Rafaele Yon began her one-woman French colonisation of Coogee around the corner with Le Petit Cafe. Cafe de France continues to provide the area with early-morning options from a coffee and croissant or croque monsieur, to French twists on classics such as bacon-and-egg rolls with the addition of camembert. Lunch might be steak frites or a range of baguettes.

With the move to night-time trading, Yon recreates the local, neighbourhood restaurant found in every town and village throughout France; a relaxed place where locals might eat a couple of times a week, whenever they can’t be bothered cooking. Here you might find a comforting coq au vin or moules marinières and for dessert, Île flottante (floating island). Choose from a list of French and Australian wines from boutique suppliers or BYO.

The Gallic influence extends to bistro chairs and tables in billiard green, refreshed with neat, white, perforated walls and a window frontage allowing in plenty of natural light. And, being Coogee, sandy feet are welcome at the tables out front.