Loulou Bistro, Boulangerie & Traiteur

Lavender Bay hotspot Loulou offers Sydneysiders a taste of everyday French life. The bistro-bakery-delicatessen hybrid is a local favourite on the lower north shore, with the team providing everything from a morning coffee and smoked ocean trout to a champagne lunch paired with hand-cut steak tartare.

Over at the bistro, you'll find grilled spatchcock, Sydney rock oysters and an impressive wine list. Highlights of the French-inspired menu include the melt-in-your-mouth côte de bœuf served sliced with a drizzle of sauce bordelaise. There's classic steak frites with sauce au poivre, as well as lighter hors d'oeuvres including a quiche du jour with salad and a grilled octopus with sauce bouillabaisse. 

Combining traditional French styling and contemporary aesthetics, the dining space feels warm and luxurious — think warm timber, brass accents and mosaic marble floors. Guests can pull up a seat at the bar or slide into a cushy booth to enjoy an intimate meal with family and friends. With over 150 wines available by the bottle, the highly skilled sommeliers ensure guests can choose from an extensive list of both Australian and French producers.

Follow your nose to the boulangerie next door, where you'll be enveloped in the delicious aroma of artisanal baguettes, croissants, mice loaves and pain au chocolats. The team here bake four times a day, seven days a week. This number of bakes in a day is almost unheard of in Australia, ensuring that if you pop by after work, the bread is as fresh as can be — just like in Paris.

Over in the traiteur (delicatessen), browse a wide selection of house-made produce and comforting home-style meals. Loulou is your perfect pre-picnic pit stop, from jars of pickles to charcuterie, cheese and whole rotisserie chickens.

Over in the cold section, pristine glass cabinets feature a variety of terrines, parfaits and fresh salads — there's nothing better than a summer cassoulet or chilled ratatouille in Sydney's heat. Guests can bring the goodies home or enjoy them outside on the sun-soaked terrace.

Our top tip? Fill a basket and take a quick stroll to Wendy's Secret Garden. It's one of Sydney's most beautiful green spaces and is only a stone's throw away.

Images: Steven Woodburn

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Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney