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Restaurant

Bistro Papillon

98 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Recommended by 57 people

Updated

Find Bistro Papillon

98 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 2 9262 2402
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:30 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:30 PM Friday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:30 PM Saturday: 5:30 – 10:30 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Bistro Papillon

A packed slice of Paris steps from Wynyard Station. Walk through the doors—warm light, close tables, and native French dialogue filling the room. Homesick expats steer friends to this Clarence Street dining room when they crave the real thing, free of fusion tweaks: dark soupe à l’oignon, garlic butter escargot, and duck confit with crisp skin. Course pacing pauses mid-meal for Le Colonel—a frosty splash of lemon sorbet drenched in vodka—resetting the palate for tender beef bourguignon and a textbook île flottante.

  • Uncompromised Bistro Classics: Traditional preparations of soupe à l'oignon, escargot, crisp canard confit, and slow-cooked beef bourguignon without modern fusion detours.
  • Mid-Meal Le Colonel Ritual: The kitchen breaks up rich savory courses with a dedicated splash of lemon sorbet and vodka.
  • Bilingual Parisian Hospitality: Native French servers balance attentive table management with casual back-and-forth dialogue for milestone dinners and dates.
  • Clarence Street Location: Tucked along Clarence Street, just a short walk from Wynyard Station for effortless city access.
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What's On at Bistro Papillon

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Bistro Papillon

From traditional culinary staples and palate-cleansing rituals to transportive Parisian charm, here is why diners choose Bistro Papillon.

  • The Signature Le Colonel Course

    Guests enjoying multi-course dining are treated to an inter-course Le Colonel ritual—refreshing lemon sorbet finished with vodka—designed to reset the palate before the next rich dish.

    A special shoutout to the Le Colonel palate cleansers. They were a fantastic, refreshing touch that set us up perfectly for our mains and sweet finish.

    Jacinta Balzer

  • Immersive Native French Hospitality

    The front-of-house team brings authentic French warmth, encouraging patrons to exchange French phrases and fostering genuine conviviality throughout the room.

    Just two on the floor, both French, apparently, and good-humouredly patient with an idiot trying to talk to them in his Duolingo French.

    Paul Ellercamp

  • Thoughtful Celebratory Recognition

    Milestone dinners like anniversaries and birthdays are met with attentive care and thoughtful personal touches, from commemorative chocolate plaques to dessert candles.

    Final very thoughtful touch of the night was a tiny chocolate plaque that wished us a happy anniversary, it was a nice reminder that they were considering why we had booked and helped make the dinner special for us.

    Kel E.

  • Nostalgic Parisian Transport

    With its warm lighting, intimate seating, and nostalgic atmosphere, the dining room allows diners to leave the Sydney CBD behind and feel as if they are seated in Paris.

    We’re a French couple and we’ve been transported back to France for few hours.

    Léa Cionco

  • Uncompromising Classical Repertoire

    The kitchen focuses strictly on classic French culinary techniques, presenting time-honored staples like boeuf bourguignon, crispy confit de canard, and rich escargot.

    A gorgeous traditional French bistro (other than a French-inspired local restaurant). The food was authentic and delicious.

    Caroline

  • Prime Wynyard Accessibility

    Located conveniently on Clarence Street just moments from Wynyard Station, the bistro offers an ideal central CBD retreat for unhurried three-course lunches paired with French wines.

    We often travel by train and the bonus is that Bistro Papillon is only a very short walk from Wynyard Station.

    Fraser Green

Customer-favorite French bistro classics and signature dining rituals at Bistro Papillon.

  • Le Colonel Palate Cleanser

    A special shoutout to the Le Colonel palate cleansers. They were a fantastic, refreshing touch that set us up perfectly for our mains and sweet finish.

    Jacinta Balzer

  • Confit de Canard

    The duck confit was another highlight, with the skin beautifully crisp and the meat meltingly tender.

    Rachanoo L

  • Crème Brûlée

    To end this unforgettable meal, we had the Crème Brûlée, a flawless rendition of the beloved dessert. The caramelized sugar crust was perfectly crisp, giving way to the smooth, decadent custard beneath—an absolutely divine way to conclude our dining experience.

    Anne Rehana

  • Bœuf Bourguignon

    For mains, the beef bourguignon was a masterpiece. The meat was incredibly tender, the sauce rich and deeply flavorful, and the accompanying vegetables were perfectly cooked.

    Rachanoo L

Other favorites

Traditional French desserts that provide a classic conclusion to your bistro meal.

  • Île Flottante

    For dessert, we treated ourselves to the Île Flottante

    Jacinta Balzer

  • Dame Blanche

    The pork rillette, steak frites and Dame Blanche were highlights.

    Carolyn Choy

  • Mousse

    My partner raved about the mousse too.

    Edwin B Russell

  • Apple Tart

    To finish, we shared the apple tart, and tried their lovely selections of digestifs.

    Rachanoo L

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality touches that turn classic Parisian bistro dining into an unforgettable occasion—book your table early to secure your spot.

  • Le Colonel Palate Cleansers

    Guests are treated to a mid-meal intermezzo of chilled lemon sorbet laced with vodka to cleanse the palate between rich classic courses.

  • Commemorative Dessert Plaques

    Anniversary and birthday tables receive personalized celebratory touches, including candles and dedicated chocolate message plaques served alongside dessert.

  • French Language Table Practice

    The French-speaking floor team warmly and patiently encourages guests wanting to practice their French phrases, adding immersive personal charm.

  • Proactive Celebration Photography

    Waitstaff take the initiative to offer commemorative group photography during milestone meals, letting guests stay fully immersed in the moment.

Before you head over

Practical advice for smooth courses and seamless milestones. Reserve your table early to secure your spot.

  • Note Celebrations in Advance

    Mention an anniversary or birthday when booking to ensure the staff can arrange thoughtful personalized touches, such as celebratory dessert plaques and candles.

  • Request Alcohol-Free Palate Cleansers

    The house Le Colonel palate cleanser arrives with vodka over lemon sorbet, but diners avoiding alcohol can request the sorbet served plain without missing the ritual.

  • Pace for Two-Hour Seatings

    Dinner services adhere to two-hour dining allocations, so browse the menu and wine selections promptly to keep your multi-course feast unhurried.

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