Pompidou Café
216 Riding Rd
Hawthorne
Brisbane
Mon-Fri 6.30am-4.30pm,
Sat-Sun 7am-3pm
33995539

Helping to cement cute paper-bark-lined Riding Rd as a serious rival to Oxford St when it comes to cafés, Pompidou Café raises the bar with its French-influenced menu for breakfast and lunch.

Overseen by former Siggi’s maitre’d Philippe Beylot and his ancestors (via a giant black & white photo), this stark white space with its vintage wall signs and tiny side deck is the place to come for traditional Gallic food with a blend of contemporary Oz.

Lunch choices include the deliciously light baked tomatoes stuffed with herbed mince, croquet monsieur of pain de campagne, Gruyere, jambon and Dijon moutarde or sesame crusted salade nicoise, with afters of old-fashioned sand cake, cherry chocolate brownies or chocolate pots as a side with tea or di Bella coffee.