One thing I love doing is being a tourist in my own city. Not walking around rediscovering the place as if I’ve just stumbled off a plane – although I do love that too – but I mean sampling the different corners of the world as represented in the one metropolis. In Melbourne, a great way to slip into France for a couple of hours is to buy a crêpe or two from one of my favourite crêperies in the city.
Roule Galette’s Gourmande, with banana, strawberries, chocolate, almonds and ice cream
Roule Galette
The original “French crêpe place” in Melbourne is Roule Galette, often simply referred to as “the French Crêperie”, just off Flinders Lane on Scott Alley, which connects to Port Phillip Arcade. The French-inspired finishings and the cute lane way setting prepare the scene for some seriously good crêpes.
Roule Galette
Roule Galette’s Belle Hélène, with pears, chocolate and cream
There is no shortage of deliciousness on offer here; form simple sugar and butter to the more interesting orange marmalade and chocolate, braised apple and cream, or caramel chocolate and almonds. There’s also a range of savoury crêpes here too, properly referred to as ‘galette’, and featuring varieties from béchamel sauce with cheese, mushroom and spinach through to escargot (snails in white sauce with garlic).
French newspapers at Roule Galette
The drinks are great in their variety, although I’ve had better tasting coffee elsewhere (and not far from here either). Cold drinks are a real treat, with iced chocolates arriving the old-fashioned way, with ice cream and cream piled up into Alps-like peaks.
Roule Galette’s Theo, with caramel, chocolate and almonds
Roule Galette’s ‘Monkey’: Banana and chocolate
La Petite Crêperie
La Petite Crêperie is also quite French in its humble way, but oh-so-Melbourne as well. If you live in Melbourne, you’ve probably already walked past the queues in front of this tiny kiosk on Swanston Street near Little Collins Street. The attraction here is the flavour and the cherished quaintness of it; there aren’t a lot of places in Australia where you can eat fresh cooked food straight from the street like this.
La Petite Crêperie
Again, the staples like sugar and lemon, or strawberry jam, are here, as are some interesting gourmet options. Apple, plum and cinnamon jam, salted caramel and almonds, or apricot jam with walnuts. The downside of this place is that they don’t serve coffee (not surprising, looking at the size of it), and that there’s nowhere to sit down – all crêpes are served in paper. If you were looking for a coffee hit, you could always go to La Petite Crêperie’s sister shop in Hardware Lane, Crêperie Le Triskel.
La Petite Crêperie
There are also no savoury varieties, but that doesn’t matter – this place is all about picking up a hot and delicious snack on a cold winter’s day from a cute, Parisian-stlye crêperie that couldn’t be anywhere but Melbourne.
La Petite Crêperie’s lemon and sugar crêpe
Details
Food: Roule Galette: 7/10, La Petite Crêperie: 9/10
Ambience: Roule Galette: 9/10, La Petite Crêperie: 9/10
Service: Roule Galette: 8/10, La Petite Crêperie: 8/10
Cost: Roule Galette: $5 – $15, La Petite Crêperie: $4.50 – $9
Roule Galette: Scott Alley, 241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne; www.roulegalette.com.au
La Petite Crêperie: Corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets, Melbourne; lapetitecreperie.com.au
Refer to websites for opening hours and further details.
Hmmm… Wonder who I address my letter to, to get me a Parisian-stlye crêperie in the Berra. I could go one right now. 🙂
Hehehehe they look sinful, don’t they?!?! I need to open a place like this in Lahore…
I’ll be your first customer then 🙂
LOL bro, being a tourist in your own city :p
Now that I think about it, I’ve not explored my own city entirely 🙁 I guess it’s a good idea to be a tourist in own city for someone 🙂
You mentioned chocolate, I love it in any shape. Cake, bar, ice cream, even kid’s candies :p
Hahahahaha yes you must be a tourist in your own city!! It can be lots of fun – it’s like a mini-break for yourself, plus you experience and notice things that you never did before.
And yeah, I’m a chocoholic too! Have you tried Butler’s Chocolate Café in Gulberg III? It’s a chocolate-lovers heaven 🙂
I haven’t. There is an upcoming b-day and the kid also loves chocolate. I can think about visiting Butler’s for that occasion. At least I can refer that place for celebration and taste a little as well :p
Yes you must!!
They look so good. Next time I am in Melbourne we are so going there!!
Yes, absolutely! We’ll go to both places!! Thanks for reading!!
I need to do this more often – be a tourist in my own hometown. Oh, and eat delicious crepes. 😉 La Petite Crêperie looks great – I like the street food vibe!
Being a tourist in your own town is lots of fun, and really underrated!! And as for crêpes… I love the street vibe too! I wish there was more of a street food culture in Australia, but this is on the way to building one!!
I want the one on the top. Look at all of those almonds. Mmmm!
They were soooooo good!! Thanks for reading!! 😀
I’ve always loved crepes and these look devine. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for this places the next time I go to Melbourne. (I might have to burn a few calories first in preparation though!)
They’re great!! Hope to see you in Melbourne soon! 🙂