Review La Niche Cafe - Fitzroy

Stopped by for breakfast over the weekend. Service was friendly and prompt. The coffee was great and for lovers of coffee you can get a serving in a bowl! I had the croque madam and it was tasty and exactly as I enjoyed in Paris. Definitely returning to explore more of the menu.

Lovely French cafe! The menu for breakfast is fairly traditional. I ordered the cassoulet and it was really nice. I loved hearing the French music and the shop lady occasionally conversing in French. That is really cute.

Cosy little cafe and wine bar with good coffee by day and predominately French wines and rustic dishes by night. Added bonus is live music on most Friday & Saturday nights.

Great french cafe, rustique food ! Makes you feel like home. The food is delicious (and coffee) and simple in a good way, great little space with good live music .

Just so perfectly random and nice and intimate for a drink and a read. Food looked super. Music wasn't too loud and there was open mic options complete with guitar. Just how many places can you hear an old timer waxing lyrical in French to the waitress and enjoying a glass of random red wine. Perfectly chilled. :)

I would say a hidden gem, but locals love this place and so do I. Have never had a bad meal, service can be slow but in their defense this place is tiny and gets very busy. They hold special music nights etc. There is also a changing menu / specials board. I'm tempted to say seasonal but am not sure. If you hate good honest food, don't go. Everyone else enjoy.

The food is alway presented beautifully and taste amazing! 5 stars!

So good! Best coffee I've had in a long time. Beautiful french toast. A must visit.

Love breakfast here; Croque Madamme and Coffee! Have also had dinner here, the moules frites was excellent. Just like being in a Paris Bistrot. Super friendly. Live Music too! A real gem

I had breakfast here this morning in their cosy front dining area. The service is friendly and attentive. The food is delicious and homely. This place offers a refreshing change from the typical Melbourne style cafe. They apparently have live music on Friday and Saturday nights and am keen to come back to try their dinner menu and wine list.

Cool cozy French restaurant with live music 🎶, great food and great ambiance! Highly recommended and worth checking out. Feels like you’re in France! 🇫🇷

Came here for friend's birthday. There was a large group of us and the staff did well with service. I had the barley risotto which was cooked and seasoned beautifully. It was served with a crunchy textual rice cracker.<br/><br/>Cute little French bistro. Shame I don't like French cider but their cocktails were tasty and have a bit of a kick.

Really good and staff amazing. The real French food with French atmosphere. A must to go on their concert night ! Food is fresh and delicious !

Another coffee journey with me and my coffee gang, we'd like to explore more around Fitzroy area "The Hipster Suburb".<br/>Found a small french coffee shop called La Niche in 67 Smith Street, Fitzroy.<br/>As soon as we arrived, we're welcomed by the friendly customer staff / barista (the only person).<br/>This quaint cafe was quite small but very cosy.<br/><br/>We ordered cappuccino and latte; despite of juggling few things while making coffee, the coffee served was very consistent and had a balance taste.<br/>It wasn't a strong cappuccino but it was above the average.<br/>Coffee was served in the right temperature and it wasn't burnt.<br/><br/>They've also offered variety of appealing breakfast menu which was very tempting to be tried.<br/>Overall, we had a great coffee from La Niche and added to one of our favourite coffee shops.<br/><br/>Service: 4.0<br/>Taste: 3.5<br/>Speed: 4.0<br/>Price: 3.0<br/><br/>Yay: cappucinno was great<br/>Nay: N/A<br/><br/>Phone: 03 9077 9420<br/>Location: 67 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne

We frequent this cafe for coffee in the mornings. Service is always warm and welcoming. We decided to make a reservation for dinner on a Friday evening and we were not disappointed. We ordered the beef bourguignon and steak frites. The food was delicious and homey. The beef bourguignon was full of flavour and the beef just melted in the mouth. Service was attentive and friendly. We had a wonderful evening and will definitely be revisiting.

La Niche is cosy and homely French cafe that caters not just to small groups. The cassoulet was delicious although I was disappointed the whole confit duck leg is only available in Spring. Also loved the funky toilets!

A cozy place, tasty dessert, warm service and peaceful window scenery. Just like a romantic film. Looking forward to trying the dinner dishes with friends next time!

This has to be one of the least vegetarian friendly cafes in Melbourne, which is a shame because I like the beer and live music is a nice touch.

Cosy little French style cafe that provides reading materials such as newspapers and brain games. The staff is really friendly and coffee is good. Tried the croissant and the French toast. Pretty decent.

Quaint and friend cafe service classic French dishes such as cassoulet, charcuterie platters and beef bourguignon. The latter would have to be my favourite dish here. It is incredibly moist, tender and flavoursome with every bite being a delight. Just be aware though it's availability changes with the seasons, so do check ahead if you want to try.

My new favourite local, it’s so cosy and the atmosphere is vibrant. Started off with a cheese platter, cos when in France.. I ordered the Beef Bourguignon - it was so delicious, with the added bread sopping up the sauce. The choice of wine to match was beautiful, picked out by the lovely owners. Then we couldn’t decide between the desserts so got two - the Far Breton is my pick.

This place makes me happy. It's a lovely unpretentious French cafe / bar. I wanted to eat everything on the menu which is automatically a good sign. I decided on the duck leg paired with a red wine from Bordeaux - it was simple and tasty. My friend ordered the Croque Madame with egg and I must admit I had a little bit of food envy. <br/>I'm also looking forward to returning for a couple of drinks and sampling the calvados. Well worth the drive from the other side of town .

Amazing. Great atmosphere, staff and drinks. Didn't try the food but that looked great also. Would definitely come back. Wish they had more vegetarian options though but it's expected at a French place that wouldn't.

Great place, great food, great personality and authentically relaxing. The service is highly personable. Nothing going wrong here. Recommended for both breakfast and dinner.

I think that this place is officially my favourite watering hole in Melbourne. One of the many many things that sets La Niche (note the appropriateness of the name) apart from Melbourne's myriad of monotonous monstrosities re: purveyors of pleasurable potions is that it is an actual genuine European style bar/cafe as opposed to an inauthentic, twee reimagining of a European designated space for conviviality by an overly earnest philistine who fancies themselves as a Francophile (not mentioning any Madame Sousous, er, I mean, names.) <br/><br/>Another point of interest for me personally is the provision of Le Birlou, a wondrous tipple produced from apples and chestnuts. And whilst on the topic of apples, CALVADOS. The bigger, more badass elder sibling of cider. Cider is for amateurs. Vive Le Calvados! <br/><br/>La Niche also provides unique entertainment in the form of live music (mainly of a Gallic persuasion) and has a neat gallery space upstairs for hosting exhibitions. The outdoor area is just superb for summertime shenanigans and the staff are absolutely delightful. La Niche, please excuse my (terrible) French, vous remercier d'avoir un morceau de France a Fitzroy!

This place is simply AMAZING! Food is simple, traditional french cuisine, but cooked beautifully. <br/><br/>I recommend beef bourguignon and duck. <br/><br/>Portions are well sized. We took two mains and one starter and it was plenty for both. <br/><br/>$32 per main dish is a bit expensive, but well worth it. Atmosphere is great as well.

Food: A little cozy cafe that served rather authentic French cuisine. I was so hopefully to be served escargot but it was not on the menu.<br/>Salmon starter was lovely, it was fresh and light. And it did not taste fishy. Chicken pate was a little stronger for my liking. Even so for my French-born friend.<br/>The duck was well done, crispy skin and well marinated duck thigh. The meat was so soft and a gentle twist could it off the bone. However, it was too oily and the meat has been infused with the scent from overused oily oven that needed immediate cleaning. The diced vegetables were marvellous, well seasoned with thyme and the sliced potato was so buttery.<br/><br/>Drink: A glass of Shiraz tasted above average, peppery and infused with berries.<br/><br/>Service: Friendly and personable.<br/><br/>They could have chosen a better singer for that night. It was so deafening that we were shouting to have a conversation.

A wonderful meal and extraordinarily personal and attentive service came at fabulous value. Our two-cheese plate was modified to suit our preferences. The slow-cooked beef Bourgogne was perfect, the piece d'resistance. It was companied by a regional cheese, bacon and onion bake. The specialty Brittany desert to follow, a baked prune custard was delicious. The Jazz on hand was world class - the Mark Lockett, Paul Van Ross, Finn Hoshino Trio. Well done on every front.

Great food but lack luster service, we waited for a couple minutes to be seated so ended up seating ourselves and got our own water and glasses. When we were served the waiter was great but it's just getting their attention in the first place is very difficult. The food and smoothies were great but probably wouldn't come back again due to the slow service

One of my favourite places in Melbourne - but we just do not go often enough - mainly because it's predominantly a daytime cafe that only opens two night per week (Fri & Sat). <br/><br/>It's a real piece of cluttered Gallic charm - those evenings can be a tight squeeze in the front room with the live musicians in the window, tables hugging the walls and in the centre of the room plus a few people perched at the bar. But what an atmosphere - Anthony & Amanda are the most welcoming of hosts. SIngalonga Edith Piaf if you're up to it! (There's also a back room, a courtyard and seating out front - so lots of space, particularly in the summer. It's needed - La Niche is very popular, with a lot of locals stopping by for a drink).<br/><br/>Food is French to a tee - beef bourguignon, canard, salmon, couscous, chicken, vegetarian option and a couscous. Cheese platters and tartin of various options. Big portions around $26-30 for mains. All glorious. La Niche is a real experience - love it!

Hidden gem on smith st. This cafe really feels homely with great French cuisine and hospitality. Feels like your in France. <br/>The food was 10/10 nothing I could fault anything on the menu here would definitely satisfy. If your looking French in Melbourne this place is a must.

Oh so French and oh so good! Had the omelette with Brie cheese and loved it, couldn't quite finish it which I like. Back area outside where we sat might actually be the definition of hipster with wonky tables on pretty large angles an everything mismatched. Being served by a gorgeous French woman was a highlight

Enough already with your smashed avos and poached eggs. Get cultured and dine somewhere exciting! La Niche is a little hidden gem on Smith Street that I’ve recently fallen in love with. It’s Melbourne’s own slice of France!. Owners, Amanda and Anthony, opened their doors back in 2005, introducing a unique European twist on contemporary Australian dining. The cosy café radiates a romantic ambience with French relics and art decorating the walls. Throughout the week, the locale hosts events featuring live music nights, including French and Jazz music. Paired with some wine and French cheese and you’re set for a fête! Singing and dancing is encouraged, with plenty of room to move out into the courtyard or on the street corner. Upstairs you’ll find beautiful displays by local artists who are invited to exhibit their work for free. How charmant!

Enough already with your smashed avos and poached eggs. Get cultured and dine somewhere exciting! La Niche is a little hidden gem on Smith Street that I've recently fallen in love with. It's Melbourne's own slice of France!<br/><br/>Owners, Amanda and Anthony, opened their doors back in 2005, introducing a unique European twist on contemporary Australian dining. The cosy café radiates a romantic ambience with French relics and art decorating the walls. Throughout the week, the locale hosts events featuring live music nights, including French and Jazz music. Paired with some wine and French cheese and you're set for a fête! Singing and dancing is encouraged, with plenty of room to move out into the courtyard or on the street corner. Upstairs you'll find beautiful displays by local artists who are invited to exhibit their work for free. How charmant!<br/><br/>We visited on a weekend when the francois serve all-day brunch! The continental breakfast menu includes simple, traditional dishes from France, including the Cassoulet and the Tartiflette (pictured above). As soon as I read the description of the Tartiflette, I decided I must order it - Tartiflette (French Winter specialty) - baked egg with bacon, potato, onion, cream and grilled Reblochon cheese. Oh mon Dieu! This Winter dish will warm your heart and soul. That cheesy goodness with the bacon and the potato... Parfait!<br/><br/>To contrast the savoury dish, we also ordered a devilishly sweet one - Brioche French Toast with blueberry and strawberry coullis, walnuts and yoghurt. It also seemed fitting to order French toast as we almost felt like we were back in Paris. I've now come to realise the best French toast is always made with brioche. This has definitely made my list of sweet breakfast favourites.<br/><br/>I highly recommend you brush up on your French and say Bonjour to Anthony, who is always smiling and happily whistling behind the counter. Get cosy with a good book and a café au lait, or enjoy browsing the wonderful art around you.

Amazing find! Super friendly staff. So cosy and intimate. The food is full of flavour. Had the seafood chowder; rich, loaded with seafood pieces, bowl licking goodness!

What a gem!<br/>im loving this little cafe and cant wait to go back!!<br/>the charcuterie platter that we ordered was awesome and they used the best triple brie Ive ever eaten.<br/>the service was excellent and the ambiance was so romantic and the live music made u feel like ur in paris.<br/>make sure u book before u go coz this place is small unless u wanna sit inside or on the backyard but then u cant really hear the live music.

Great little joint. The food is really good, very relaxed staff and cosy and friendly all round. We had lunch but I imagine it's a jolly place at night given the attention given to nice booze. Have to agree with the previous universally positive reviews!

Oh so Continental!<br/>Well-established, funky fresh French cafe run by a friendly and knowledgeable Frenchman. Food takes on a definite European twist, with numerous specials to match. Drinks also fall into this category. <br/><br/>Live music is often a feature, although there are a couple of separate rooms that offer a degree of privacy or escape from this, and a large courtyard out the back as well as seating on the street.<br/><br/>A very homely and friendly vibe; highly recommended.

Cozy, quirky space with warm relaxed service and one of the best brekkies in Melbourne - my husband and I love Sunday brunch here. Top it off with a nip of calvados or pear cognac on a chilly winter's day! Beautiful.

Didn't know what to expect when I first walked in, but the cosy room and decor, live music and authentic Parisian Cafe vibe won me over right away.<br/><br/>A very short menu written on a chalkboard was actually quite refreshing and minimised the analysis paralysis of an overly long menu.<br/><br/>Started off with a lovely pumpkin soup with fetta. Very tasty and nourishing without being overly rich.<br/><br/>For main I had the tartiflette which was similar to a gratin but with grilled Brie on top. It was quite rich but surprisingly didn't feel too heavy. The 'salad' on the side was more just some sad mesclun leaves with a bit of vinigarette. Perhaps some cherry tomatoes and endive instead next time?<br/><br/>I finished up with a lovely tarts tatin. The pastry was delightfully crisp, although the apples were a little bit too sweet. Probably would've been perfect with a coffee or peppermint tea.<br/><br/>Definitely will be back. Trés bien La Niche

Gorgeous little place. Fantastic food, the service is excellent, and the ambience is amazing. Their wine list is extensive, and they have live music on weekends. Highly recommended.

Food was good, noisy and cramped in the front room - there are other spaces including outside so try to book one of these.

Cozy, inviting, and what an amazing crew/staff!. I have been having early brekkies, mid-afternoon coffees, sneaky mid-week desserts, evening wines and enjoying the live music here for 3 years. I only wish I went more frequently. I can't recommend this place enough as it has the great food, reasonable prices, lovely wine selection and great ambiance that a lot of Melbourne restaurants have, except with one elusive variable as well --- an absolutely wonderful staff. The owner and his crew are welcoming, warm, kind and bend over backward to make sure you enjoy yourself. They want nothing more than to have a good laugh and have you join in. I only wish I could keep this place a secret...but that wouldn't be nice would it...

Very cool little place. Visits like these make me feel I've made the right decision on moving across the ditch.

The waitstaff were ultra helpful, explaining dishes, making sharing recommendations, and one gentleman found out for us why ribs were no longer on the menu (sad face) since he'd only been working there for a week (answer: they'd altered the menu only the week before). As a starter, we shared some fried corn fritters, served with a chunky salad of greens, avocado and radish. We devoured them. They were so good I forgot to take a photo.<br/>

The cute and characterful café feels like a hidden oasis in the middle of Fitzroy. Make sure you come early in the morning to grab a coffee and one of their delicious pastries.

The food is great at La Niche! Love the burger with blue cheese! Love the service! Love the Barcelona pizza!

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition. Similarly, no one expects to experience an amazing burger at a French restaurant. So La Niche was certainly a surprise for me. A firmly French affair, with tinkling jazz and French pop in the background and an affab

We had a great night with six of us enjoying a relaxed atmosphere and good French wine. The meal was lovely, the service attentive and the background music fantastic. We had the quiet room out back but slipped into the front to enjoy the vibe!

I had a fantastic dinner at La Niche last Friday night. Great food, service, music, atmosphere and prices. I will definitely be back.

Charming to the Square. I got there by accident. I was starving. looking for a lamps shop, and I stumbled upon this place after seeing a super-cute logo that called my attention. What a great find!<br/><br/>The place is quirky and charming in equal percentage, with an unique warm and welcoming vibe. Wonderful spots of decoration to look at and lots of visually cute and funny elements. The size is just right. <br/><br/>The food was simple but lovely and yummy. The eggs and salmon with cauliflower were lovely. I would have never thought that cauliflower and salmon would work together so well, but they were surprisingly tasty and well balanced. I also loved the mix of textures as well. The sourdough toast was also delicious and perfectly toasted, not too hard not too soft. On the downside, the poached eggs were too hard inside to be called poached. I had a traditional prunes and custard cake, a traditional Bretagne desert; it was yummy, not too sweet (the way I like it) and very light and tasty. Coffee was good.<br/> <br/>The staff were just awesome. Welcoming, warm and really attentive. Best stuff in a restaurant in Melbourne so far. You've got my medal :))

Cute, quirky little cafe. While walking down Smith Street one sunny afternoon, I suddenly had a craving for a coffee. Seeing this little French cafe in front of me, I thought myself in for a lovely treat. I walked up to the counter eyeing the coffee machine, but as I turned to greet the lady, she rudely said "We're closed. So you can't have a coffee." I stopped. Blinked. I wasn't expecting to be addressed in such a blunt fashion. Without a word, I walked out, disappointed. After checking the hours of service, I found out they closed more than an hour early. So in conclusion, without even sampling any of their fare, I condemn La Niche and will not ever recommend it to anyone.

Yum!!. Such a gorgeous little cafe that I came across by accident, delicious food and great service. I'll be back!

The French are famous for many things. Berets. Baguettes. And drinking by day as well as by night.. La Niche is one of my favourite little pockets of the world; stitched onto the city-side of Smith Street and boasting just the right amount of butter and bohemia to get your day going. It's unapologetically French, with chalkboard letting and picture postcards of 'la vie parisienne' on the walls. It manages to elegantly straddle the bridge between café and bar without once batting its red-white-and-blue eyelids. Come early, and you might glimpse the waitstaff sipping a little red as they serve up an egg 'n bacon baguette. Come late, and you could find Antony, the charming French owner, carousing with the locals over a bottle of Bordeaux. <br/><br/>The food is rustic and hearty, and you won't receive any snooty froggy service here. Regulars know they can drop in and have their order remembered; newcomers cannot fail to be charmed by the colourful art and cheerful atmosphere. The backyard beer garden is a hidden gem in an area where bars jostle for space. There is also an upstairs function room which doubles as an art exhibition space.<br/><br/>The booze on offer is not exclusively French but the beer of choice is indisputably Kronenbourg 1664. Coffees and hot chocolates can be ordered in a traditional French 'bowl' and brunch dishes don't skimp on the beurre. Right now, French onion soup is warming up customers with the onset of Melbourne winter. It arrives served with piping hot discs of cheese on toast and will perfume your breath delightfully. Another personal favourite is the omelette; loaded with your choice of three fillings and served on a wooden board with roasted potatoes, fresh herbs and crusty French bread.<br/><br/>La Niche is as close to the real French experience as you're going to get in Melbourne - go complete the crossword over breakfast, meet a date for lunch, or have a glass of Côtes du Rhône in the evening. Good cheese and charcuterie boards await you.

Food of Bretagne in Melbourne. I have been here many many times and have never been disappointed. The jazz nights complemented by the excellent food, good wine and Gallic charm makes for a great evening. And for breakfast, the Croque Madame is my favorite!

Where do I start? La niche ticks all the boxes. Great staff, great food, great live music and fantastic atmosphere. Highly recommended, we absolutely love it here.

Great service, lovely delicious food and beautiful coffee. Salmon baguette was amazing!

Amazing coffee, and a lovley lunch served by attentive and friendly staff! The steak is amazing as is the Parisian gnocchi

The most amazing home made croissants and muffins ever! The coffee is fantastic, the service is always with a smile and the place makes you feel like your back in France. Seriously the croissants are to die for!

We had coffee. J (latte): This little cafe was a nice little taste of France, with one difference: the people were nice.... The cafe had a comforting feel when inside. The staff greeted us with a smile. I was intrigued with the fact that they have exhibitions and live music towards the back of the cafe, and because of this, I may swing by again. The main reason for our visit was the coffee. It was bitter. It was actually quite a shock upon the first sip, and it didn't disappear by the last sip. So if life happens to take me back here again, I will probably ask for sugar.<br/>A (latte + 1): Cute little cafe, friendly staff, interesting vibe, coffee was alright- glad I got sugar though.<br/>K (latte): I had a coffee, and didn't see it coming. Again, it was a different place in Fitzroy with a strong french twist. I can still taste it in my mouth after an hour. With all the changes in Melbourne weather with in 10 min's walk to the shop (at times windy, rainy and sunny) It was an afternoon worth remembering.

You HAVE to check this place out... I discovered this cosy-feels-like-home bar/cafe thanks to some friends. I'm an addict now and love to have my coffee there (they have amazing bowls of coffee! Of good coffee...) or even better my breakfast! Yummy <br/>I definitely have to check it out for one of their live music evenings... heard it's great... I'll let you know! ;)

Literally the worst coffee I have ever had and as a former barista that's saying a lot... A pity because the food is brilliant

What a beautiful authentic french cafe! A true little gem. The food is incredible and the staff is even better. I would come back here anytime...Viva la France

Great place. One of our favorite hang outs. Menu is small but tasty and reasonably priced. Some good hearty traditional dishes on offer. Friendly service from staff and owner. Some good wine, aperitifs and digestifs too. Must add breaky is great. Sunday big breaky delicious.

One of my all-time favorites. I just love this place. The food is great and not your usual selection. Home made sweets are fantastic.<br/>The service is friendly. The owner is really French. Only think I don't like is that they don't have decaf coffee. Their hot chocolate is da bomb though.

A great time!. I found this restaurant by accident as I was leaving Melbourne the next day. I regret not having found it sooner. Good food, good wine, good music and friendly team. A great memory!

Awesome environment, a great dinning experience, the food is well priced with Hugh servings, ill be going back for more... I had the burger for lunch I could almost say best in Melbourne..

Very disappointing, over priced, meals didn't contain the ingredients listed in the menu.... $15 for a Croque Monsieur that I could make better at home. Oh well...

Great big breakfast n yummy pizzas, coffee was excellent! Truly a hidden gem.

Magnifique!. Called in on Tuesday lunch time. What a surprise. This place is great, the food was fantastic, we had the Crepe's, the service was fantastic and the coffee was the best I have had in months.<br/><br/>Do yourself a favor and call in for lunch and dont forget to try the Normandy Cider, it's just a lot better than the Magners!

A Treasure. Complete and total delight. As much as I don't want this place overrun, it and its owner deserve to be recognized as one of the treasures of the inner north.<br/>Crowded night, arrived lite-ish, around 8:30. Our first and second choice of dishes were already gone but we were too tired to get up and go anywhere. Good thing we didn't, because our food was wonderful and the vibe of the place spectacular. <br/>This is a tiny, casual place but they provided more comfort and style than a two hat, exponentially priced restaurant. <br/>By the end of the evening, everyone was talking with everyone. <br/>Definitely the best restaurant experience in recent memory.

Love this cafe..esp the goats cheese salad..delicious food.

What a great accidental find when we detoured on the way to Brunswick St. Great staff, good music and food/coffee also good. Definitely a new favourite

Ordered a coffee, after 20mins went inside and they had "forgot", when it did come out it was burnt and we threw them out. Quite rude about it all too.

Was taken to this little cafe by a friend who loved the place, and wanted to come back to try out the Morrocon eggs that she eyed off apon one of her previous visits. She ordered a hot chocolate which was perfectly rich and not overly sweet, and served it the lovliest big cup, I was automatically jelous, but a mouthful of my deliciou strong skinny Capp kept me satisfied. I ordered the eggs with bloody Mary sauce and celery salt, and it smelt just as great as it tasted! My friends Morrocon eggs also looked and tasted incredible. Most deffiently recommend la niche!

French fare. This quaint little place sits on the buzzing Smith St and though it doesn't seem like much, looks are deceiving. Coffee's are perfect and so are there daily juices. I've been here so many times that to go through every dish I've had would take too long, but everything is delicious and well portioned. Make sure to check the daily specials too. Most of the staff speak with thick french accents which just adds to the charm. Their little courtyard is cute yet needs a little sprucing up. They allow dogs to be picked up and taken through to the back. I would love to drop by for dinner one night.

Went there the other day very very good and has been for a long time I guess just needed to find this little gem!!

Awesome. Best breakfast i have had in the 4 years in Melbourne - great coffee and great service and not too pricey.<br/><br/>To the people that write bad reviews about this place- get back on your fixed gear and pedal through the Macca's drive through u haven't got any taste, also don't forget to wash off your fake sleeve tattoo's before mum gets home from work.<br/><br/>From a non hipster - thats appreciates the finer things in life : )

Great vibe and food / drinks to match. Don't go expecting a huge wine list, long menu, fancy French food or glamorous dining. But what La Niche has is a wonderful casual bunch of French staff, a super friendly vibe, intimate rustic setting and some brilliant (although limited) uncomplicated French food. Drinks are great as well and it works equally as a cocktail / wine bar. It's an experience that's not easy to replicate in Melbourne as many French places are in a much higher-end dining bracket (and often not worth the expense).

Love this bloody place

Breakfast. The best place on Smith St for a quick breakfast on the way to the office each day. "La Niche don't like Mondays" well neither do, but I still have to go to work; hungry cause La Niche rules!

Laid back La Niche. We found this place next door to an art gallery and knew nothing about it. So we decided to see what it was like.<br/><br/>We received friendly relaxed service from the charming waitress. It was a steamy afternoon so she suggested we try the watermelon, strawberry and mint juice. <br/><br/>Good call! We enjoyed it very much. <br/><br/>I probably would have preferred a salad on a hot day but there was only one to choose from and most of the meals on the menu seemed heavy and not really suitable for the hot weather (except for the baguettes). <br/><br/>When cooler weather returns I would love to come back and try the rest of the menu.<br/><br/>We did enjoy our very yummy burgers, salad and potatoes though. Hit the spot and no need for dinner in the evening. <br/><br/>If we lived nearby I would visit regularly. We enjoyed the relative peace and quiet in the courtyard out the back away from all the busyness of Smith Street.

Tony ???. Serait ce réellement le tonio du faouet ou j hallucine ?<br/>un ptit bijour de Z alors !!<br/>nonomiam@gmail.com

Lovely. I love this cafe, from the first time I stopped by just for a quick take away coffee it's now become a regular brunch haunt for me and many friends. Staff are friendly, coffee delicious and everything on the menu i've tasted so far has been great, especially loved the home made jam you get with a crossiant.

No arrogance here. Love this little local. The staff are always lovely, the atmosphere is homely, and the food and coffee is great. My only dissapointment is the amount of eggs on the breakfast menu. I can't eat eggs and the breakfast menu is 98% eggs. -other than that, this place is great.

Absolute fave cafe - unique, casual, friendly and excellent coffee. Reminds me of Brunswick street in the 80's. If there is anything specific you need or want do ask as staff are amazingly helpful and will try. And the food is excellent. Probably not suitable for uptight people it's more a local cafe

Nice little cafe. Very homely feel to it. They do some mean froth on the cappuccino! Very happy with it. The guy in there is pretty chilled, looks like they have live music too. A good find!

Très Magnifique. Delicious french cuisine and fantastic live music to enjoy while you eat your meal...fabulous breakfast menu, the croque madam is a must!!!<br/>Friendly staff and they make a mean bowl of coffee!!!

I always think you can tell a lot about a place from the number of regulars. La Niche seems to have dedicated regulars, sharing a coffee and paper every morning. Very French indeed! The coffee is great. I had the best croque mosieur

Home made pastries. Good atmosphere and service, excellent home made pastries, coffee not to the same level but still acceptable.

What a great night!. Food was good, and served quickly. We did have to wait for a bottle of wine to be chilled, and the venue was very crowded, but that may have been because of the music for the evening, provided by the trio of Jessamy, Jack and Teddy. They were great. Their music complimented the slightly tatty, but exotic atmosphere of a proper French cafe. Jessamy was sultry, but sweet, and Jack and Teddy were consummate musicians who had the room stamping and clapping. Overall, a great experience. Yes, a very small venue, but with a select and delicious menu, and a great (albeit a little expensive) winelist. If you like feeling like you're visiting 7e arrondisemont, visit La Niche. Don't expect white gloves, do expect good home cooked meals and fine ingredients combined with hand picked wines.

Right to reply. To the reviewers who all (strangely) posted on the same day 1st June (with implausable names Juan-Luc Ricard (did you mean Jean-Luc?)) perhaps you had a bad experience, which does happen in this industry sometimes, but you did not find any contaminents in your food nor did any staff 'shrug' off a customers concerns about the food. If you want to review cafes and restaurants, you must try to not make it a personal vendetta. We work extremely hard to provide good food and good service and this cafe is our families livelyhood. Please think about who you are hurting when you write lies on these typ[es of blogs.

Terrible. Worst place ive ever eaten. food took to long to come out, waiters were rude and the food tasted absolutely disgusting. i will never return to this place, id rather eat a servo pie.

Service as bland as the menu. I found the menu lacking, as was the service. After waiting 20 minutes to be suited, waiter was rude and the meal was sub par. Would not return.

The best pancakes I have had in forever! Lovely staff who were happy to see us for Easter Sunday breakfast. Great food and a great setting

Disappointing n over priced. $7 for small portion of half cooked crepe at a french cafe.

Oh so French but oh so friendly. Great wine and good fare. Plenty of celebrity spotting too!

Strong tea fast. I like strong tea, and I can get one, delivered in a big glass mug, really quick here. No half-measures with a strainer full of tea-leaves - just be sure to taste-test and don't leave them in too long! They were out of croissants (and being French, they'd be done right, nice and buttery, unlike the dry doughy rubbish you find in most bakery-cum-cafes) so I had the cake -- home-made berry and white choc. Just the thing to balance the bitterness of the tea!