French South Bank Brisbane

Brisbane now has its own French Quarter

Bonjour, Brisbane! Bon Appetit, South Bank!

As the world sets its eyes on Paris for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, Queenslanders can get their French fix for the next three months at South Bank.

From July 1 to September 30, Brisbane's famous riverside precinct will become the home of red, white and bleu, giant croissants, baguettes, French martinis, cancan dancers, French-inspired picnics, mime artists, opera singers, all sorts of French cheese, and even a four-storey tribute to the Eiffel Tower, named, Paris Tower! So grab your beret and don your striped shirt, here's what to expect: 

• South Bank's leading flavour-makers will nod to France with a range of tastes and tipples, including:

• A range of French cocktails including A Kir Royale, French 75 and a classic French Martini or a traditional baked camembert with honey and walnuts at Barbossa for $15;
• Two x Grey Goose Martinis with a deluxe three-cheese board for $35.00 at The Jetty;
• At Vici there is a $90 bottomless brunch of five fabulous courses with free-flowing Aix en Provence Rosé and French Martinis, or $25 per glass Veuve Clicquot;
• Ole will host a six-course French Fiesta with free-flowing Aix en Provence Rosé and French Martinis, or $25 per glass Veuve Clicquot;
• A huge Cheese Wheel at Fritzenberger will be a must-see, as chefs warm the wheel and melt the cheese onto frites (fries) and their 'Frenchified' hamburgers for an extra $6;
• C'est Du Gateau is already French, and will take the flavours to a new level with a different Brisbane Roll each month for $9.50, a regular croissant and coffee for $11 and EXTRA large croissants over the weekends for $35;
• OTTO Ristorante is celebrating a few ways – there's the premium French wine pairing option with the signature OTTO Tasting Menu for $199 per person and at OTTO Osteria, menu specials include Osteria twice-baked cheese soufflé for $24 and the French-inspired cocktail "Mon Cherie (actually a French patisserie in a glass with sweet but tart strawberry and peach, the decadence of a croissant infused mascarpone milk punch – all expertly balanced) for $25;
• At Brooklyn Depot there's a French Dip Sandwich or the famous poutine fries, with a French Martini or French 75 for $34.95
• Baba Ganouj will celebrate with a $22 French Martini and an $18 Chocolate Fondant;
• At Poppies there's a French Martini with a twist for $18 and a French-inspired Mimosa with Chambord and bubbles for $14;
• Ma Pa Me has the Chimosa cocktail - a mimosa that substitutes orange juice with Chinola – for $15;
• Harajuku Gyoza is taking the flavours of Japan and adding a bite of France – their famous Grilled Pork Gyoza will come with hollandaise sauce for $12 for 5 pieces and $18 for 8 pieces!
• French Hot Chocolate from Denim Co. for $6.50

• From Friday July 5 to Sunday July 7, South Bank is home to Le Festival, the much loved three day celebration of all things French.  The masterclass programme will deliver excellence de l'éducation in a series of events ranging from floral arrangement with the multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed Brisbane-based florist Bart Hassam, perfume making with noted 'nose', Miriam Young and beer and wine pairings with Frank Berges and Peter Gross. The Festival will also feature exhibitions, performances and its own marchés en plein air with over 50 stalls showcasing French inspired clothes, goods and food. For the bebes, there's the Mini "Olympiades".

• Paris Tower – at home in the Cultural Forecourt opposite QPAC, the Paris Tower will stand four storeys tall and will light up every night, paying homage to the world-famous Eiffel Tower.

• During the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, every time an Australian athlete wins a medal, the tower will light up in either gold, silver or bronze!
• French Events - Roving performances, music, food tastings, sip-and-paint sessions and French-inspired picnics will take place throughout the precinct.
• The streets will be turning red, white and bleu through festive bunting and lighting, with The Collective Market also being styled in theme for the occasion!

So, over the next three months, if you start to mistake South Bank's famous bougainvillaea for an oversized vineyard, the Cultural Centre for Montmartre, and you choose baguettes and blue cheese over your sourdough and avocado for breakfast, then Merci and enjoy!

All details here: What's On South Bank whatsonsouthbank.com.au