These Très Chic Spots are Cheaper Than Flights from Melbourne to Paris

As Melbourne leans into its next summer, we shed our layers and settle into days softened by sunshine. Meanwhile, Paris steps into its most seductive season. Winter sharpens the city: coats with structure, cafe windows fogged from warmth within, and boulevards washed in that deep, cinematic glow only cold light can create. The mood feels a world apart, yet close enough to borrow.

And if you’ve ever wandered Fitzroy’s terrace-lined streets, paused beneath the awnings of South Yarra’s cafes, or drifted through Armadale’s boutiques with their polished restraint, you’ll know Melbourne has its own quiet French heartbeat. Wine bars lit like jewellery boxes, patisseries that smell of butter and memory, racks of clothing that wouldn’t look out of place along the Left Bank. Once summer takes hold, umbrellas bloom along footpaths, pét-nat shimmers in crystal, and the city’s edges soften into something unmistakably European.

So indulge a little: wander through Melbourne’s most charming Parisian-style cafes, patisseries, bistros and boutiques. A dream holiday — no boarding pass needed.

What’s Cheaper Than Flights from Melbourne to Paris? These French-Inspired Cafes & Patisseries

Matilda 

Matilda feels like a sun-drenched slice of Paris in Melbourne’s leafy east — warm, welcoming and effortlessly chic. Soft French influences shape the space and the menu, from Croque Madames and vibrant salads to fresh bakes that brighten even the sleepiest morning. The atmosphere is relaxed and neighbourly, with plenty of plant-based and gluten-free choices. Come summer, bright yellow umbrellas turn the outdoor tables into a tiny suburban idyll. Before you head out, wander the curated homewares for a final touch of French charm.

15 Arcade Road, Mont Albert North

Monforte Viennoiserie

Monforte Viennoiserie feels like a tiny slice of Paris tucked into Carlton North. The teal façade, the slow morning queues, the scent of butter warming in the air — it all evokes that unmistakable French pastry romance. Inside this small-batch patisserie, laminated dough becomes art: croissants glazed with leatherwood honey, fig-leaf danishes, and delicate seasonal creations that disappear by midday. It’s petite, refined and quietly covetable. For a Parisian-style morning in Melbourne, this is the spot.

585a Canning Street, Carlton North

Amann Patisserie

Amann Patisserie brings a quiet touch of France to Carlton North, shaped by bakers with Versailles credentials and a devotion to impeccable technique. The space is petite and pared back, letting the pastries speak: crisp kouign-amann, feather-light croissants, lemon-bright madeleines and seasonal creations that vanish early each morning. It’s a neighbourhood stop that feels effortlessly French — warm, simple, beautifully made — and worth setting the alarm for.

645 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Le Petit Marché by Entrecôte

For a taste of Paris in the form of a deliciously rich and creamy hot chocolate, you need to try Le Petit Marché. Their hot chocolates went viral on TikTok last year, with videos of people spooning freshly whipped cream into drinks so thick they looked like melted chocolate popping up left, right, and centre. Run by the Entrecôte team, here you’ll find their renowned steak frites in a delectable sandwich, pastries galore, and the fluffiest quiches you’ll ever try.

146 Greville Street, Prahran

Florian

Florian’s inviting blue exterior beckons you in, while its bustling interior radiates warmth, creating the dreamiest backdrop for cosying up with a book, meeting up with a good friend over a breakfast deli plate, or typing away on your laptop as you sip steaming cup after steaming cup of coffee. The eatery spills onto leafy Rathdowne Street, dappled in light and shade, alive with the intoxicating aromas of freshly baked pastries and brewed coffee.

With bunches of flowers often brightening the atmosphere, it’s an idyllic spot that embodies romantic, main character energy.

617 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North

Roule Galette

It doesn’t get more French than Roule Galette. Located on Flinders Lane, this cosy little spot serves up traditional French crêpes and savoury galettes—and they’re the real deal. It’s the perfect date spot or place to catch up with a friend for lunch before continuing on your city adventures. Plus, most of the staff are French, making it that much easier to convince yourself you’ve boarded a flight from Melbourne to Paris.

Fancy a French toastie? Head right next door to Croque Monsieur, Roule Galette’s little brother. It has the same vibes in an even smaller space that’s just as cute!

241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

104 Koornang Road, Carnegie

Tartine Bistro

French bistro by day, trendy wine bar by night, Tartine Bistro is our go-to spot for a lazy, French-inspired long lunch. Here, you can sip and swill your afternoon away on French wines while indulging on mouth-watering steak frites, assorted tartine and charcuterie. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon or evening rendezvous with your beau, or classy spot for your next girls’ dinner.

105 Swan Street, Richmond

What’s Cheaper Than Flights from Melbourne to Paris? These French-Inspired Bars!

Bar Magnolia

Bar Magnolia is a much-loved French bistro backed by the bustle of Sydney Road, adored by both locals and Melburnians for its exquisite French fare. It’s a cosy and charismatic spot for sharing small plates with a glass of wine, featuring delicacies like yellowfin tuna, quail œuf écossaise with tapenade, Sydney rock oysters, and the standout twice-baked goat chèvre soufflé. J’adore!

295 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Kirk’s Wine Bar

Slip into Kirk’s Wine Bar, and suddenly Hardware Lane feels closer to Paris than Melbourne. The corner building radiates that effortless European charm — tables spilling onto the street, wine poured with a knowing hand, plates drifting out that feel made for late afternoons that turn into something more. There’s a flirtatious ease to it all, a shimmer of European charm threaded through every sip, every bite, every unhurried moment.

46 Hardware Lane, Melbourne 

Babines

Babines feels lifted from a backstreet in the lively 11th arrondissement and placed, with intent, onto Smith Street. The room glows softly, glassware catching the light as plates glide past carrying Martha’s blue mussels in marinière sauce with shallots, parsley oil and bread soldiers, or the brilliant beef rump tartare minute with chervil, preserved citrus, hazelnut, cheese and Chappy’s chips. Order a sharp, inventive cocktail and the night shifts into Melbourne’s most persuasive French mood.

108 Smith Street, Collingwood 

Apollo Inn

Slip past the velvet curtain at Apollo Inn and the city noise falls away, replaced by a mood reminiscent of a late-night bar in Paris. Timber panelling casts a soft glow, cocktails arrive with thoughtful precision, and the room delivers that rare blend of intimacy and style. Settle into a corner seat and the evening opens up, rich with possibility, Gibson martinis, shellfish on ice, vintage charm and a touch of Continental mischief. Flinders Lane has never felt so romantic.

165 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

The Showroom Bar at The Royce Hotel

Marble floors warm underfoot, mirrors scatter the light and the room holds a subtle Paris thread without tipping into cliché. That’s the type of European ardour awaiting at The Royce Hotel’s onsite bar. Drinks arrive with purpose, adding shape and charm to the setting. Settle into a curved chair and the night feels subtly transformed, tones deeper, moments sharper, everything carrying a brush of old-world allure. A refined French flourish in Melbourne, ready for an evening that unfolds with style.

379 St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Bouzy Bar

Bouzy Bar brings Paris to High Street with velvet-draped entrances, lacquered warmth and a mood that feels effortlessly seductive. The curved bar glows softly, glasses catch the light, and each dish arrives at your table with a touch of French theatre. Classic techniques meet a modern Melbourne pulse, turning an evening into something quietly luxurious, one of slow pleasures, good company and a little sparkle after dark.

976 High Street, Armadale

Marion

Marion feels like a sliver of Paris stitched into Gertrude Street, the sort of wine bar where summer light spills across whitewashed walls and the clink of glass sounds almost poetic. Wines stretch from tiny French domaines to local treasures, each pour a small seduction. Come January, a cold vermouth sipped at their pavement tables feels effortlessly chic and downright essential, the sort of simple pleasure Paris would applaud.

Plates arrive with that unfussy elegance the French do so well: oysters, silky mussels and a crème caramel to share.

53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Kirbie

Kirbie brings a breezy kind of European elegance to South Melbourne. Sunlight pours across linen-draped tables while Kirbie Tate sends out plates that balance comfort with quiet refinement — hand-rolled pastas, mussels swimming in fragrant broth, and a NY strip steak glossed with her signature butter. At the centre of the room, a silver Champagne bucket holds open bottles ready to be poured by the glass.

Sitchu Tip: Slip into the alleyway courtyard for a scene that feels straight from a chic Paris side street.

323 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne

Wally’s 

Wally’s sits on a peaceful Albert Park corner and blends the charm of a refined Paris wine room with a relaxed neighbourhood spirit. Owner Baxter Pickard curates a wine list filled with rare finds, back-vintage discoveries and bottles sourced through auctions. Head Chef Damon McIvor shapes a menu guided by seasonal ingredients, from warm flatbread with smoked celeriac butter to oysters, seafood pasta and lamb pastrami. Every visit feels distinct, influenced by whatever treasures appear on the board and in the glass.

67 Cardigan Place, Albert Park

Napier Quarter

Napier Quarter carries the atmosphere of a small European establishment set against Fitzroy’s leafy backstreets. With only a handful of seats inside and a few more outdoors, the experience stays intimate and personal. Share plates are crafted with care, and the wine list showcases tiny producers and bottles you seldom see elsewhere. Owners Daniel Lewis and Simon Benjamin create an environment where conversation moves easily and the details speak for themselves — a Paris-leaning escape in the heart of Melbourne’s inner north.

359 Napier Street, Fitzroy

Siglo

Siglo rises above Spring Street with a mood shaped by classic European drinking culture. It’s part cigar bar, part open-air terrace, with an atmosphere that feels layered and stylish without effort. Whisky sours, Negronis and well-chosen wines set the pace, while the humidor offers an intriguing selection for those curious about cigars. Sit back beneath the city’s glow and enjoy Melbourne at its most cosmopolitan; a blend of eras and influences wrapped into one handsome rooftop.

2/161 Spring Street, Melbourne

What’s Cheaper Than Flights from Melbourne to Paris? These French Restaurants!

France Soir

France Soir has been Melbourne’s most enduring ode to Paris since the 1980s, a bistro where the tables sit close, the conversation carries, and the classics land with unwavering confidence. Steak frites, escargot, oysters and perfectly bracing Martinis set the tone, while the French-speaking team keeps the room moving with enviable precision. It feels lively, warm and wonderfully old-school, a dining room that has earned its reputation plate by plate.

Sitchu Tip: Oysters, martinis and a pavement table with your name on it. Très bien, darling.

11 Toorak Road, South Yarra 

Bistra

Bistra carries the spirit of a 1990s French brasserie, reimagined for Carlton. White tablecloths, warm lamplight and a menu that nods to the greats — onion soup, steak frites, glossy sauces, profiteroles — all delivered with a gentle sense of occasion. It’s elegant without stiffness, nostalgic without pastiche, a dining room where vintage wines are poured with pride and every plate lands with classic assurance. How you say, parfait.

157 Elgin Street, Carlton

Entrecôte

Entrecôte brings a polished, playful take on French dining to pretty Greville Street. Sit beneath striped awnings or in the softly lit dining room and settle into a menu that celebrates pleasure above all else. The signature steak frites is essential, but the cheeseburger royale with its molten truffled brie moment steals its own share of affection. Come for a long lunch, stay for the Champagne, and leave feeling a touch more glamorous than when you arrived.

146 Greville Street, Prahran

Gimlet

Gimlet feels like a slice of Paris dropped into a Melbourne landmark — all soft light, polished edges and a bar that knows exactly how a gimlet should taste. Trolleys roll through the room with beef tartare mixed to order and crêpes Suzette set alight in a burst of citrus. The soundscape is pure pleasure: glasses meeting, low laughter, a quiet fizz of anticipation. A tourist in sneakers savours a cheeseburger with a martini while a celebration unfolds nearby, and somehow it all fits, effortlessly, into one radiant French-toned evening.

33 Russell Street, Melbourne

Normandy Wine & Grill

Normandy Wine & Grill captures the intimacy of a neighbourhood French spot, Windsor-style. Lights stay low, the wine feels thoughtfully chosen, and the steak-frites arrives with quiet aplomb. Crisp potatoes, buttery sauces and the gentle clink from nearby tables create an atmosphere that welcomes you in immediately. Order a Martini, settle into your seat and let the evening unfold with that unmistakable ease found in the best European dining rooms.

162-164 High Street, Windsor 

Maison Batard

Maison Bâtard feels like Paris turned all the way up — a four-storey fantasia where chandeliers gleam, smoked mirrors flirt with candlelight, and the oyster bar glows like a stage. The dining rooms move with energy, every table alive with poulet rôti, citrus-laced sauces and chocolate mousse delivered with theatrical flourish. Slip upstairs to La Terrasse and the city softens under a maple tree, Champagne in hand, the night stretching wide.

It’s Parisian grandeur rewritten for Melbourne, lavish, heady and impossible to forget.

23 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Smith St Bistrot

Smith St Bistrot brings elegant Paris nostalgia to Collingwood without feeling stuck in time. There’s charm in the marble-topped tables, the soft lighting, the red leather booths and the menu anchored by French favourites done with clarity and discipline. Escargot, oeufs mayonnaise, a glass of Burgundy — it all settles into a rhythm that suits long evenings and good conversation. It’s Collingwood dressed in its most polished French attire, with just enough edge to keep things interesting.

300 Smith Street, Collingwood

Reine & La Rue

For a special occasion or a night of unapologetic indulgence, Reine & La Rue delivers a dining experience with unmistakable French grandeur. Hidden behind the majestic ANZ banking chamber at Queen and Collins, it unfolds like a cathedral to good taste, all soaring architecture, soft light and dishes plated with near-couture precision. The menu moves from delicate starters to rich, considered mains and refined grill selections. If choosing feels impossible, the polished, intuitive team will guide you toward a truly memorable evening.

380 Collins Street, Melbourne

French Saloon

The name sets the tone, but the experience seals it. French Saloon occupies a beautifully restored heritage space that feels plucked from a quiet Paris side street. Inside, the kitchen leans into French technique with a modern Australian accent: seasonal dishes, thoughtful flavour pairings and a wine list shaped with genuine finesse. Everything here feels considered, elegant and a little bit indulgent, making it one of Melbourne’s most convincingly Parisienne dining moments.

Sitchu Tip: Begin your evening downstairs at Kirk’s Wine Bar with a glass of something lovely. It’s practically a Melbourne–meets–Paris initiation.

46 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

What’s Cheaper Than Flights from Melbourne to Paris? These French-Inspired Stores!

Supercheese 

A tempting stop along bustling Swan Street, Supercheese delivers the kind of quiet magic you’d expect from a neighbourhood fromagerie in Paris. Founded by cheesemonger Jeremy Spradbery, the shop presents a beautifully curated selection of standout wheels and wedges, with a particular devotion to local and raw-milk varieties. Every visit feels like a small indulgence.

Sitchu Tip: Gather your selections and wander to the Royal Botanic Gardens for a chic picnic of Brillat Savarin, goat’s chèvre, artisan ham and berries with a chilled bottle of Champagne. C’est magnifique.

121 Swan Street, Richmond

Prahran Market

Prahran Market brings a refined European sensibility to Melbourne’s gourmet scene. Think artisanal cheese counters, pâtisserie displays, pristine produce and specialists who know their craft with near-cultural devotion. The atmosphere feels part marché, part modern food hall, with vendors offering everything from handmade pasta and seafood to organic vegetables and small-batch provisions. Wander slowly, taste as you go and gather ingredients for an effortless French-leaning dinner. It’s Melbourne’s closest answer to a chic Paris food market.

Sitchu Tip: Make time for the iconic toastie at Maker & Monger — buttery, crisp, unapologetically cheesy and absolutely worth the detour.

163 Commercial Road, South Yarra

Rose Street Artists’ Market

Tucked into Fitzroy’s creative grid, the Rose Street Artists’ Market delivers a dose of Melbourne cool with a distinctly Parisienne edge. Stalls brim with handmade jewellery, small-batch ceramics, illustrations, fragrances and fashion from emerging makers, giving the space a Montmartre-meets-Marais energy. Between browsing, you can drift to nearby galleries, vintage boutiques and intimate wine bars for an apéro moment. It’s the spot for discovering pieces with soul, crafted by the city’s sharpest creatives.

60 Rose St, Fitzroy

Spring St Grocer

Spring Street Grocer brings a subtle Parisian elegance to one of Melbourne’s most handsome boulevards. Upstairs, the deli and gelato counter feel like everyday European indulgence; downstairs, the fromagerie is pure Left Bank romance, stocked with wheels of farmhouse cheese and tended by experts who know their craft intimately. It’s the kind of spot you visit for something simple and beautiful — a baguette, a wedge of Comté, a scoop of pistachio — and leave feeling a little more continental.

157 Spring Street, Melbourne

Henne

Swedish for ‘her,’ Henne is an Australian brand dedicated to crafting sleek, minimalist clothing that enables you to curate the capsule wardrobe of your dreams. Much like the essence of French style, Henne shuns the superficial embellishments of fleeting fashion trends, focusing instead on creating timeless garments that withstand the test of time. This is the ideal destination for those looking to embody the understated elegance of Parisian fashion, allowing you to exude sophistication and beauty with every piece effortlessly.

122 Greville Street, Prahran

E Nolan

E Nolan is a Melbourne-based tailor redefining luxury and inclusivity with a sensibility that feels quietly très chic. Led by designer Emily Nolan, the label specialises in made-to-measure jackets, trousers and suits for women, non-binary individuals and trans men and women, inviting every client to express their style with confidence.

Now settled on Oxford Street, the fitting room unfolds like a whimsical atelier: vintage chairs, gilt-framed mirrors, curated art and an eclectic library of designer coffee-table books create a space that feels as dreamy as it is refined. One-on-one appointments offer the intimacy of a true couture experience, right down to the perfect fit.

Sitchu Tip: Seek out the divine new footwear collection with L’Éclisse. It’s effortlessly elegant and carries a distinctly Parisian attitude.

125 Oxford Street, Collingwood

Collins Street Paris End

If your heart beats a little faster for silk linings, glossy shopfronts and streets that feel like a film set, make your way to the Paris end of Collins Street. This is Melbourne at its most continental: grand facades, leafy canopies, heritage awnings and window displays that could sit happily on Boulevard Haussmann.

Slip into your sharpest outfit and wander past couture houses, jewellers and tailors, moving between boutiques and elegant hotel lobbies with effortless ease. A pause for coffee or Champagne — perhaps a detour up to Nick & Nora’s at 80 Collins — feels entirely fitting. On this storied stretch, you can channel Left Bank polish without leaving the CBD, emerging with a shopping bag (or three) and the easy confidence of someone who has just stepped off a Paris sidewalk.

Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

Viktoria & Woods

On High Street’s most refined stretch, Viktoria & Woods leans into a Parisian sense of ease: clean tailoring, premium fabrics and silhouettes with quiet sophistication. The Armadale boutique feels like a contemporary atelier, all soft light, sculptural racks and clothing cut with unwavering precision. From merino knits to structured blazers, every piece slips naturally into a European-coded wardrobe.

If you’re seeking Melbourne’s answer to understated Paris chic, this is an essential stop.

1040 High Street, Armadale

McPherson Antiques

McPherson Antiques feels like stepping into a Paris apartment curated over generations. Gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers, silverware, vintage perfume bottles and European curiosities create an atmosphere steeped in old-world romance. Every corner invites discovery, from ornate armchairs to delicate glassware and beautifully aged objets d’art. It’s an inspired stop for anyone seeking that quintessential Parisienne blend of history, artistry and effortless style — all nestled in the heart of St Kilda.

By Appointment Only, 24 Dalgety Street, St Kilda

Now that you’ve put those Melbourne-to-Paris flights on hold and mapped out your French escapism closer to home, dive into the best hot pot in Melbourne or sip your way through the city’s standout matcha spots.