If Potts Point is the heart of the 2011 postcode area then Macleay Street is its major artery, supplying the lifeblood of the area.

In Autumn, the golden leaves of its boulevard of London Plane trees float to earth as part of their annual ritual providing a crunchy cushion under foot.

In London and on the Champs Elysees, Paris, the same species are also part of the attraction and ambience of those cities.

The area’s French links have been alluded to for some time.

Local media of 1930 and 1936 described the area as “a handy place to live in … recently enriched by some of the finest residential buildings in Australia [including] mansion such as … Kingsley Hall … Darlinghurst Road … [which] represents mixed uses [with] many popular restaurants feeding the large flat population … a gaiety of lights, plane trees in the street, [all] suggesting the Boulevard Saint Germain … or a strada of Florence …”.

Macleay Street is named after Alexander Macleay, an instrumental colonial government official whose Elizabeth Bay House estate was subdivided to create the street.

It runs northerly from the corner of Darlinghurst Road opposite the El-Alamein Fountain down to the corner of Wylde Street, near the navy’s HMAS Kuttabul.

On its westerns side, the newly-opened Cafe de la Fontaine, a French cafe at 1A Darlinghurst Road, opposite the famous El-Alamein fountain. It is owned and run by Joffrey van Asten, from Aix-en Provence. It does a roaring business despite Covid-19 restrictions and offers Croque Monsieur, coffees, and their bespoke recipes for ice creams including lychee sorbet. A large, glittering Eiffel Tower is a prominent part of the interior decor.

Franca French brasserie, 81 Macleay Street, is open for take-aways for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Delivery is an option for lunch and dinner. The pan fried gnocchi with goat’s cheese and sage (commencer) followed by their Fanca Burger with Gruyer cheese and tomato (continuer) are popular favourites. Franca takes its name from the Latin phrase, lingua franca, meaning a common or widely accepted language.  https://www.francabrasserie.com.au/

Macleay Street Bistro, 73a Macleay Street, now in its 38th year of continuous French service, is open seven days with local deliveries and lunch and dinner pick-up box orders available from 1:15pm.  https://macleaystbistro.com.au/

Its French specialities include Tasmanian Salmon with beurre blanc and its classic creme brulee. The word bistrot, its original spelling, is thought to have originated from a regional word: bistro, bistrot, bistingo, bistraud, bistouille or bistrouille. The first recorded use of the word appears in 1884. It may have originated among among Russian troops who occupied Paris following the Napoleonic Wars (from быстро, meaning “quickly”), which was allegedly shouted by Russian officers or Cossacks demanding to be served quickly. This etymology is now doubted by scholars.

Monopole, 71 Macleay Street, has a special take-away market, changing regularly including licorice bread, French specialties and vegetarian curry. Their Easter hot cross buns with raisins soaked in Port all sold quickly.  https://www.monopolesydney.com.au/

Melo’s Italian, 22 Rockwell Crescent  has its own specialities; a “solo isolation pack”, and an at home “honeymoon couples pack” or a “stuck with the family and kids pack” to make life easier, with delivery and pick up options. Their Involtini Saltimbocca (veal with sage and prosciutto) is a favourite.  https://melositalian.com.au/

Bistro Rex, 50 Macleay Street, with its French-inspired menu, offers 10% off delivery items and a 20% discount for pick-ups . The chicken liver parfait with jelly currants or apple tarte tatin are inspired.  https://bistrorex.com.au/

Patrice, a Gallic afficionado and owner of the The Little Candle Shop home wares boutique at 137 Macleay Street, now in its eleventh year, says he enjoys the area for its eclectic character. “People know and recognise each other here. Its á village, or arrondissement, and enjoys a real energy with a wide socio-economic mix. It’s very vibrant with a potpourri of people”.  https://www.thelittlecandleshop.com.au/

Unsurprisingly but not unpretentiously, the street is often referred to as “the Paris end” of Potts Point.

Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions