Best French restaurants in Auckland city centre

Whether you're after some delicious pastries (pain au chocolat, croissant) or some classic French dishes such as a croque monsieur, a French cheese fondue or some escargots de Bourgogne, you're sure to find what you're looking for in our city centre. We've rounded up the best French restaurants Auckland city centre has to offer that will give you a little slice of France as soon as you step through the door. 

For delicious pastries and desserts | La Petite Fourchette Britomart & Wynyard Quarter

Inspired by the authentic French "Boulangerie-Pâtisserie" that you can find in every street corner in any town in France, La Petite Fourchette offers a wide range of both savoury and sweet French delicacies. We particularly love their sweet tarts, gâteaux and pastries that will definitely fulfill all your sweet cravings. Make sure to try 'Le Finger Choc' (made with a chocolate mousse, dulcey crémeux and praline croustillant⁠) - a crowd-fave that won't disappoint!

Pros: the wide range of mouth-watering sweet treats

For fine dining by the water | La Maree | 21 Viaduct Harbour 

Restaurant La Marée, helmed by Michelin starred chef Marc de Passorio has opened at the new-look Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour. The new restaurant sees chef Marc team up with Kiwi MasterChef winner Tim Read, bringing to the foodie landscape the best of New Zealand seafood and produce with French culinary techniques.​ Translating to 'the tides' La Maree is aptly positioned on the water's edge on the Viaduct Harbour, with the constant flow of tidal waters mirroring the ever-changing seasonal dishes the chefs create.

For authentic and classic French dishes | Le Chef, 13 O'Connell Street

Experience warm and attentive service with some authentic French dining, for lunch or dinner at Le Chef. Serving French dishes such as Steak tartare (raw ground beef served with a raw egg yolk on top), Snails, Croque monsieur (hot ham and cheese toastie) or our favourite, "Fondue Savoyarde" (Comte, Emmental & Beaufort, garlic & white wine), these traditional French dishes can almost beat a vacation to Paris!

Pros: the French-style bistro setting

For friendly service and authentic dishes | Wander | 2 Madden Street 

Wander is a European inspired all-day eatery located in Wynyard Quarter with a particular focus on French cuisine. With warm and friendly service and open 7 days a week, check out their brunch and bistro menus full of French favourites including croissants with yuzu jam and butter, oeufs à la coque (boiled eggs) with cured salmon gravlax, crème fraîche and polenta soldiers, chicken cordon bleu and house smoked Trevally rillettes and steak frittes.

Pros: The casual ambience and friendly service 

For delectable sandwiches | Baguette & Co, Level 1 of the PWC building

Love the smell of freshly baked baguettes? Look no further! Baguette & Co is your number one stop for healthy and delicious gourmet sandwiches. Using European ingredients such as French cheeses and Mediterranean charcuterie, these freshly baked baguettes are simply delicious and 100% recommended by our very own French girl in the the Heart of the city team. Her favourites: the "Piaf" (ham, Brie Coeur De Lion & fig paste), "Le Coq" (free range roast chicken, Tuscan herbs, Parmesan cheese and cos lettuce) and the "Marcel" (Pork Rillettes L'authentique, gherkins & Dijon mustard).Pros: the creative French names of the sandwiches