La Renaissance Patisserie and Cafe

La Renaissance Patisserie and Cafe is a French-style patisserie and cafe in The Rocks, and it works equally well whether you're settling in for a coffee and a cake or grabbing something to take away. Dine-in, takeaway, delivery and catering are all on offer, and breakfast and coffee are part of the day here too.

The pastry cabinet is the main event. We hear the small cakes are the thing to try: the Goya, a raspberry mousse cake, comes up often, along with the lemon tart, the Monet and the Juju. One local singled out a gluten and dairy free orange almond cake as divine, and another praised the way the cakes are not overly sweet, so you can taste the natural flavours. Beyond the sweets, people mention the almond croissant, macarons, a very good sausage roll, individual quiches and baguettes. One visitor who lived in Paris for two years said the standard of the patisserie items felt authentic.

If you're planning something bigger, the bakery takes custom cake orders and makes celebration cakes, tarts and eclairs, with catering available for events. Ready-to-order items like macarons, biscuits and chocolates can be ordered online and delivered.

The setting is a big part of the appeal. There's courtyard seating that locals describe as quiet and relaxing on a sunny day, plus a spot out the front with views of the Rocks, and French music in the background. Staff come up as friendly and efficient, and one visitor mentioned a barista by name for his helpful recommendations.

One person found the matcha drink flat, and another noted that prices can be a little unclear at the counter, so it pays to check the total when you pay. There's also a sense among a long-time visitor that the place has lost a touch of its French character since changing hands some years ago, though the pain au chocolat and the pastry work still hold up.

It's open daily, with long hours from morning into the evening, but check the hours before you head in.