Manon Brasserie

It seems Sydney's CBD is falling in love—or back in love—with Euro-centric diners open at all hours of the day. Venues like Bar Mammoni and Grana serve their punters everything from coffee to cocktails—and now another all-occasion venue has arrived in the city.

Situated in the stately Queen Victoria Building (QVB), Manon Brasserie is the brainchild of hospitality heavyweights Marco Ambrosino (Fratelli Paradiso, 10 William St) and Manny Spinola (Grand Pacific Group). The pair are also behind Bondi's Mediterranean restaurant Lola's Level 1—one of the hottest venue openings in 2021—and now they're bringing a slice of France to the CBD. 

The Euro-style brasserie has taken over the former Jet Bar Caffe digs on the QVB's ground floor, taking the casual espresso bar and elevating it with new colourful and textural interiors by way of award-winning firm H&E Architects—think red leather banquettes, brass and aged bronze accents, warm timber furnishings, mirrored surfaces, and stone elements that scream old-school Franco vibes. 

The space can accommodate 140 guests—60 inside and 80 outside—and is open for everything from coffee and viennoiseries to dinner and late-night cocktails. How European.

The kitchen is headed up by French-born chef Thomas Boisselier, with the team operating for takeaway, breakfast, lunch, and dinner services, as well as late-night supper on Fridays and Saturdays. Manon is a cafe, patisserie, brasserie, and supper spot as well as a wine and cocktail bar.

To say it's a jack of all trades would be an understatement—it's an answer to the city's need for an all-hours economy. And along with a select few, it's leading the way. 

"Manon will be a place to sit and people watch while enjoying French cuisine, giving customers a taste of the European lifestyle whether it’s at breakfast before work, a long lunch or an ambient dinner,” says co-owner Spinola.

On the breakfast menu, you'll find croque monsieurs, Brittany-style crepes, omelettes, egg meurette, crab on toast, and, of course, French toast. There are also takeaway options like croissants, brioche, and baguettes. 

Lunch and dinner services include a raw bar with caviar oysters shucked to order, as well as brasserie classics like beef tartare, bone marrow tartine, steak frites, savoury souffle, and duck a l'orange. And the desserts are not to be overlooked, with the crepes Suzette and mocha and Valrhona chocolate mille-feuille particular highlights. 

Of course, the wine list here is extensive thanks to Head Sommelier Harry Hunter. It spans 400 bottles, most of which are French, naturally, with drops from regions such as Loire, Bordeaux, Rhône, and Burgundy. On top of all the fine wine, there are carefully selected aperitifs and cocktails. 

Sydney, consider yourself covered from cappuccino to cocktail at this effortless French all-rounder.

Manon Brasserie opens on Friday 10 June and will be open daily, from 6pm – late. 

Image credit: Nikki To