Get your fix for all things French without taking flight.
If you believe food is a way of life, you are aligned with France's food culture. The French have long fixated on good food, with one of the world's top cuisines mastering simple dishes with flavours that dance on the tongue. In France, the act of going out to eat and drink is hardly considered indulgent; they are social activities with daily schedules revolving around enjoying life's small pleasures at the table. So why not follow suit?
Lucky for us Perth folk, you don't need to stamp your passport to experience the best of French gastronomy and cultural pastimes. Pull up a Parisian café chair or throw down the picnic rug by taking a trip to France by the fork – or hand – at these French-inspired venues around Perth.
Le Rebelle
Step into the tasty time warp that is Le Rebelle. The Mount Lawley eatery opposite The Astor Theatre pays homage to the old-world bistros of Paris and New York with its sleek art deco interior.
The narrow restaurant bar is split into three sections – bistro, wine bar, and cosy dining area – each offering a different ambience. While French classics are on the menu, such as steak tartare, you'll also find some modern bites, such as the restaurant's legendary crab toast. If you can't decide what to have, treat yourself to the 'Carte Blanche' menu: a chef's selection of shared and individual dishes.
Visit: La Rebelle, 676 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley
Chu Bakery
Participate in the French ritual of visiting a local boulangerie and patisserie in the ‘burbs. Highgate institution Chu Bakery has been wooing patisserie enthusiasts with their crafty creations since 2015.
Although not exactly French, the cult bakery pays homage to France with its delicious hand-held bites such as twice-baked croissants, mushroom Danishes, and jam doughnuts. Let’s not forget about their baguettes, the perfect hand-held meal. Head across the road and find a shady spot to devour these freshly baked delicacies in the European-inspired Hyde Park. How quaint.
Visit: Chu Bakery, 498 William Street, Highgate
Vincent Wine
Down the road from Chu Bakery is another pocket of France. Vincent Wine mimics the best of Parisian café-bar culture with the corner restaurant bar offering multiple areas for socialising: inside dining in très chic surrounds, intimate courtyard and Parisian-style seating dotted along Brisbane Street.
Like any typical French restaurant, view the chalkboard to see an ever-changing menu of bistro plates and European-style snacks available. Complete your trip to France sans passport with a glass of French wine, which Vincent Wine is not short of with its extensive wine list. A great selection of Australian wines is also available if you want to compare drops across continents.
Visit: Vincent Wines, 465 William Street, Perth
Wines of While
A short hop, skip and jump from Vincent Wine is a neighbourhood favourite, Wines of While. Winner of the WA Good Food Guide's 'Bar of the Year 2024', the small wine bar prides itself on its carefully curated global selection of high-quality wines with minimal preservatives.
Take a seat on the high bench that faces the bar and blackboard of daily specials. Or sit outside where outdoor seating mimics Parisian café culture along William Street. Come later afternoons, you're almost guaranteed to see the bar brimming with patrons enjoying a casual drink and sampling a seasonal menu that champions local produce. Spot a drop you like? Grab a bottle at the bar’s natural wine store inside, doubling up as an enticing partition.
Visit: Wines of While, 458 William Street, Perth
Bistro Guillaume
Bistro Guillaume offers a perfect reason to dress up and indulge in fine dining. Located at Crown Perth, the restaurant offers a delectable menu curated by celebrated chef Guillaume Brahimi, serving modern bistro and French classics.
A feast for the eyes (and stomach) is the 1.8Kg WX Wagyu Tomahawk, served with garlic roasted potatoes, broccolini and Café De Paris Butter. Or if you are keen on something lighter, visit on Saturday for a decadent afternoon tea.
Visit: Bistro Guillaume, Crown Metropol, Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood
Mistelle
Casual chic Mistelle is on the border of Subiaco and Shenton Park. The corner bistro offers multiple areas to wine and dine to suit your mood. Pose like a true Parisian along the venue's new terrace space, La Terrasse, offering a dedicated bar menu, or savour a modern French dish all to yourself inside in the très chic dining room.
For something different, visit on Test Kitchen night. Each Tuesday, the restaurant experiments with new recipes, offering a chance to interact with chefs and give feedback on their latest creations. Would the new dishes make the menu? Only you can help decide!
Visit: Mistelle, 205 Nicholson Road, Shenton Park
Fleur
Find your French fix in the Perth CBD with a trip to Fleur. Located within heritage-listed The Royal opposite Yagan Square, the French-inspired restaurant offers a contemporary take on French classics crafted by head chef Logan Place. Turn your visit into a slow degustation with the restaurant's 'menu du jour' four-course tasting menu, a perfect way to sample a variety of French flavours.
Pull up a bistro chair on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy Fleur's Afternoon High Tea, which includes a mix of sweet and savoury bites and a glass of Prosecco on arrival.
Visit: Fleur, 531 Wellington Street, Perth
Madeline
Back on Beaufort Street is another gateway to France. Madeline elevates the senses with both mood and food. Retreat to the rear courtyard – a secreted Highgate refuge – and enjoy breakfast or lunch under the sun. Come sundown, the restaurant becomes candlelit, offering an intimate setting over beautifully executed traditional French cuisine.
Look out for the restaurant's weekly specials. Cheese lovers will appreciate the weekend's wine and cheeseboard special with the option to turn it into a bottomless affair with an hour and a half of free-flowing wine.
Visit: Madeline, 487 Beaufort Street, Highgate
Maison Saint Honore
You needn't dream of your next carb-filled snack in France. Let French patisserie Maison Saint Honore satisfy your sweet desires with handmade macarons, cakes, crepes, and pastries. Better yet, you don’t have to travel too far as the patisserie has multiple locations around the city.
Little ones can also flex their kitchen skills with the patisserie offering Petit Chef courses. Who knows, they may become the next macaron master chef!
Chez Jean-Claude Patisserie
This round-up would only be complete with mentioning Chez Jean-Claude Patisserie.
With two locations in Subiaco and West Leederville, the Swiss bakery lures lunch-goers with its freshly baked baguettes. The bakery is not one for indecisive folk craving a sugar hit, with many cakes, flans, slices and tarts on display. With temptations all around, it’s hard to leave here empty-handed, even if on a full stomach.
Read more: Our Favourite Outdoor Restaurants in Perth
