Where to get a taste of France this Bastille Day (without leaving Canberra)
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A trip to Paris might not be on the cards, but who said you can’t enjoy the best of France right here in Canberra?
It’s no secret that the HerCanberra team loves all things French – from the food to the manicures. So, as Bastille Day approaches, it feels only right to share the best ways to get a taste of France with our fellow Francophiles.
But first, a brief history of Bastille Day.
Known in France as La Fête Nationale, Bastille Day is marked annually on 14 July. Commemorating the beginning of the French Revolution, for over 200 years, the event has brought people together to celebrate the values, history and culture of France.
In Canberra, Bastille Day sees the city taken over by all things French – and it’s one of the most delicious days of the year.
With special events, special menus and plenty of opportunities to learn about the country’s rich history, here’s HerCanberra’s official guide to Bastille Day 2026.
EVENTS
Bastille Day 2026 with Alliance Française
Mulled wine, waffles, trivia, and games – it might not be parades, fireworks, music on the streets of Paris, but this is one fun way to celebrate Bastille Day.
On Saturday 11 July, join Alliance Française from 3 pm until 5 pm for an afternoon filled with all things French. Along with a waffle and a glass of mulled wine on arrival (included in your ticket), you’ll enjoy trivia, games, face painting and a movie.
Priced at $12 for members, $14 for non-members and free for children under 12 (registration is essential), the event will be fully in English, so everyone can enjoy!
66 McCaughey Street, Turner | afcanberra.com.au
A Bastille Day Celebration at Eden Road Wines Murrumbateman
What better way to mark Bastille Day than a French table, shared with good company and exceptional wine?
On Tuesday 14 July, Chef Christophe Grégoire and winemaker Céline Rousseau of Eden Road Wines are coming together to celebrate the flavours of France. Serving up a five-course menu that pays homage to the traditions of French cuisine – and showcasing truffles harvested from Christophe’s farm in Bungendore – each meal will be paired with a premium Eden Road wine.
Priced at $160 per person, bookings are essential and seats are limited.
Eden Road Wines, 3182 Barton Highway | chefchristopheandjosephine.com.au
Cinema & the City: Paris à travers le cinéma
Interested in discovering Paris from another perspective? On Friday 17 July, Alliance Française is holding Cinema & the City: Paris à travers le cinéma. Hosted by Ruby Boukabou – author of The Movie Lover’s Guide to Paris – from Montmartre to the Champs-Élysées, you’ll be taken through the many faces of Paris through film.
A glass of wine is included in your ticket price ($10 for members and $15 for non-members), and the event will be followed by a book-signing session, with copies of The Movie Lover’s Guide to Paris available for purchase on the evening.
It might not be on actual Bastille Day, but it’s the perfect way to keep the French feeling going.
66 McCaughey Street, Turner | afcanberra.com.au
EAT AND DRINK
Les Bistronomes (Campbell)
Founded in 2014 by two French men with a desire to extend Bistronomie to Canberra, Les Bistronomes has long been a favourite for locals looking to be transported to France without paying for a plane ticket.
To celebrate Bastille Day, they’re hosting a special dinner showcasing seasonal French flavours and bistro favourites. Priced at $195 per person, the menu includes dishes like garlic and parsley butter snail encased in a savoury beignet, Bocuse-style French onion soup and an oven-baked crêpe filled with a Grand Marnier crème pâtissier.
For those looking to indulge a little further, an optional wine pairing will be available, carefully selected to complement each course. Book your seat for Tuesday 14 July.
18 Blamey Place, Campbell | chauvinhospitalitygroup.com.au/lesbistronomes
c(Barton)
Focusing predominantly on European dishes (including Provencal cuisine), Louis is elevated and luxe, setting the bar for a memorable and French-inspired fine dining experience.
With an ever-changing menu that includes dishes like twice baked crab and prawn soufflé served in sauce à l’Armoricaine and classic steak frites, they have yet to announce a dedicated Bastille Day menu – but if you can’t make it on 14 July, trust us when we say to make a booking for Friday night.
Now hosting Le Cabaret Fridays, you’ll enjoy a set menu, live jazz in the room from 6 to 9 pm, and two hours of bottomless drinks for $115 per person. Book your seat so you don’t miss out!
louisdining.com.au | 18 National Circuit, Barton
Breizh Café (Ainslie)
This casual café has a unique offering – it makes you feel like you’re in a traditional crêperie in the middle of Brittany.
Serving galette and crêpes all day (both of which can be made gluten-free with buckwheat flour) along with other French treats, they have all your cravings covered. Open Wednesday to Sunday, they also sell French imported products, whisky and Kouign-Amann – a cake that originated in Brittany in around 1860.
Our suggestion? You can’t go past the Breizh Spicy Hot Chocolate, a speciality of the café.
15 Edgar Street, Ainslie | breizhcafecreperie.com
Margot Espresso Vin and Fromage (Parkes)
Celebrating with a croissant is always a good idea – and one from Margot Espresso Vin and Fromage is sure to satisfy any French pastry cravings.
Open seven days a week from 7 am until 2 pm, grab yourself an espresso to enjoy alongside an almond croissant or a gourmet toastie. It doesn’t get more French than a Croque Monsieur in the morning…
West Kiosk, Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | margot.bar
L’Orange Patisserie (Griffith)
Recently re-locating to ‘The Lawns’ in Manuka, L’Orange Patisserie is a haven for francophiles with a sweet tooth. Known for fresh madeleines, roule cannelé, eclairs, and French macarons, you can linger over a fresh cup of coffee and a mille feuille for a memorable and pleasurable experience.
The Lawns, 4/19 Bougainville Street, Griffith | lorangepatisserie.com.au
Café Viin (Pearce)
Café by day and restaurant by night, at Café Viin, French food is done well and without fuss.
The constantly changing menu showcases the best of seasonal produce, and it’s ideal for those looking for a quiet night out. Expect intricate and subtle combinations of traditional French flavours.
Shop3A/70 Hodgson Crescent, Pearce | @cafeviin
Savoir French (Acton)
For those in the city craving authentic and homemade French baked goods, this small café has it all.
From 8.30 am on weekdays, you can pick up everything from Pain au Chocolat (best enjoyed on the spot) to a French brunch pack you can take home. Everything is made by hand using traditional methods.
You might not be able to eat your treat by the Seine, but it’s a true taste of France in Canberra.
105 Ellery Crescent, Acton | savoirfrench.com.au
Courgette (City)
This longtime legend never fails to impress, so it’s only right that you make a booking at Courgette for a French fine-dining experience.
Owned by Chef James Mussillon, this hatted restaurant only offers fixed-price menus for both lunch and dinner. Choose between three or five courses and eat your way through some classic French-inspired dishes.
Want to elevate your experience? Add in the wine pairing and thank us later.
54 Marcus Clarke Street, City | courgette.com.au
Le Bon Mélange Café Pâtisserie (Gungahlin)
A cool little French-inspired café on the corner of Bruning Street and Gungahlin Place, here you can indulge in breakfast, lunch (and most importantly) dessert.
From freshly baked pastries and homemade quiches to macarons, it’s a little piece of Europe in the heart of Gungahlin.
Corner Bruning Street and Gungahlin Place, Gungahlin | lebonmelange.com.au
Provisions (Braidwood)
A gourmet deli, pantry, and creperie offering artisan produce, coffee, French galettes, crepes, and wine…it’s worth taking a road trip to Provisions.
Open seven days a week in the charming town of Braidwood, it offers a mouth-watering taste of France. Grab a galette for breakfast or indulge in some French cheese and wine in a country setting. It may not be the French countryside, but it’s not far off.
56C Wallace Street, Braidwood | provisionsbraidwood.com.au
Feature image: Provisions. Credit: Kimberley Low.
