How to Spend Bastille Weekend in Sydney Like a True Frenchie

As a Frenchie myself whose parents immigrated to Australia when I was just 5 years old, I’ve been told they were searching for opportunities and new horizons. Their reasons probably weren’t too different from the 1788 arrival of the Le Perouse expedition at Botany Bay.

It is thanks to people like my parents and those early Settlers bringing with them a love for culture, good wine, cassoulets and crêpes that we now have a vibrant and thriving French cultural landscape. Come with me as we go on a leisurely tour of Sydney’s French scene including the super chic Bastille Festival happening throughout the city this weekend Thursday 14th to Sunday 16th July. 

 

 

You see in French there’s a word, an expression really, called ‘flâner’ - it means to wander aimlessly and especially slowly.  In our fast-paced, digital lives doesn’t that idea sound a little bit magical?

Let’s start our morning with a standard French petit dejeuner (literal translation is little lunch, best known to us Aussies as ‘breakfast’). We’re going to want a croissant au beurre and a café au lait, or café noir depending. I would suggest Loulou  in Lavender Bay. I mean, how can you not go past a French boulangerie in a place named after the south of France’s most iconic flower?

 

 

Loulou  bakes four times a day ensuring that flaky buttery taste we love. Choose a cosy corner and savour the smells of freshly baked dough. Before heading off though, pop into the Traiteur onsite (essentially a French take-out hub) where you’ll want to stock up on pique-nique foods for later such as country terrine and chicken liver parfait, a baguette and maybe even a Quiche Lorraine. Be sure to also grab a couple of Orangina’s to drink as that’s the most French beverage one could have on a pique-nique.

 

Now that your tummy is happy, it's time to stroll along the lively streets, where French flair meets Aussie spirit. Meander through The Rocks, Sydney's oldest neighbourhood, where charming boutiques and galleries beckon. Explore hidden nooks and crannies, as if you were strolling along the rues of Montmartre and admire local artists displaying their creations. 

We’re in luck visiting in July as the Bastille Festival  is in full swing, with its Food, Wine and Art Revolution right in the heart of Sydney so your next stop will be to spend the afternoon on a French Wine Tasting Walk. It's literally a 1.4km walk of wine where you explore eight French wine regions throughout Circular Quay and the Rocks. And while we have something else planned for lunch, how gorgeous is their pop up Parisian café  complete with garçons de café floating around. 

Above: One of Bastille Sydney's main attractions, the l'Or Parisian Café. 

 

Feeling inspired and maybe a little extra happy, let's head to the Royal Botanic Gardens next, where nature's symphony awaits. On the way there, we will quickly swing past  Lavie & Belle Bakery for madeleines and chouqettes to bring to our pique-nique.

 

 

Now at the Botanic Gardens, we’ll find a quiet spot near the Mare & Foul (1890) classical statue, one of two bronze sculptures attributed to French artists. Spread your blanket, and unpack your incredible spread from earlier. Let’s raise our Orangina to life's simple pleasures - Camembert, a crusty baguette and the Joie de Vivre. 

 

As we continue to ‘flâne’ the day away, it has come to our attention that there are open air French film screenings happening back at The Rocks all weekend long thanks to the Bastille Festival, complete with deck chairs overlooking the harbour so we meander back for an early session. 

By the end of the film I can tell we are all longing for a sumptuous French dinner. So let’s seek out a bistro tucked away in a cobblestone-esque laneway, where the aroma of rich sauces fills the air. I know just where to take you. I’m thinking Escargot Croquettes, Chicken with Roasted Brioche jus and tarragon with a side of pomme frites and Crème Brûlée to finish, paired with your favourite glass of wine. I’m taking you to Lorraine’s Bistro, a hatted restaurant located on level one of the iconic Robin Hood Hotel in Waverley. 

 

 

And so, with a heart filled with joy and a belly filled with French delights, this concludes our magical day in Sydney. A blend of two worlds, a fusion of cultures, a delightful dance of whimsy. Au revoir, Sydney, until our paths cross again, for today, we've experienced la vie française in your splendid embrace.