Olympic Spirit: Here's how to get your French fix right here in Australia

French dining is having a moment. Call it the Olympics effect or simply a nostalgic return to classic Gallic flavours and techniques. Whatever it is, you can satisfy those cravings at these Australian restaurants, cafes, bakeries and bars dishing up an abundance of French savoir faire, joie de vivre and endless deliciousness. Sante and bon appetit!

Tucked into a high-ceilinged historic drill hall overlooking Chowder Bay on Sydney Harbour's northern shoreline, L'Heritage is one of Sydney's most romantic restaurants (you can even rendezvous by the fireplace for that extra je ne sais quoi).

By day, it's also a charmer. Nibble on foie gras mousse tartelettes perfectly matched to a glass of golden sauterne, warm up with a bowl of chef Julien Audibert's signature bouillabaisse served with the traditional accompaniment of toasted bread and a dollop of sunshine-yellow rouille sauce, and reluctantly wrap up the whole affair with a delicate creme caramel. Mmm-mm. lheritage.com.au

Suburban Rozelle, in Sydney's inner-west, is where Tetsuya's had its humble start - so no surprise another big name has arrived in the neighbourhood's narrow streets. Celebrity chef Manu Feildel this month opened a bistro upstairs in Darling Street's Red Lion Hotel. We love the sound of "as much as you want" baguette and butter, double-baked Comte cheese souffle, Nambucca oyster gratinee and tarte tatin with creme fraiche. redlionrozelle.com.au

With two locations - at Brisbane's riverfront Portside precinct and the Gold Coast's Sanctuary Cove - Rise Bakery's delectable treats are within easy reach when visiting South East Queensland. French-raised chef Maxime Bournazel and pastry chef Adrien Marcinowski have re-created the cosy yet upscale vibe of beloved local bakeries in the South of France. A stand-out is their Paris-Brest - a tribute to Marcinowski's culinary mentor. Pair your pastry with a flute of champagne or grab one of their famous truffle chicken pies to go. risebakery.com.au

Want to know how seriously Lune takes its croissants? It takes three days, two kinds of butter (French brand Beurre d'Isigny and Sydney's hand-churned Pepe Saya) and up to 27 layers to create this cult-status, queue-inducing, slightly larger Australian version of a traditional French croissant. There are three outlets in Lune's birthplace of Melbourne and another two in Brisbane, with Sydneysiders anticipating Lune's goodies (which also include the likes of lemon curd cruffins, and cheese and Vegemite escargot pastries) when outlets open at Rosebery Engine Yards and Metro Martin Place later this year. lunecroissanterie.com

Never heard of Jura wine? Head to this Fitzroy North bistro recently visited by the Jonas Brothers. It boasts one of Australia's larger collections of drops from this tiny cool-climate French wine region parked between Burgundy and the Swiss border.

Order something special from the cellar while absorbing the vintage vibes of the nostalgic interior or, on warm days, settle in on the patio. Pair your vino with satisfying eats such as a charcoal-roasted sirloin with bearnaise sauce. neighbourhoodwine.com

At David Jones's flagship Elizabeth Street store in Sydney, swish out through the elevator doors on level two and install yourself within the in-house Champagne Jacquart Bar.

As natural light spills through high windows, linger over high tea. Pair coffee, tea and/or a flute of champagne Jacquart Mosaique NV Brut (from the relatively young champagne house in Reims, France) with petite eats such as blinis with Yarra Valley salmon roe caviar, light-as-air Victoria sponge and scones with clotted cream and jam from the three-tiered cake stand. champagnejacquartbar.com.au

Well, bonjour Monsieur! It's taken more than a decade but restaurateur Luke Mangan is back in his hometown with a new dining venue. Bistrot Bisou, which recently opened at Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders, applies a modern twist to the classics.

Try the confit duck with bacon, peas and mint sauce; wood-roasted chicken with champagne and tarragon sauce; or a vegetarian option such as warm leeks with hazelnuts. Toast the good times with Taittinger or plump for the apple-forward signature cocktail. bistrotbisou.com.au

Hey Jupiter, formerly your run-of-the-mill city cafe, turned full-on French in 2017. Make like you're at a Paris brasserie as you lounge at one of the oh-so-adorable outdoor tables and work your way through the menu. Dishes include a breakfast cassoulet, croque monsieur, French onion soup and steak frites with a slice of foie gras. The drinks list is enough to send any Francophile into a happy spin: think pastis, cognac, Armagnac, calvados and eau de vie as well as an impressive wine list. heyjupiter.com.au

French-born chef Marc Kuzma, aka drag queen Claire de Lune, dishes up plenty of razzle-dazzle - as well as steak tartare, twice-cooked three-cheese souffle, duck and pinot noir pie and more - at his Oxford Street brasserie that incorporates an upstairs cabaret space. claireskitchen.com.au

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Frenchman Tristan Punelle blends the techniques of his homeland with the bountiful produce of Tasmania. At Le Coq, in Bicheno on the state's east coast, this combination might look like free-range pork jowl from Long Name Farm (an hour's drive down the road) nestled into Dupuy lentils, a slab of rustic pate baptised with Dijon mustard, a side of duck-fat potatoes, Parisian fish gnocchi with warrigal green puree, braised black-skin rooster with pearl couscous in red-wine sauce, or chocolate mousse with pepper berry whipped cream. lecoqbicheno.com

The writer was a guest of L'Heritage and Champagne Jacquart Bar.