whether it’s a candlelit brasserie on a misty mountain, a beachside bistro, or a quaint country patisserie, French dining is having its moment — and you don’t need a boarding pass to taste it. Vive la France!

LE RESTAURANT

SANDBAR, YAMBA

A Parisian bistro may be the last thing you’d expect to find perched above Yamba’s magnificent Main Beach, but Sandbar brings a slice of European charm to this laidback coastal town. Owned and operated by a passionate French team, this cosy bistro blends refinement with an easy-going, Australian sensibility — unpretentious yet deeply authentic.

With roots firmly planted in the traditions of French cuisine, Sandbar offers a heartfelt nod to the rustic, seasonal dishes found in neighbourhood bistros across France. No cliches, no caricatures — just honest cooking driven by flavour, generosity and soul.

This winter, the menu leans into comfort: the slow-cooked Beef Bourguignon arrives rich and dark, its red wine sauce clinging to the tender beef. A side of truffled potato mash is silky and indulgent, the perfect counterpoint to the dish’s heartiness.

Finish with a perfectly executed, silky crème brûlée and a warm glass of mulled Vin Chaud. This is winter dining, en français — full of heart, flavour and charm.

Open Wednesday–Sunday | sandbaryamba.com.au

SAINT MARTHE, MT TAMBORINE

Can’t get to Paris for the weekend? Head for the hills where ‘Our Lady of Hospitality’ awaits.

Saint Marthe on Mount Tamborine channels all the ambience of a neighbourhood brasserie in the 10th arrondissement. Owners Marcus McKay and Amalia Tambling — global industry veterans who spent two years working at a brasserie on Rue Sainte-Marthe — have created a restaurant that’s both a tribute and a destination.

Equal parts theatre and tradition, brass railings, banquette seating and stained-glass panels set the tone, but the food is the real star of the show. A golden soufflé of caramelised onion and Gruyère delivers savoury depth and airy lightness. Confit duck with Paris mash and beetroot marmalade channels the joie of a winter’s evening in the city of love, and dessert; a delicate crème caramel that wobbles just so — as elegant as it is nostalgic.

Much is made in-house: daily-baked bread, churned butter, delicate pickles, even the charcuterie. A concise but worldly wine list dances from Bordeaux to Barossa, while the crackling stone fireplace encourages long, lingering meals.

Whether lunch with amis, or a fireside supper à deux, Saint Marthe is an experience worthy of a patron saint.

Open Wednesday–Sunday | saintmarthe.com.au

MONA LISA’S LAIR, MIAMI

Beloved for its vibrant street food scene, Miami Marketta has sparked a new revolution on the Gold Coast dining landscape — Mona Lisa’s Lair, a sultry, French-inspired à la carte restaurant and Champagne lounge where velvet, candlelight and chanson set the tone. Marketta’s first 18+ restaurant, this moodily lit escape channels the spirit of the Latin Quarter — seductive, soulful, and unapologetically French.

The Champagne list is a symphony of bubbles: 15 prestigious houses including Krug, Ruinart and Dom Pérignon offer a decadent detour to the Côte des Blancs. The menu is equally arresting. Think Coq au Vin Blanc with truffled confit chicken and leek cassoulet; playful pork belly crumble with burnt apple jam and toasted marshmallow; and golden pomme frites laced with smoked salt and truffle aioli. And to finish? Strawberries & Cream – a flirty caipiroska jelly with elderflower cream, Turkish delight, basil and thyme.

Whether an amorous rendezvous or a decadent soirée with the mesdames, surrender to a little French seduction at Mona Lisa’s Lair.

Open Wednesday–Saturday

miamimarketta.com/restaurant-mona-lisas-lair

LA PATISSERIE

BEN’S PATISSERIE, MURWILLUMBAH

Follow the scent of caramelising sugar and warm pastry and you’ll find the queue — loyal locals lining up from dawn to claim their place (and their favourites) at Ben’s Patisserie. Since 2016, this authentic artisanal gem, run by husband-and-wife duo Ben and Stephanie Leonardi, has become Murwillumbah’s most delicious morning ritual. Everything here is made from scratch, with exacting technique and undeniable amour.

The cabinet gleams with edible treasures: glossy tarte au citron, featherlight mille-feuille, and Sydney Royal award-winning macarons. But it’s the croquembouche — a golden tower of toffee-spun profiteroles filled with cloud-like crème pâtissière — that steals the show (and many a heart).

By midday, the cabinet is bare. Pastries have vanished like magic — a testament to Ben’s quality and cult following. Our advice? Arrive early, order a warm pain au chocolat, and enjoy it with a cafe creme like a true bon vivant.

@bens_patisserie

SALT VILLAGE FRENCH PATISSERIE, KINGSCLIFF

Just steps from the sea, Salt Village French Patisserie brings a slice of the Left Bank to the Tweed Coast. From the classic checkerboard tiles to the sidewalk tables, the setting is unmistakably French — and so is the pastry.

Opened during Bastille Week in 2017, the patisserie continues a family legacy begun at Brisbane’s Toowong French Patisserie in 1984. Everything is made from scratch by a dedicated team of pastrycooks using traditional recipes and age-old techniques.

Croissants crackle with each bite, only rivalled by their custard and almond counterpart. There’s the Lamaron — a clever lamington-macaron hybrid that’s both nostalgic and très français. And for something truly indulgent, the flourless chocolate fudge gateau — rich, glossy and gluten-free — brings flair to any soiree.

Whether a breakfast ritual or weekend treat, Salt Village French Patisserie serves timeless French flavours with quiet confidence – c’est bon!

@saltvillagefrenchpatisserie

PARIS BREST FRENCH BAKERY, PALM BEACH

Paris Brest French Bakery in Palm Beach, is a slow-crafted love story told through layers of golden pastry, time, and lashings of French butter. This chic little boulangerie on the Gold Coast Highway, is the creation of Farouk Yousfi, a classically trained patissier whose devotion to his craft borders on poetic.

Each croissant is a labour of love — folded, rested, and laminated over three patient days until it shatters at first bite. The cult-favourite? A crisp, bronzed croissant laced with dark chocolate and almond frangipane, the stuff of buttery daydreams.

The cabinet is a feast for the senses: glossy pain au chocolat, rustic sourdough, pillowy focaccia, and delicate Danishes. If you're lucky, a glistening Paris-Brest or jewel-like Chocolate Poire — hazelnut dacquoise, pear compote, silky ganache, and a dried rose — may await. With Dimattina coffee in hand, a daily-baked baguette underarm, and the sweet aroma of indulgence in the air, this is more than a bakery — it’s a French romance served warm.

@parisbrestfrenchbakery