Bon Appétit: The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne

French food never really leaves Melbourne’s collective imagination. From late lunches that drift into dinner to white-tablecloth classics done with restraint, the city has long held a deep affection for French dining. In 2026, that affection feels newly energised. Legacy institutions are still holding court, while a new generation of French restaurants is rewriting the rules with confidence and clarity.

From classic bistros to grand dining rooms and intimate wine bars, these are the best French restaurants in Melbourne right now, worthy of indulgent dinners, celebratory lunches and everything in between.

Maison Bâtard

Chris Lucas’ four-level Parisian fantasia is the most talked-about opening of the past year, and deservedly so. Maison Bâtard balances theatre with discipline, moving effortlessly between Champagne-fuelled lunches, elegant dinners and late-night martinis. The menu leans classic with polish: seafood towers, duck, steak, impeccable sauces. Grand without being heavy-handed, it sets the benchmark for modern French dining in Melbourne.

23 Bourke Street, Melbourne 

7Alfred

7Alfred brings a polished French-leaning spirit to the CBD, built around a superb scotch fillet and perfectly crisp beef-tallow fries. Sauces arrive in neat little pots, the wine list is sharp and unfussy, and the room has that busy, city-night charm. A smart choice for anyone craving Melbourne’s version of a Paris bistro.

7 Alfred Place, Melbourne

Harriot

Harriot is the CBD’s newest fully fledged, entirely refined European mood, with a distinct French thread woven through its menu. Chef James Kelly draws on precise technique to shape dishes that span terrine, tartare (a must), sweetbreads (another must), wood-oven trout and duck, all lifted by thoughtful sauces and considered produce. The room feels elegant without fuss, and a 500-bottle wine list moves between Victorian makers and French favourites with ease. It’s safe to say we’re a little bit in love with Harriot.

555 Collins Street, Melbourne

Malin

Malin brings modern French finesse to Carlton North within an 1880s corner building in Rathdowne Village. Chef Clément Pilatre works seasonally, shaping plates with precision and clarity. The menu moves from elegant small dishes to seafood and thoughtful vegetable courses before settling into mains that balance richness with restraint. The room feels intimate, the service assured, and the wine list blends emerging makers with revered classics. A confident addition to Melbourne’s French dining scene.

687 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North 

L’Hôtel Gitan

L’Hôtel Gitan brings polished French flair to Prahran with the easy assurance of a Reymond family bistro. Equal parts neighbourhood favourite and Euro-centric dining room, it offers steak tartare, duck magret, rotisserie plates and crisp frites, all backed by a thoughtful wine list. The room feels warm, stylish and effortlessly inviting — a go-to for long lunches, evening plans and anyone chasing French dining with genuine charm.

32 Commercial Road, Prahran

Chez Bagou

Chez Bagou brings a polished hit of modern French charm to Albert Park, the kind that feels effortlessly chic without trying. Sunlight catches on crisp linens, Champagne chills in coupe glasses, and the menu walks a confident line between bistronomie and tradition — escargots, onion soup, confit duck, market-fresh seafood. Service is warm, the wine list is impeccably French, and every detail feels considered. A neighbourhood restaurant you’ll want to claim as your own.

132 Bridport Street, Albert Park

Bistrot Bisou

Bistrot Bisou marks Luke Mangan’s elegant return to Melbourne, bringing a polished French sensibility to Hotel Indigo on Flinders Lane. The room glows with leather banquettes, soft golden light and street views, while the menu runs from steak tartare and chicken liver parfait to confit duck and wood-roasted poussin. Finish with tarte Tatin or crème brûlée and a perfectly crafted Martini.

575 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

French Saloon

French Saloon’s return cemented its place once again among Melbourne’s best. Upstairs from Kirk’s, the dining room blends Parisian cues with modern restraint. Dishes like duck with cherries and beef with onions are grounded in tradition but plated with intent. The wine list, curated by Jack Brodie, is one of the city’s strongest.

First Floor, 46 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

Wally’s 

A wine bar with serious culinary chops, Wally’s delivers European-inspired plates that shift weekly with the seasons. Flatbreads, oysters, seafood pastas and beautifully cooked steak pair with one of Melbourne’s most interesting back-vintage wine collections.

67 Cardigan Place, Albert Park

Public Wine Shop

Public Wine Shop is a quaint haven with space for just 20, where French-inspired seasonal plates and pastas shine. Think exquisite charcuterie, creamy cheeses, tangy pickled vegetables, rich pâté, crusty bread, and fresh seafood. The real pièce de résistance, however, is the wine. The shop’s walls are adorned with bottles from near and far. Select your preferred vintage from the shelf, and a perfectly chilled counterpart will be brought from upstairs, ensuring every sip is sublime. 

179 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

Normandy Bar & Grill

Normandy Wine & Grill brings a poised, modern expression of French dining to Melbourne. Steak frites arrive beautifully judged, seafood is treated with quiet precision, and chef Azem Dzevlan’s Bistro Thierry roots show in every detail. With a wine list that rewards good choices and a room that feels instantly assured, it’s French comfort elevated with real style.

162-164 High Street, Windsor

Reine & La Rue 

Set inside the dramatic former Melbourne Stock Exchange, Reine & La Rue marries Gothic grandeur with a distinctly modern, French-accented confidence. Come for Champagne and small plates at the bar or settle in for a full, polished dinner: think lobster cocktail, steak with Bordelaise or café de Paris butter, and a wine list that invites you to explore.

380 Collins Street, Melbourne

Bar Magnolia

Bar Magnolia is a petite, French-leaning bistro and wine bar in Brunswick that nails the neighbourhood mood: low light, natural wines and a menu that shifts with the seasons. Expect thoughtful, ingredient-led dishes — perhaps a delicate tart, a perfectly balanced terrine or a produce-driven plate that leans quietly French without feeling predictable. It’s intimate, warm and effortlessly charming, made for slow dinners and great bottles shared well.

295 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Chancery Lane

Chancery Lane, a French-influenced bistro by Scott Pickett welcomes diners to the historic Normanby Chambers building. Suited for any occasion, from a glass and a bite at the bar to a private dinner party, you can expect classic French and European dishes with a twist. The 100-seater bistro is ensconced in a rich palette of dark green, checkerboard tiling and dark timber, emulating old-world charm and opulence of La Belle Époque. Antique brass and textured gold details are featured throughout.

430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Franco Belge

Franco Belge brings French-Belgian warmth to Camberwell Junction with relaxed charm and pitch-perfect classics. Run by two former France-Soir alums, it’s a neighbourhood favourite for oysters mignonette, housemade terrine and deeply savoury French onion soup. Mains lean comforting: côte de boeuf for two, duck cassoulet, mussels and frites, and a beautifully cooked poisson du jour. A spot made for long, wine-led lunches and easy dinners.

9 Evans Place, Hawthorn East 

Tartine

This charming corner restaurant rethinks French dining with a lighter, modern touch. Tartine centres its menu on the namesake open-face sandwich, layering toasted sourdough with toppings like crab and green apple or pear and roquefort. Perfect for a solo lunch or a gentle start to dinner, the space shifts beautifully from sunlit and airy by day to candlelit and cosy at night.

105 Swan Street, Richmond

Bistrot d’Orsay

Located inside the Athenaeum Theatre, Bistrot d’Orsay feels like stepping into another city entirely. White tablecloths, vintage posters and a trompe l’oeil ceiling set the scene for pre-theatre dinners and lingering lunches. The menu spans French and Mediterranean classics, from bouillabaisse to seafood linguine, executed with consistency and warmth.

184 Collins Street, Melbourne

Entrecôte 

Steak frites remains the headline at Entrecôte, and for good reason. The Black Angus steak arrives perfectly cooked, finished with the restaurant’s signature tarragon butter, fries and salad. Beyond the classic, the menu plates up escargot, gougères and refined desserts. Bigger and more beautiful premises have only sharpened the experience.

142-144 Greville Street, Prahran

Smith St Bistrot

Smith St is renowned restaurateur Scott Pickett’s take on the storied French bistro. The menu is an ode to the classics, plying guests with luxurious oeufs mayonnaise topped with avruga caviar, garlicky escargot vol-au-vents and king dory fillets with sauce gribiche. The space is equally lush with green velvet, brass chandeliers and antique mirrors, while a spiral staircase leads up a mezzanine and private dining space. For an elegant affair, this is certainly up there as one of the best French restaurants in Melbourne. 

300 Smith Street, Collingwood

Bistro Volière

Located in the foyer of the historic George Hotel, Bistro Volière is a little slice of Paris in St Kilda. True to the traditions of bistro cuisine, they offer à la carte lunches and three course dinners that will have you spooning escargot and gnocchi Parisiènne or savouring truffle tortellini and rich beef bourguinon. The wine list trots around France’s hallowed vineyards from Bordeaux to Chardonnay, before desserts of both the sweet and cheesy variety end the meal on a high.

129 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda 

Mon Ami

If you’ve never tried French-Scandinavian cuisine, make a beeline for Mon Ami in Fitzroy. Small in size but big in heart, their 16-seat capacity means you’ll feel like you’re at an intimate dinner party. Mon Ami’s husband and wife team recreate French dishes with the clean flavours of Scandinavian cuisine, resulting in delights like citrusy scallop ceviche with Finnish pickled cucumbers and sous vide lamb loin in a yoghurt orange glaze. 

144 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 

Bistro Sousou

Bistrou Sousou, formerly Madame Sousou, has been a pillar of Melbourne dining for nearly two decades, holding firm to its vision of classic French cooking in a room that feels lifted from 1920s Paris. Warm light and golden-era detail set the tone for enduring favourites: cheese soufflé, coq au vin and apple tarte tatin, each prepared with confidence and care. Sousou is a French restaurant in Melbourne made for comfort and continuity, where the greatest hits shine without fuss because timeless dishes never lose their pull.

153 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

Philippe

Tucked at the Paris end of Collins Street, acclaimed chef Philippe Mouchel’s namesake restaurant is a polished escape for anyone devoted to French cuisine. A few steps below street level lies a warm, elegant dining room shaped by an open kitchen and Philippe’s assured touch. The menu leans classic but never stale, delivering pitch-perfect Wagyu beef tartare, luminous bouillabaisse and beautifully seasoned rotisserie chicken. And for dessert, the crème brûlée is the move — rich, silky and timeless.

115 Collins Street, Melbourne

Bon Ap’

This relaxed French restaurant in Melbourne — part restaurant, part bar, part cafe — delivers on its promise of bon appétit with flair. Committed to the joy of fine food, Bon Ap’ serve everything from morning croissants to sumptuous three-course dinners. To truly savour their classic menu, gather a group and sample a bit of everything. If you’re feeling indecisive, simply say ‘feed me’ and let the Bon Ap’ team guide you through a delectable journey across France.

193 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

France Soir

A cornerstone of Melbourne dining, France Soir remains as relevant now as it was decades ago. The room buzzes with energy, the service moves with practised ease, and the menu stays loyal to French tradition. Steak tartare, escargots, beef bourguignon and oysters arrive exactly as they should. It is timeless, assured and still one of the city’s most reliable reservations.

Sitchu Tip: For a truly Parisian touch, enjoy a dirty Martini at one of the sidewalk tables, soaking up the lively ambiance and indulging in a bit of people-watching.

11 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Bistro Gitan

Bistro Gitan blends French technique with broader European influence, anchored by warmth and generosity. The menu highlights Tasmanian produce, thoughtful sauces and confident cooking, supported by a wide-ranging wine list. It suits long lunches and relaxed dinners equally well.

52 Toorak Road West, South Yarra

Chez Olivier

A staple of Melbourne’s foodie scene, Chez Olivier is celebrated for its attentive service and authentic French cuisine. The rustic, welcoming décor provides the perfect backdrop for the food to take centre stage, especially with dishes like creamy seafood bisque and foie gras terrine on the menu. Coupled with a generous wine list and an exceptional dessert menu, this beloved French restaurant in Melbourne ensures you’ll leave thoroughly satisfied.

268 Toorak Road, South Yarra

The Best French Restaurants in Regional Victoria

Chauncy

Say bonjour to Chauncy, Heathcote’s acclaimed one-hatted fine-dining destination, where French technique meets regional Victorian produce. The dining room feels warm, light-filled and romantic, matched by polished, generous hospitality. Menus shift with the seasons, winter leaning comforting and generous, summer lighter and refined. Seasonal produce takes centre stage through elegant, produce-led courses, from carefully prepared vegetables and pâtés to refined seafood dishes and deeply flavoured sauces. A destination well worth the drive.

178 High Street, Heathcote

Bistro Elba 

Experience the French Riviera without leaving Sorrento at sunlit Bistro Elba — a coastal beauty serving South-of-France classics with confidence and ease. Expect warm bread straight from the oven, pristine seafood, golden pastries and Provençal vegetables, all supported by a thoughtfully curated wine list.

The room channels effortless holiday energy: tall windows, skylights and a foliage-wrapped courtyard drench the space in natural light, while vibrant artworks add just the right amount of drama for your camera roll.

And dessert is non-negotiable. The chocolate éclairs have earned their following, best paired with a plate of imported French cheeses to close out the experience. Bon appétit.

100-102 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento 

Now that you’ve tackled the best French restaurants in Melbourne, continue your gustatory world tour with our top foodie picks, these are the most delicious Japanese restaurants, Korean BBQ, and Italian spots in town. 

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

23 January 2026

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.