10 french fine dining restaurants worth the trip across Australia, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Australia.
Restaurant Hubert ★ 4.7 · Sydney
cbd · 15 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
French underground bistro on Bligh Street, Sydney CBD. Dark wood, low lighting, a long bar and a French menu of charcuterie, confit and grilled steak.
Tip: The downstairs bar takes walk-ins; the dining room books out two weeks ahead.
Restaurant Dan Arnold ★ 4.6 · Brisbane
10/959 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Restaurant Dan Arnold is the chef's eponymous Fortitude Valley fine-dining room with French-technique tasting menus over Queensland produce.
Porcine ★ 4.6 · Sydney
redfern · 11 Marian Street, Redfern NSW 2016
French bistro on Marian Street, Redfern, Sydney. Boudin noir, confit duck and a no-bookings wine bar feel; Mediterranean-leaning natural-wine list.
France-Soir ★ 4.4 · Melbourne
south-yarra · 11 Toorak Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
France-Soir has been Melbourne's Parisian bistro since 1982: the menu barely changes, the wine list is legendary and the room feels uncannily right.
Tip: Book by phone. This is still a phone-booking-only restaurant and they mean it.
France-Soir ★ 4.4 · Melbourne
south-yarra · 11 Toorak Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
France-Soir on Toorak Road has served classical French food since 1982: the menu barely changes, theatrical service and an honest wine list.
Tip: Book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings: it fills well before 8pm.
Harriot ★ 4.4 · Melbourne
cbd · 555 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Harriot is the Tipo 00 team's French-leaning Collins Street bistro: classical technique, Victorian produce and serious wine from a confident kitchen.
Loulou Bistro ★ 4.1 · Sydney
cbd · Shop 4, 47 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
French bistro on Martin Place, Sydney CBD. Long marble bar, escargots happy hour, steak frites and a Champagne list deep enough for a third bottle.
Ananas ★ 4.1 · Sydney
cbd · Shop 3, 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
French brasserie in The Rocks, Sydney. Set menus under A$50 for escargots, French onion soup and steak au poivre with frites; a Champagne wall to match.
Maison Batard ★ 4.0 · Melbourne
cbd · 19-23 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Maison Batard on Bourke Street combines boulangerie, bistro, cocktail bar and terrace: Melbourne's closest equivalent to a full-service Parisian house.
Maison Batard ★ 4.0 · Melbourne
cbd · 19-23 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Maison Batard's ground-floor boulangerie feeds the CBD from 7am; by noon the bistro above opens for French classics and a wine list without a bad bottle.