It takes its name from the famous French song of the same name by Charles Trenet (1913-2001), a famous 1930s singer. Its words “Douce France cher pays de mon enfance …” translates to “Sweet France dear country of my childhood, cradled in tender carefreeness. I have kept you in my heart!”

It’s a nostalgic, unofficial anthem well-loved by all Francophiles, especially those overseas.
It’s the emotional equivalent of the Australian poem by Dorothea Mackellar, “I love a sunburnt country”.

The cafe holds about 20 customers serving about 200 a day, mostly locals.
He specialises in éclairs and is proud of their exceptionally high quality and secret original French recipe: he uses only Australian almonds and hazelnuts to make the praline paste. He roasts them freshly on site to create the smoothest paste.
Over a dozen varieties are on display at once.
The cafe’s interior design features plush amber velvet chairs and dark walls, typically quirky French.
Joffrey is also concentrating on his social mission and intends to offer a local charity a 90 cent donation for every particular éclair sold, to help Africans overseas

He originally studied business management, marketing and communications having lived in Aix-en-Provence, South France, home of the famous artist, Paul Cézanne, near Marseille. His mother is French with Cossack influences and his father is a Dutch engineer, now working for the European Commission. He took advantage of reciprocal visa arrangements with France and Australia, the similarly warm weather, and a chance to improve his English and travel to come to Australia. “Potts Point has a European village feel to it,” he says, “with its cafes and heritage architecture, which I love.”

Joffrey oozes French provenance with his charm and chic, pose and poise.

He has no plans to move anywhere else. He is totally embedded in Potts Point where he lives

He anticipates Potts Point will grow with more residential development whose residents will savour his Douce France café. The area’s excellent location is only one train station from the CBD. He wouldn’t mind seeing a boutique cinema or boutique piano bar in the area.
One of his great delights is the on-going day-to-day relationships with customers.

7 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point
Open: Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm & Sat-Sun 8am to 5:30pm
Open: Christmas Day

Hear the delightful French chanson, Douce France, by Charles Trenet