Review La Renaissance Patisserie (the Rocks)

Anna Lynn

My favourite French patisserie in Sydney. Absolutely love the pastries and cakes, and the coffee is nice as well. They have the best almond croissants and macaroons I’ve ever had in Sydney. Cakes are creative and the flavours are well balanced. The whole cakes can be ordered at different sizes and at very reasonable prices. This is my top 1 place to go for birthday cake ordering.

Sid Rev

Used to be one of my favourite places for coffee and almond croissant. I thought I was lucky that they didn’t run out on the day of my visit. For some reason, it lost its steam.... Used to be fresh crunchy outside, full on buttery with the perfect amount of almond paste both inside and outside of the croissant, baked to perfection. Wasn't the same.

Faa Papon

🥖 chicken baguette sandwich 🥧 meat pie ☕️ coffee eclaire 🏠: @la_renaissance_patisserie 📍: The Rocks, Sydney 📝: La Renaissance is a cute little patisserie and cafe, serving a wide range of French pastries, cakes and desserts in The Rocks. It’s a place you have to go if you love French bakeries. ❤️: Came here for their Apple Turnover as recommended by @kimmyyliew but they didn’t have it on the day, so got their Meat Pie, Chicken Baguette Sandwich and Coffee Eclaire. The baguette was delicious!! Usually not a big fan of cold sandwiches but their baguette made it 💯💯💯.

Vi Girgis

This is my favourite patisserie in Sydney! Always have to stop here when in The Rocks. Excellent selection of cakes and pastries - with both classics and inventive ones perfectly executed. Favourites are the mille-feuille and eclairs. Great coffee. Beautiful courtyard that's a nice little reprieve from the city energy.

B C

After hearing so many positives comments regarding the food, we finally tried it this morning The experience doesn’t match the hype The ham and cheese croissant was nice. The cheese stick and plain croissant were on par with an average suburban bakery The latte was well and truly underwhelming

Matthew Martin

A cute little French patisserie. Simply delicious items and great coffee. Prompt and friendly service. Highly recommend.

Sherif Essawi

They have delicious and fresh desserts and sweets. Also the coffee was good. It is not cheap but due to its location.

Andy Branson

What they do, they do very well! The Patisserie is located on a relaxing strip with plenty of foot traffic and surrounding shops without feeling over crowded. They make amazing food which is very authentic and reasonably priced. The coffee was tasty and well crafted, everything is ordered at the counter but they have outdoor seating and will bring out the coffees to you, you carry the pastry plates to your table. Takeaway is a popular option. Very busy but the line moves quickly. Highly recommend checking this place out for a relaxed coffee and cake but not the place if you are after a full breakfast style morning.

Cathy

Would have rated 5/5 for this local jewel for a 2nd time if it were not for the waitress's rude customer service. Last time I ordered the Goya and today Vivaldi and both were impeccable as always! Sadly, the waitress did not remember my face when I had to go elsewhere right after paying. Not only that, she told me to go back to the front and collect my number and cake (which apparently were sitting out on the counter despite my request to put it aside in the fridge whilst I go away...) She took my order and I paid $14 for coffee and cake and for that she couldn't even remember my order nor took on my request. The barista who never saw my face was very friendly and knew my coffee order even when I haven't told them. Wow... Coffee tasted good (4/5). Latte just had the right amount of froth and creaminess and as usual, the courtyard vibe was spot on :) Maybe they could revisit their customer service a tiny bit. The same waitress collected empty plates from the table next to me without asking them anything...I mean it didn't happen to me, but having worked in hospo before, a simple "would you like me to take these plates?" or "how was your food/dessert?" would have been great.

Silva Star

Thoroughly enjoyed the pork, bacon and fennel sausage roll. Surprisingly moist filling! I'm not normally a dessert person but couldn't resist trying the citrus tart. It was delightful, not too sweet. Highly recommend trying this place, there's something savoury and/or sweet for everyone :)

Tuna

The pastry itself was delicious, but a little pricey. Also my food was attacked by a pigeon in the garden seats so I could only eat half :(. The pigeon was not afraid of me at all.

Vellencia Yanto

This place has the best plain butter croissant. Good price, beautiful place and cozy environment. Very good choice spending my weekend morning here with buttery croissant and hot mocha.

Unassumed

Simply Beautiful cakes and cookies. Coffee was tad cold but their cakes are to die for. I ended up getting 2 boxes of assorted cakes. I will be back next time I'm in The Rocks.

Steven Gu

La Renaissance cafe in The Rocks. One of the best patisseries in Sydney. Love their coffee and cakes. Creme brûlée is a must try

Quentin Zil

Great patisserie, the cheesecake is really good, so is the Zulu. Friendly staff, it's a small place so it can get a bit busy and crowded inside.

Alexis Chiu

The cheese cake was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. A nice little tanginess to it. 4 star as the staff was not very attentive and the table was a bit wobbly.

Kitty Tang

好吃的网红甜品店，打卡成功👍 他家主推法式甜品，号称有米其林标准的甜品 这次点了两个，还搭配了柠檬茶，解腻，并帮助消化哟！所以呢，超级推荐 我们消费一共23澳币，他家如果外带比在店内消费，每一个产品少0.5元 堂吃可以选择在门前的座位，或者他家小花园，都是不错的选择，不同的风景，不同的心情

Mic

Had a ham cheese croissant(3/5) - crunch and sugary that’s about it. plain croissant（3.5/5）buttery and nice but not the best palmier( 3/5) quit hard to bite and nothing special and Goya cake (4/5) nice presents with good raspberry flavour mousse. Long black is fine. Will drop in if nearby but won’t go there in particular occasions. The French lady served me was kind!

ILoveFood

BEST EVER cakes and pastries in the Rocks area!! I bought three different varieties for a taste and defo LOVED it all! Going back for sure need to try their croissants and coffee!

Eunifoodie

I’ve only tried their macaroons here and they were so delicate and delicious - just the right amount of sweetness. Their barista is so friendly and easy to talk to!

Kellie W

The puff pastry for the mille feuille was absolutely amazing. But the only problem I had with it was the mediocre custard and cutting the cake up. I might have had high expectations of La Renaissance after having their sour cherry and pistachio tart. So the following comments might be bias. The custard itself was overly sweet and thick - assuming it’s due to the presence of gelatin. Hence, it ruined the texture of the whole cake. I would have like a creamier and lighter custard or creme patissere.

Sunshine

Decided to swing by this cafe after hearing many good things about it. Located in the rocks area, this is a cafe offering many delicious looking cakes, pastries and tarts. I got their famous goya cake, a raspberry mousse with an almond sponge base and fresh berries. I had it as takeaway for a small celebration, but due to the long commute home, the macaron shell was soggy by the time we tasted it. The mouse is delicious, but a tad bit too sweet for my taste. The nougat base is delicious and compliments the cake well. On top of everything, it is beautifully decorated. However, it is pretty expensive for a small cake, but I did enjoy it a lot.

Helen

The cakes here are amazing in visuals and taste. I bought a cake here for my mums birthday and she was very happy with it. The staff are nice and had a pleasant experience

Chewie

Oh my globbb this apple turnover ($4.50) was so perfect in terms of filing to pastry ratio. Also not too sweet and generously filled with apples. Will be back!

The Peppermint Mermaids

I picked the cake Monet this time. It tastes great with a thin layer of white chocolate on the outside, there are also fruits on top of the cake, so the sourness and the sweetness of the chocolate mixed together pretty well. I think this can be considered as the top 3 cake I’ve had in Sydney so far! (However, the cake here is quite pricy, that’s why I give them 4 stars…) - please refer to our INSTAGRAM @thepeppermint.mermaids for more quality photos!

Helen & Michelle

We are never disappointed with any of our experiences here! Situated at a stunning location and a similarly wonderful cafe environment inside, this cafe is by far one of favourites. Despite being a bit more on the pricy side, it is all incredibly worth it! We definitely recommend getting any of the cakes though the Monet is our favourite

Moodie_Foodie

French Cafe with heavenly pastries Roaming around the Rocks, Mrs and I stumbled into this cafe. It is off the beaten path but a treasure hidden in plain sight. When we realized that it was the La Renaissance Cafe we just had to try it. We walked ordered the Goya and two coffees and was curious to know if they had a place to sit and voila right behind the cafe is a beautiful courtyard that gives you the French vibes. The coffee was great but the pièce de résistance was the pastry. OMG so yummy, so delicious, balanced perfectly and ever so light. The tartness of the raspberry cut the richness of the butter and cream so beautifully, I was in food heaven. You've got to try this for the place, the people and the pastries. Amazing

Miss Song

My 27th birthday cake! Strong taste of passion fruit and other berries( forgot name of the cake) . But it’s a bit too sweet for me, I only ate 1 slice.

Pinicolada

I love the packaging. So sturdy and classy. They were so caring while putting the cakes in the boxes and even provided spoons. Environmentally friendly ones of course. The mousse cakes were worth their price.

DailyDevours

Have never purchased a cake from here that I haven't loved! It's often my first choice when I need to buy a birthday cake for someone.I've never had the chance to sit and eat in but the courtyard looks lovely and I can't wait to do it.

Annie Nguyen

I haven’t bought a cake here that has disappointed. The most recent cake I’ve tried was the Goya cake which was an amazingly delicious mix of berry with layers of almond brittle. An absolute match made in heaven!

Evelyn Chen

The desserts in this cafe are as beautiful as arts! And also very tasty. Hard for me to make a choice. I had Monet, Brûlée and flat white this time and they were wonderful! A relaxing afternoon in the backyard of the cafe enjoying my dessert. Definitely will be back.

TrufflePig

The pastries here are good, but I mostly come for coffee. Its the only exceptional place in the Rocks for coffee and so worth the pastry queues to order. Have tried their baguettes but believe their sweets is where their skills are. Expect traditional, quality pastries true to their origins. Their palmier is buttery, flaky, crisp and not too sweet. Sidewalk tables are a little exposed to boisterous local birds, so venture out the back to the courtyard.

Catherine

+3 not just pastries and cakes +1 but beautifully crafted +1 mouthfuls of joy Noise level: conversation at normal speaking volume. Sweet or savoury, la Renaissance will serve you with pastry goodness true to art of baking.

Laura Cohen

The loveliest cafe in the city! The Rocks is probably my favourite place in Sydney to go and I always have to pop into here for a quick pastry or cake or coffee or all of the above! Their cakes are my go-to whenever I need a birthday cake and their cakes are always my little treat. Though on the pricey side, it's more of a treat and definitely will be worth it. If you're ever in the Rocks, it won't hurt (maybe it'll hurt the bank a little) to step inside for a small bite and walk along the harbour. Nothing beats this!

QueenBee

Nice little French place with an open courtyard at the back perfect for lazy afternoons with nice coffee/tea and lovely cakes that will transport you. White chocolate and lychee cakes are my favourites !

Panda Lover

This place is surely a WOW and I couldn’t believe can find such a beautiful bakery in this tourism location. Had the renowned almond croissant and the beef pie, was so lucky the croissant was freshly made and still warm when serving! The beef pie was ok but still yum. Coffee was great too. Especially love the backyard, cozy and sweet. A return visit is a must!!

TD

The food tastes great. It wasn't too sweet and the pastry on the bottom added great texture to the experience. The atmosphere of the cafe was very calm and beautiful. There were bikes and pink buildings and it looks great. However, the food is still quite pricey.

Rachel Jade

A cute little cafe that is constantly busy! We shared a few pastries and coffees at the shop-front seating, but there is also heaps of seating in the back courtyard. We tried the almond croissant and the apricot danish: the almond croissant was tasty and flaky, however I found that the inside filling was not as strong an almond flavour as I would have liked. The apricot danish was really nice, and I enjoyed the custard centre with the apricot. The coffee and chai latte were both nice and came out quickly and hot! A very convenient location if you are sight-seeing in the area!

HANGRYHUNGRY

Popped by this cute cafe 20 mins before it closed, after a friend recommended it to me. They have a variety of desserts but also savoury pastry. Unfortunately, I couldn’t try the sausage roll - which i heard was really good. Definitely coming back! I had the monet - raspberry, lychee cake. It was very refreshing and smooth. It was a little expensive, $9-$10 for a small cake. Though, it was very yummy!

The Engineer Eats

Headed to La Renaissance for breakfast prior to our trip to Manly and we didn't regret it. The pastries here are so good! We had the pies, cheese sticks, pain au chocolate, strawberry tart finished with coffees. Pastry were flaky and fresh and filling full of flavor. I loved the cheese stick the best we ordered more after finishing the first. There's a nice outdoor seating at the back of the restaurant with low lying trees (watch out for the birds though) such lovely ambiance!

Gece

Their ham and cheese croissant is the best! The coffee taste good as well. I really love the backyard outdoor seating. It felt like I was in having breakfast in a small town somewhere in Europe lol.

Liz

First Opera cake I bought was a walk in purchased. Was suitably impressed - therefore the following weekend I made another purchase - a mango mousse layered style cake. Not very tasty & made members of the house feel a little unwell. Willing to give another go - ordered an Opera cake for pick up. Cost over $80 for XL. Got it home - to my disappointment it was the same size as the previous opera cake I bought as a walk in but $30 more expensive. It was sloppily made, the layers were thick & clumsy & it was just too sickly to be enjoyable. Very disappointing. The standard was low & I guess they target tourists who spend big & are not going to return anyway.

Silver

Went in a raining day and enjoyed my afternoon tea with my friend after shooting a short film. He also had a take away for his girlfriend, who liked it.

Lindsay

The cafe looked great and so did the food, however the pie and sausage roll I had were both well over cooked and very dry. Unfortunately nowhere near worth the very high prices for such items

Benkyousuru

A warm little patisserie at the rocks that felt just like home. From ordering the cake online, staff had exceptional service throughout the process. Decor and dessert items were both old school. The croquembouche was extravagant, many layers of profiteroles stacked up in a cone shape with caramel hanging off the side. Each profiterole was skill fully made, crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside. Creme patissiere was light and custardy, perfect for the filling. However, the caramel threw it off balance by making it far too sweet. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this guilty treat.

Picky Piggies

Situated in one of Sydney's touristy hot spots, La Renaissance makes no compromise to the quality of ingredients they use in creating fine French pastry. This is one of the places we always come back to when craving for sweets. Don't miss this one when you are taking a stroll through the weekend The Rocks Market.

MSG_Traveller

This is the place for really good quality cakes and pastries - the best almond croissant ever! The fruit tart and citron/lemon tart were delicious too.

Saket S.PANDIT

Great tasting tiramisu pastry though not a huge fan of the orange hint. I do prefer the original. Portion size could’ve been a bit more generous. Definitely worth a visit!

Yukko

This place got a backyard and it is a good place to go for a lazy afternoon, have fun with friends. I ordered a monet cake and it is quite good, it is creamy, not too sweet. I don't think the coffee taste good. Last time my Friend's birthday, she ordered a whole Goya. It tastes nice as well, very delicious. Overall, it is a good place for cake but not coffee.

Ms Picky On Coffee

You can taste the quality. They really use top notch ingredients..Though the cake (chocolatey one- can’t remember the name) was too sweet my liking, really rich and somehow dacquoise base didn’t blend with mousse.. Sometimes less is more.

Iwan W

So I am always critical with cakes cause I believe all cakes taste the same.. Nothing special.. just looks good but the taste are always a let down. But man this place surprised me.. I thought to myself .. Man why am I paying for this crap.. So expensive.. boy oh boy when I had the first bite of the Goya cake.. blew my mind! Perfect! Soft and flavoursome with a just perfect citrus hit. It wasn’t too sweet nor creamy not fatty. I could pretty much eat this cake all day everyday and I will still feel good about myself. I also tried the white chocolate cake. So beautifully presented and tasted really good!!!! Sad you have to cut cakes.. you can tell the bakers or maker whatever you call the people that makes it puts so much effort into making these cakes. Quality!!! 5 out of 5 other than the price.. but hey you pay for what you get. Love it!

Ainy Zheng

One of best desserts in town! :) it’s also a perfect place to hang out with your friends as their courtyard is just have the perfect atmosphere ❤️

Arijit Das

One of the best places to go for cake and coffee chocolate essentially anything sweet in the CBD! It's an equally egalitarian breakfast lunch brunch place too if you feel peckish!

Deb

Love having brunch here. All the cakes and patisseries are yummy. Pastries are crunchy and cakes specially Larme de Gauguin and Le roi Soleil were my type of bday cake, so delicious 😘😘 Whether summer or winter, this place is my weekend morning brunch (for having hot chocolate) if I am in the city. Recommended 👍

Jessica

Enjoyable place to visit and eat. Very authentic food! I visited France 3 months ago and this made me feel nostalgic about my time there. Lots of seating which is needed as it was very busy even at 3 pm on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon. Service was friendly.

Nayef Albert Abi Said

The Food is great, and place looks really nice. I strongly recommend the French twist it is really tasteful. These staff are really welcoming and cheerful

Kritika Kamath

SO good!!!! Tried 4 pastries and each of them was amazing. My favourite was the white chocolate mousse pastry ( was it the Monet?) And the teardrop shaped one. The citrus cheesecake was impressive too.

Neateatsydney

Any visit to The Rocks means a pitt stop to La Renaissance Courtyard Cafe - I've been heading here for years for their delicious macarons and have ordered many a cake for birthdays etc. Today my friend and I decided to sit down for coffee and cake - Larme de Gaugin & Strawberry Charlotte Mousse. Both were delicately made, moist and sweet. But I cannot recommend their macarons enough, they won't disappoint!

Danny G

Ok, just hanging about and my wife loves cake. Saw this from the corner and we made a beeline. There is a great selection of extraordinary cakes. The baguettes are really tasty. Very mild roast coffee (for Sydney) served a bit cool. Sit out front or out the back. Very pleasant although just a bit exe for me.... must visit....!!!!!

Katrina

My partner purchased the 'Milles Feuilles' for my birthday and it was probably the best cake I ever had. The level of sweetness was just right and the pastry just complements the creme! Literally a party in my mouth 😳. Will definitely be back for more!

The Hand That Bites

One of the best patisserie in Sydney. I love all their cakes and the service is excellent too. Chef Jean-Michel and his team are doing great things down the rocks. Definitely a must eat when in Sydney.

Wanderlust

Great bakery! Lots of variety and great location in the quaint area in the Rocks. Highly recommend this place . My fav was Vanilla Slice......omg the best I’ve ever had, it had nice and crispy pastry layers with perfect custard filling thats not sweet (just perfect cuz I don’t like sweet), and topped with lots of powdered sugar. Everything is good , esp croissants, fruit tarts, coffee, cherry danish, meat pies, and chocolate desserts . Everything is delicious!! Yummmmmm Ambience: they offer outdoor seating with umbrella for shade both in front and in back of bakery. I prefer the seats out front as it is more open. The inside of bakery is tiny and too tight with a long line that makes u feel rushed when ordering. No seats inside. Wish the interior was larger with seating!

Famishedduo

Celebrating @smoothchocfest over the weekend, we opted for the "Goya" and the "Le Roi Soleil" from @Larenaissance. The cakes were perfect, and not too sweet and had a great texture on the inside, with several different layers within the mousse.

Culinary Artist

Cheese cake. They are famous with their cheese cake. Cheese cake is nice and smooth with hint lemon scented after taste. This place has a little court yard at the back, nice to seat on nice sunny day. Create brûlée is nice but a little too sweet to my taste bud. Coffee is not bad too.

Gstarfoodie

The ladies at the counter were very warm and welcoming, and explained the recommendations well. Came here with my friend from France, and boy was he impressed by the standard of their sweets. He said the crème brûlée was definitely reminded him of those he got back home. "Miam!

Issac_eatsalot

Amazing experience. The chef was incredibly humble in discussing chocolate and pastry with us - these truffles and baked goodies were so amazing. Highly recommend!

Will Eat Yum

Located in the Rocks, La Renaissance is well known for its amazing desserts. Always packed even up to close, there's an inside courtyard area for seating. The Monet was amazing! Definitely worth trying. The queuing system can get really messy though.

Marvin Ding

Super friendly staffs, very attentive. Bought some croissants and 3 cakes, goya, vivladi and menot. They were all very very good indeed, money well spent. If I do visit Sydney again I will definitely come back and try the almond croissants!

Claire Low

I love the food - the cakes are wonderful. They're as good as anything you'll find in Paris, truly. But the queuing system can be chaotic and I have been served rudely - including on the phone.

Verity Gresswell

A favourite of my parents for 20 years! This French patisserie offers exceptional French pastries including a range of baguettes and sweet cakes and tarts. The tarte de citron is especially delicious. Coffee is good and balances out the sweet tastes beautifully. Many people don't realise there is also a cute back outdoors area accessible from the historic alleys.

Kravengerfoodie

Went to La Renaissance about 5pm before they're close to get a whole cake for celebration. About that time there's limited choices of cake available which is totally understood. To choose just 1 cake is so hard because everything looks amazing. Finally choose the Monet which is a vanilla sponge with white chocolate with raspberry and lychee.. it's so good that we finished it all up serving to 8 pax on a whole cake which also cost $50. La Renaissance has always live up to their reputation for quality cakes and this time it did not disappoint

Keito09

I went to La Renaissance Cafe at lunchtime and I ordered croissant, monet and rival black star. Croissant was very crispy and fluffy which was excellent!!! Both of cakes were amazing. I recommend you to eat croissant and cake!!!

Kate Fuller

So delicious!!! Great spot. Good coffee. They have a lovely back patio as well. It's easy to find from the train or bus stations. The staff are very friendly. I would highly recommend

Midi Et Soir

Waiting for my girlfriend who was climbing up on the Sydney bridge so I walked around in the rocks and came across to this little cafe. The frontshop looks small but it has a big back yard. I had the almond croissant and it tastes just like the one I picked up from the local bakery in Le Marais

Princess Pan

This is my favourite cake shop in Sydney,u must go there.every single cake has a unique flavour n I love everything.i don't know what should I eat when I go to that shop because I wanna eat every cake😍Goya,momet,tiramisu... Moreover their macaroon is also good Don't think too much n just go n grab some 😊

Occasionalist

It was a beautiful sunny day with a cool breeze. It was a weekend and naturally, the main strip was pumping and busy. All the seats outside the cafe were taken, even those that weren't in the shade. We decided to get takeaway. We had: 1) beef pie: pastry was a bit too soggy so my husband envied the baguette I had. 3/5 2) chicken baguette: this was nice but not one of the best I've had. I've had a better baguette in Degraves St, Melbourne. 3/5 3) chocolate truffles: very nice and rich as though infused with rum. One of the better ones I've tried. 5/5 Service was friendly and the young lady serving me was very attentive. 5/5 Overall I think I would stick to the sweets instead of savouries here next time.

Leon

Colorful little cakes which can rival Black Star for being the most instagram-able cakes in Sydney. Goya and Soleil were excellent - both taste and looks. Unfortunately, there was a hard "pillar" layer for Gauguin to support the curvy cake structure and allow for an creamy interior. The baker might consider baking the layer with a lower temperature or add some cake mix entender while making the layer.

Hui Min Yau

Really loved their mille feuille and Zulu! If you're lucky you might have rainbow lorikeets checking you out. They eat sugar but other customers may not like you doing that :p

Olive Luna

Unfortunately I didn't try their cakes on that day. I had iced latte and it was nice. Apparently they don't make ice at the cafe so they put vanilla ice cream instead of ice cube for any cold drinks. I will definitely come back to try beautiful cakes:)

More Than Nourishment

After looking at the markets on the weekend, we decided to give this place a go. There was a small line to order but the staff got through the orders quickly. As there was limited seating, we had it to go which actually was cheaper than dining in. Had the almond croissant with chocolate filling, chicken pie and rare beef baguette. The croissant was the stand out of the three, really crispy and delicious filling. The chicken pie had chunks of real chicken but slightly too salty for my liking. It also fell apart as you ate it and the filling oozed out of one end. It was a pie that you had to eat with a knife and fork. The baguette needed to be more crispy and there wasn't enough caramelised onion in it. The roll was average and I expected more from a French patisserie. Try it for the cakes and skip the savoury dishes.

Food_Rampage_AM @INSTA

Oh my.. missus loves this outlet, been coming here 'gain n 'gain with takeaways to boot. This was my 1st as i dont go chasing sweety pies (no sweet tooth in me). Tranche au choco w/grand marnier 3.5/5 Goya (raspberry mousse passionfruit almond nougat w/ almond base 3/5 Pistachio roulade 3.75/5, my personal fav. Properly french pastry, good balance between crunch and flake, buttery goodness with just the right sweetness to go with a macchiato.

Daisy ZHANG

Perfect services & Friendly staff. If you want to have a brunch there on weekends, be aware that it just has about 5 small tables and 15 seats.

Lyohl

As a dessert fanatic, I highly recommend this cafe (as long as you don't mind overdosing and going on a trip to sugar heaven). Since it was my first time there, I ordered 4 cakes for the two of us - Zulu, Goya, Monet and the Vivaldi. My personal favourite is definitely Monet. It's the perfect balance between vanilla and white chocolate without being overly sweet. The Zulu and Vivaldi were also great, but I found the Goya to be a tad of a let down. Cons: Limited seating (all outdoors). I was seated out the front and since the ground was uneven, the plates slid around a bit. Also the line is pretty hectic, so I definitely recommend getting there early before they sell out.

Emerald Chiu

Definitely I will come here again. Love the cakes, and nest time I want to try cheese sticks, they are attractive. I like the cake 'Monet', white chocolate with litchi, rich but fresh.

Maria

Great pastries! Best almond croissant with apple filling ever! Cheese stick and quiche were yummy as well! #quiche #cheese #yummy #pastry #breakfast #apple

Novi Sumarto

Great way to spend the afternoon. They have good selection of pastry and serves great coffee! Loved the pastries, and the chocolate truffles. Its not overly sweet, everything is well balanced. The outdoor seatings is great when its not too hot or not raininf. The location itself is easy to find. Will be back for more! 👍🏻

Justin

I have only been here for take away once but I have to say I had one of the best cakes ever made by man. It was so fresh and full of flavour and the presentation of all their pastries and cakes is of a high standard. It is also a very fancy café on the inside and outside, however not really my kind of style.

Seeaych

The desserts were appealing and the courtyard was lovely, however the service was a little too efficient. We were hoping to enjoy our afternoon tea at a relaxed pace but were interrupted several times by the staff too eager to remove any newly emptied plates and cups from our table, one at a time. Both our forks were taken before we even finished our fruit tart...

Michael Li

This cafe has a special place in my heart. Reason being, it's helped me for every single birthday I've planned for the past year whenever I need a birthday cake ready to go and wow people. Been through pretty much 50% of the celebration cakes. Nothing much more can be said. Staff are friendly, cake is produced like the images portray them for the price you pay, only thing left for me to do is to finish 100% of the menu for my other friends' bday! WOULD RECOMMEND!

Erika-Anne

Awesome cakes in the Rocks. So hard to choose cake from so many beautiful one from the showcase. millefeuille is my favorite. The each cake portion is small so feel like I could eat more than two.haha I'd like to come back soon to try others. One thing sad is some of the staff were not friendly, service is average.

RnG

A friend highly recommended this place. We came at 4.30pm on Thursday and the staff were busy cleaning preparing to close the place at 6pm. There were limited choice left and we chose Monet. Beautiful taste of white chocolate with lychee and sour raspberry to balance. Yummmmm! We did enjoy the food but unfortunately received rude customer service. Perhaps a note to everyone: make sure to come as early as possible so you have more choices of food and perhaps a friendlier customer service.

The Plus Ones

For those who are unfamiliar with the history of the Rocks, it is an area which has been enriched with Australian history— from centuries old pavements to antique styled boutiques and once walked upon by the the first European settlers and their convicts. It was the perfect place for a French Patisserie café and restaurant, La Renaissance, which has forged a reputation for their impeccable desserts and French pastries since 1971. And, last Tuesday on the 13th it had it’s celebratory launch event as the first patisserie in the southern hemisphere to be officially awarded the Relais Desserts which serve as an quivalent to the Michelin star—a prestigious award which is renowned for its rigorous selection process.

Those Who Love To Eat

This little French patisserie situated at the rocks near Guylian's café. Easily spotted by the queue that floods or if its front door, the brown lattice window and small doorway, this dessert house is well known at the rocks. When you walk in... a narrow walk way with dessert and pre-made baguettes displaying in glass windows and hot pastry on the far right hand side. There is also a menu board of all their baguettes and pastries. Sensory over drive, so many goodies for our choosing, and deciding what to have when all of it screams your name. You have to kind of be quick because there are so many others waiting to order. The line could be your saving grace if you're in that indecisive mood. Walk up the steps and you find yourself in their sandstone courtyard with plenty of seating and water fountain to wash down the dessert or savory stuff. My favourite thing there is their creme brulee. Smooth and creamy and the crunchy burnt sugar topping is just the perfect amount of sweetness for my liking. This is worth a drop by if you are in the rocks area and craving something a little special after brunch or lunch. Or maybe you'd like to just come by and soak up the atmostphere of the European feeling courtyard. There is something special about this little café.

The Other Jenners

Every time I'm in Sydney I make my way to La Renaissance for a fresh butter croissant and something I've never tried on the menu - I'm yet to be remotely disappointed! My favourite French café in Sydney, hands down.

Mayank Arora

Perhaps the best patisserie I have been to. Located in the rocks area of Sydney, just next to the harbour, this place became a must visit everyday after my visit here on day one in the city area. They have a pleasant sitting area at the back, and the ambiance is just perfect for a cafe. Everything I tasted was top notch. I tried their cheddar puff, chicken pie, smoked salmon baguette and double baked almond croissant. The almond croissant was baked just right and tasted very fresh. The baguette and puff were good too. What stole all the limelight for me was the heavenly chicken pie. A must visit when you are in Sydney!

HJia Teo

Reached there around noon and it was quite crowded. The staff was nice and friendly. Will definitely come back and recommend to my friends since it does really good coffee and desserts!

Andy Quan

Popped in for lunch. You order at the counter, and then can sit in the lovely courtyard in the back. I had sort of a croque monsieur, but with a croissant instead of toast or brioche. So, a cheesy, creamy baked mixture involving a flaky and buttery croissant. What's not to love? With a side salad and a coffee, and a very handsome waiter who brought my coffee, this was a pleasant visit.

Gabbys79

Wow popped in for a look and couldn't go past the brioche. I gobbled it up standing so didn't get a chance for a nice picture of it. Truely buttery goodness. Gotta try everything else in their window!

Rasalas

I visited this place today. Food was lovely and Frontline staff were very professional. We really enjoyed our meal. I also had the honor to watch one of the staff going to the toilets and not washing his hand. Maybe some basics hygiene training so it won't ruin our experience like that?? Disgusting!!

Debbie

I've only been once, and so far i can say La Renaissance does a good eclair and a pistachio macaroon!! I am yet to try all the pasties, desserts and the a la carte. So being fair with a rating 3 for now. The coffee was average. The assortment of macaroons was wide but i'm not too fond of macaroons. (The only place that does decent macaroons is a place on King Street, Newtown near the new establishment of cafes towards the end of the street. It bests Zumbo). Coming back to La Renaissance it's a small shopfront that opens up into a cosy and crowded courtyard area out back. Quite French, but not the best place to eat considering service is ok (they struggle given they're always busy), the line up is crazy, and the prices err on the slightly expensive side. I'll try it again but next time i'm better off getting take away pastries etc to avoid the queue and eat out along Sydney Harbour - only a few steps away!

AshleighH195

The cabinet pastries and cakes all looked amazing. Gorgeous little courtyard space out the back and friendly staff. Good for a quick bite and a coffee.

Espresso&Matcha

The reason why we skipped dessert at The Tea Room, was so that we could try another place on our hit list, being La Renaissance Cafe at the Rocks. We underestimated the (long and uphill) hike, and were quite tired (and hot) by the time we got there.

Bec

Visited The Rocks on Easter Sunday and it was overflowing with people. Originally planned on visiting another food place for breakfast but the line was down the street, so we had a wander and found this beauty. Was fairly busy for such a tiny store but staff were helpful and friendly, and got the line moving. Due to the rain most of the outdoor seating was wet/unavailable, so we had to get our order to take away. The pie I got was absolutely incredible, with beef chunks slow cooked and falling apart. So delicious! Hot drinks were also amazing, definitely something to rave about. Must go here if you're visiting Sydney!!

Manz

Nice spot to stop and have a sweets break if you're in the area. Grab a seat out back in the courtyard and escape the hassles and crowd of tourists. They were closing and I didn't have time to sit and eat today, so got some macarons to go. The staff were friendly, and didn't tried to hurry me up while I took my time to decide. Will be back again next time I'm in the area.

Baz Juan Pablo Sanchez

This place is a just visit if you're ever visiting the Rocks. Standing the test of time with beautiful innovative creations m, amazing quality and good value for money One of my faves

Emily

Excellent French patisserie boulangerie. The courtyard is beautiful to sit in and staff are very friendly. All of their cakes are amazing (just look at them!) and don't disappoint in flavour either. Yes, they're pricy but you pay for quality. Le Roi Soleil - mango, mandarin, coconut, almond - was delicious and perfect for summer. They also have a great range of hot and cold drinks.

GPS Joe

Saddest thing is the rainbow lorikeets that are eating the sugar packets. Pity, because this is an authentic french cafe in a beautiful location. Management could be more environmentally responsible and offer sugar in sealed jars instead. Or at least encourage customers to hide packets via signs. Food is delicious but very much a boulangerie patisserie menu - very little cooked food. Would be good if they brought food to tables. Tricky to carry food and cutlery etc to the tables along with shopping parcels, bags etc.

JT Esse

This place is just excellent. Always recommend people try this place. Authentic. Amazing almond croissants. Nearly as good as Black Star's pastries!

The RnB Diary

A nice cafe in the middle of the Rocks with amazing french desserts. The only problem is there are too many treats to choose from. I eventually decided on this chocolate cake and macaroons, they were both fabulous. I had sausage roll for lunch once too, it was good too. Much prefer this place to next door Guylian if we can get a table.

Ashley Xu

My favorite place for afternoon tea time around the rock. Their macaroons are the best, beautiful cakes. Hit chocolate is very nice too. Never miss the backyard. A very frenchy beautiful place. I always enjoy the time there.

Reluctant Foodie

After being recommended for their desserts, we visited La Renaissance Cafe for breakfast. We had the Beef Bourguignon Meat Pie and the Vivaldi cake for dessert and both were amazing. The pie I had here was the best meat pie I've ever had thusfar. The crust was flaky and perfectly cooked while the filling was boldly flavored but not at all too overpowering. The presentation of the Vivaldi cake was only rivaled by its taste. The flavors blended beautifully and was a perfect finish after a delicious breakfast. Will definitely come back to try other dishes.

Igor

Flashbacks to Paris - quiet courtyard leading into a tiny street, French language in the backgrounds, great croissant and a coffee and my bags packed for a big day... Ahhh... Till next time!

Weekendfoodescapes

La Renaissance Cafe has been loved for a long time but recently had great cause for celebration. I'm calling it the best French Patisserie in the Southern Hemisphere based on their induction into the Relais Desserts. . I recently attended the celebration of La Renaissance Café and Patisserie to congratulate French-born pastry chef and co-owner Jean Michel Raynaud (pictured left, yes I was very excited), and founder and co-owner Sally Charkos’ incredible accolade of being inducted into the Relais Desserts.

Rachel Hutton

Great sausage rolls, beautiful almond croissants and really good coffee. Lovely quiet little courtyard out the back. We also shared the cherry pastry, the slight tartness of the fruit made the dessert perfectly sweet.

GiGi MV

La Renaissance Patisserie and Cafe, became the first Australian patisserie in the Southern Hemisphere to be officially inducted into the prestigious Relais Desserts – the world's most exclusive and prestigious French Pâtisserie association! I've been coming to this charming French cafe repeatedly and received many birthday cakes from here. The delicious Lorraine and Provençal mini quiches warmed our hearts. The onion, anchovy and olive focaccia may not look much but it was utterly delicious. However, the dish that truly made our night was the Original La Renaissance pork & veal sausage rolls! Yes, a very Australian dish but the sausage rolls were seriously good with fennel. The silky buttery pastry was truly one of the best! I had to resist myself to go for more to save room for desserts. The vibrant Goya Cake got my attention first. It was divinely filled with raspberry mousseline and passionfruit cremeux. My friend, of course, went for the Zulu Cake of Valrhona chocolate mousse with a salted choc caramel centre. Needtheless to say, it put a big grin on her face. The Lemon myrtle mousse was a sophisticated combination of smooth texture center and finished with an almond crunch.The mango layered cake was overwhelming delicious and it would make the perfect Summer dessert in Australia. My friends can usually find me enjoying a coffee and a dessert in La Renaissance's historic walled garden courtyard.

THEJUGERNAUTS

Jean Michel Raynaud of La Renaissance Patisserie; the Sydney Rocks Institution with its amazing patisserie eats and pieshas been inducted into Relais Desserts. Relais Desserts is the world’s most exclusive French Patisserie association and the patisserie equivalent of receiving Michelin Stars. Renowned for the rigorous selection process, chefs are required to be sponsored by two Relais members and assessed by their peers.

Katharine Suy

One of my favourite spots in Sydney. The courtyard is a peaceful and comforting spot for any casual catch up or light reading. Pastries are always on point, as well as the cakes.

Sparkles

This little café is just so charming and I love the decor. When it comes to food, the éclairs are to die for! It brought back childhood memories. I'm definitely going back for more!

Barbara-Louisa Walker

I just love this café...Im always alone and they make me feel so welcome,like family.The food is really fantastic and service is just perfect.We are so fortunate to have such a place.xx

Let's Nomnom

When I learn the fact that La Renaissance is selling more than 1000 Almond Croissants each week.. I am sure they're making it clear it's one of their speciality on top of their croquembouche and other delicious cakes.. The outer part was slightly crunchy and buttery with a soft, almost cakey consistency on the inside.. The frangipane filling was sweet and an irresistible overflow for sure.. Their Ham and Cheese Croissant is another favourite too.. Filled with house mixture of creamy bechamel sauce, leg ham and crusty cheese on top!

Roanne Mao

Great food and desserts! I ordered cake from them for a birthday and the cake was beautifully made. Everyone had enjoyed the piece of cake. Recommend the cafe!

Orange_tree

One of the few cafes in The Rocks that I don't classify as a tourist trap. Lines can be long but for good reason - the delicious French pastries and cakes are worth it. Their display counter is a treat for the senses. Gets really busy on the weekends. If you're planning to eat your cakes in the cafe, make sure you snag a table first before ordering at the counter. Took a while for my takeaway skim cappuccino to be made but all was forgiven when I took the first sip of the smooth Little Marionette brew. One of the better coffees in this area.

Khana

After a walk to the newly opened Barangaroo Reserve, we stopped by for some tasty French pastries as a cheeky reward! We ordered our sweet treats takeaway, and got a Tiramisu and Creme Brulee to share. The Creme Brulee was the highlight, as the rich vanilla bean flavour came through strongly and it was well set and light, with a perfectly torched top that had a nice crackle. The Tiramisu was also delightful, with strong coffee flavours soaked into the sponge, but the only thing we would have preferred differently was for the cocoa layer on the top to be a much thinner sprinkle, as it was a bit dry.

Samuel Ryan

I love this place. The coffee is great and all, but the baked goods are some of the finest I've had. The pork and fennel sausage roll is out of this world. As is the beef pie. I also especially love the almond croissant. Always a nice treat on a lunch break.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed

Everything this patisserie produces is pure quality. The pies and sausage rolls sold here are brilliant. We always buy our birthday cakes from here as well. The opera cake is my personal favourite.

Bw_betman

I love this place! The courtyard is so cute and the food is delicious. The croissant jambon fromage is a must-try. Not your average ham and cheese

Yusuf Christian

I went to this cafe for had some dessert a few days ago. I sat in their backyard or garden or whatever it's called. Really nice place for spend the time with some friends and have a little chat. I try their mille feuile and other cake that i forget the name. But both had a really nice taste. Recommended!

Pollo_pesce_me

This place has been one of my favorite cafe in Sydney for years, coffee is okay but what is great about this little place is its ability to transport you away. Their Macaroons are fantastic, I think better than any other places - it's not overly sweet with perfect texture - simply beautiful. Another favorite of mine is the mixed berry sponge cake but really all their desserts are pretty amazing. Also their croissant is perfect of course. Once you've ordered your dessert and coffee go through to the court yard, pink rusted wall windows with vines growing in the corner you'd feel you are in Parisian cafe thousands of miles away and that is the beauty of the place. If you haven't been, this is a must visit dessert restaurant in Sydney.

Vivian LI

So during the stay in Sydney, my friend with me visited this French café and we loved it. We sticked with Latte as usual (liked it). Then I had the croissant with fromage et jambon(cheese and ham). Typical yet nice (but not so good looking......) For desserts, my friend has mixed berry tarte (the 3rd one she had in a week!!). And I chose the white chocolate mousse with pistachio, lichee jelly. It was amazing, I wish I also bought the mango flavoured thing! (Next time, next time..) In a word, love it. Will revisit u! (photos haven't been post-processed and those days in Sydney was really rainy and gloomy, sorry guys!)

Maximilian

Nice place for a cafe and a dessert! A bit expensive in but quality is without complaints! To try if u're around with friends or family.

Pridhi

A very nice and lively place to hangout if you manage to find a table for yourself. Ratatouille was really delicious. A must try. I had it along with a good cup of hot coffee. Their pastries are also very fresh and yummy!

George

Superb pastries. Coffee. Quiet courtyard out back. Authentic and delicious. What more can I say?

Petitepatissiereblog

We both loved the Jasmine Tea and Pistachio & Sour Cherry Macarons, but the petit gateaux were only acceptable (bearing in mind, we were heading to Sweet Street after that).

Taryn Buchan

This patisserie has been in the rocks for years, they absolutely know what they are doing. The best French patisserie in Sydney, a must try!

Rosanna

One of my favourite cafes in Sydney. Great coffee and macarons. Rosewater and mandarin & milk chocolate macarons (AU$3 each) Service: :star :star :star :star :star Quality of food: :star :star :star :star :star Value for money: :star :star :star :star :star Type of venue: French, Bakery, Dessert Worth a return visit? Yes. A

Grillkingssocial

Mobile Review. Soooo in love with the desserts! I even took home some of itv and my family loves it!

Toevelgraph

Monet is a white chocolate bavaroise, lychee jelly, raspberries & coconut bavaroise. The price for take away and dine in are different, for Monet, it cost $9 for take away and $10.5 for dine in. It was so pretty and taste nice too. The white chocolate was smooth, love the sweet and tangy from the lychee jelly and raspberry.

Munchk1n

Classic Black Forest cake was delicious and looked amazing!

Mark Likestorideelephants

Better than a box of Roses...your wife will forgive you.... ...for almost anything if you get her a Croquembouche for her birthday (like I did). Exquisite service, heavenly flavours and staff that go above and beyond in assisting you with making your experience world class. If you've never been, please do yourself a flavour and try the Croquembouche!

Samanthawxlow

And Elaine got herself a Zulu cake (Valrhona ‘Macae’ chocolate mousse encased in salted caramel and dark chocolate ganache) from La Renaissance. The silly girl thought no one would get her a cake for her birthday. I mean, even her mom baked her one that morning! This was written two months late, I’m so sorry for the delay of this post but Happy Birthday again Elaine!

Janlifestyle

Dessert run ... my favourite place for macarons & super chocolately cakes for my sweet tooth ... Variety of beautiful cakes and macaons Black Current, Chocolate, Jasmine Green Tea, Pistachio and Cherry, Salted Caramel, Rose Water (which I ate before taking a photo). All macarons are made fresh. The softness, chewiness, crispness of shell and flavour of each was just perfect. My favourite ones were rose water, jasmine green tea and black current. Rose water one is full of floral flavours! My tea time with a slice of chocolate ganache cake Cake is super smooth and soothes my chocolate craving! It may be a tad sweet for the less of a sweet tooth Chocolate Ganache Cake. They no longer make a circular ganache cake. They make a square one now. This was a special "last" order. Cake is super smooth, chocolatey, again slightly sweet for those who have less of a sweet tooth. This cake resembles a smooth firm chocolate cheesecake but of course without the cheese. I love the macarons here. P

Wanderingpiglet

Really love this place. If you are a chocoholic through and through, my favourite picks are the zulu and the chocolate tartlet. The entrance is small and confined, and often filled with people. One tip is that if you’re in a pair or group, one should order, and the other should squeeze past the line and go find a table in the courtyard. (Tip – the toilets are passed the courtyard, up the stairs and to the corner). I normally get a mix of a chocolate cake and a fruity light mouse cake, to share, to balance each other out.The Zulu ($9 eat in, $8 take away) and Chocolate Tart ($7 eat in, $6 take away) are both made of very rich dark chocolate with an even richer small middle center. I have tried all the mouse fruit cakes, and they are all equally light and well-made. Between the g

Journey-fromwithin

But low and behold, no one obviously likes to think like Homer – so I headed back to the stand and purchased a coffee custard doughnut! BOOYEAH! On your Homer approving sized doughnut, the coffee custard was squeezed on top. A combination of sweetness and coffee on a doughy round cake - now that was satisfaction.

Mr. Plat Du Jour

Service was great, the only disappointment I had was with the first patisserie, and the lack of tables and greater eat-in prices. But nevertheless, I enjoyed trying this patisserie and highly recommend anyone to try it. You will be impressed with the wide selection of desserts, which we had trouble deciding on!

Eaten Tales

The Rocks is an iconic historical precinct in Sydney, where this reviewer had the opportunity to explore the creative and cultural hub of this area. The Rocks has been all been built by hand. It’s a place with heart and soul, shaped by people from the past and embraced by people of today. I live in Paddington, a stone’s throw away from the precinct. The Rocks is not a place I visit often, but now it’s on my radar for frequent visits. It is a charming place brimming with history, “foodie” markets and many other lively attractions. On Thursday (23 rd Oct, 2014), I was invited to attend an “Arts, Creativity and Fashion” tour organised by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Coming from a graphic design background, I was thrilled to meet the people behind these creative businesses. Most activities centred on walking, looking and eating. We were very lucky to try the cuisine at the Pei Modern – Four Seasons Hotel. We had a selection of Clyde River Rock Oysters from the South Coast of NSW, a fine selection of salami’s, spiced Doughnuts with Blood Orange and Whey, and some Beef Tartar with some Local Sea Urchin & Horseradish on Toast. The treats were accompanied with Tscharke’s Girl Talk Marananga Savagnin, that had just the right citrus and stone fruit that didn’t smother the delicate food flavours. The best thing is that being an open kitchen you can see the food being prepared and the work that goes into it. I particularly enjoyed watching one of the chefs make potato gnocchi. The pastries and macraroons at La Renaissance Patisserie deserve high praise. I must say I had thought the best almond croissant existed in Potts Point, but La Renaissance Patisserie’s croissant is a definite contender now. When you do go to the Rocks, don’t forget to pay a visit to this exquisite French café. Other places we visited on the tour included DENHAM, Joe Bananas and Ugg. Jason Denham established DENHAM in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He is a consummate “jean maker” know

Gondos.kitchen

Always crowded and having people line up for their delicious macarons and cakes selection. They got dining area, mostly outdoor, at the back of their shop and there's like three chairs outside the front area.

GiGi MV

The cafe's decor is not fancy or superficial like Laduree or Rockpool. Personally I found the existing humble country-village style setting to be quite charming. It has all the heritage characteristics and rustic edges that sets it apart from the newish posh Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe next door.

GH

I love this.. Really really taste good.. the mousse was smooth and light.. love the raspberry and passion fruit flavor.. =9

Philip Lee

It’s a nice little spot which caters to a sweet tooth and would be ideal for a catch up. Cakes here are far from average and presentation of sweets are decadent to say the least. As I eat savoury foods more often than sweets, I’ll be returning infrequently. I found the cakes much more impressive than the quiche & baguette.

Shirley Song

One of my friends had a La Renaissance cake for her 18th as well, and on both occasions we were not disappointed. The acidity of the berry mousse worked so well with the joconde. Whilst I do have a sweet tooth, at times overbearing sweetness tends to overpower and detract from the cake but not with this one, the light berry mousse provided a subtle kick of sugary goodness to balance the slight tartness. The glazing, or thin layer of jelly added another dimension to the cake making this cake a real pleasure to eat!

Nessy Eater

La Renaissance Signature Range individual cakes. Go on, keep feasting your eyes … It is no surprise what Cuisinier Pierre Charkos and his wife Sally can create over a period of ten years. With the love of exquisite French food, La Renaissance is true to ...

Victoria Yap | Eat Pray Love 19

Its popular item is the mille feuille, also known as vanilla slice or the Napoleon. It consists of layers of delicate puff pastry and vanilla creme patisserie dusted with icing sugar. La Renaissance's specialty is French based desserts and hence its mille feuille will fare better than other bakeries.

Charn Tangson

My birthday lunch this year was spent at a very relaxing and vintage cafe ! Mr C and I walked past this cafe a fewof times, and each time I was always captured by their pretty and colorful macarons displayed on the window. The thumbnail was English Breakfast Tea. It was honestly my first time drinking English tea with added milk (a big noob I am). The tea was very smooth and has a strong and refreshing taste. We sat at the back in their hidden courtyard with all the vintage surroundings so I felt very classy, like I was in France or Europe! Quiche Lorraine The only thing I remembered from this dish was the SALAD! I have never had such a delicious salad before, it was definitely the dressing they used ! It was quite sour and tangy, and I loved it so much I hope they sell it alone! The quiche was quite creamy (that I loved and not very good for my diet ), though it wasn’t heated enough and kind of standard. Smoked salmon baguette with capers and cream cheese The baguette was pretty or

Glutenfreewheeler

La Renaissance is a ‘bijou’ place and customers queue out the door on weekends with tables sprawling onto the street. Come at a quieter moment and the relaxed intimate courtyard will have you plotting aspirational life plans or penning some prose. A find for tourists and a favourite with locals.

Beyond Bourke Street

OMGOMGOMG,keepeatinsogoodgottahaveanotherbitechocolatechocolatechocolate

JasmyneTea

La Renaissance Patisserie is a great little place in the heart of the city, with really good quality cakes, pastries, macarons and coffee. If you happen to be in The Rocks, be sure to visit!

Noshbites

The display of cakes will make your mouth water. Each one so delicately created you wonder if they’re too good to eat!

Sir And Mlady Dine Out

This is a quaint place. It seems much smaller than it actually is - as it has a lovely courtyard out the back if you cant grab one of the few tables out the front. We were lucky though and had ringside seats on the street to watch the world go by.

Petit Fours

Please do pay a visit here when you're looking to rewind and relax for brunch, lunch or arvo tea. The colourful panels of macarons and desserts has already got me trying to set a date with another friend. Oh and NTS: arrive before 2.30pm for their baguettes!

Miss Kimbers

I really enjoyed it here. The food was pleasing, the court yard was very welcoming and cosy and the staff were quite friendly. A perfect place for morning tea. I returned the next week but was disappointed to find the patisserie was closed for renovations. No cake for me:(

Eat.Play.Love

...only regret of the day was that i forgot to pack some macarons back! :( La Renaissance serves up some of my favourite macarons in all of Aussie! :)

Excuse Me Waiter

...both tasted authentically French – especially the Poulet Chasseur which was a traditional French hunters recipe of diced chicken, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic and white wine. Pretty much everything I love in a dish all packaged up in one little pie and definitely not a flavour that’s common in pie stores around the city. It was deliciously rustic and while I thought that the tomato base could

May Watson

I was overwhelmed by the myriad of cakes and pastries in the glass display cabinet. Everything looks so pretty and colourful!

The Bake-a-nista

They were spot-on, with a nice crisp that makes you go "WOW" as you bite into them.

MoMo And Coco ~ Dessert Correspondents

La Renaissance is a beautiful little secret located along a broad cobbled avenue in The Rocks district.

Dolly

This cake was a bit too sweet, but lovely. I really enjoyed the cream wrapped with raspberries.

Saltnpepper

ham and cheese croissant has...creamy, ham-flecked bechamel filling - it's heaven...

D

A sweet binge round up of our time in Sydney to end off the first week in April. We stumbled upon La Renaissance Cafe Patisserie down by The Rocks after we wondered around the area for a bit of a stroll and some sight seeing. I was going to pass up on purchasing anything but recalled Tiger mentioning that the macs here were pretty good so I got ourselves a box of 5 for $13.50 ($2.70 each) . Macarons Unfortunately when we got to La Renaissance, it was close to their closing time so only a limited of macaron flavours were available, 5 to be exact. At least it didn’t make it too hard in choosing what flavours to have. Our box of macarons included: rosewater, jasmine green tea; mango, lime and coconut, blackcurrant and dark chocolate & orange . The verdict? Yummy!! Our favs were the jasmine green tea (so jasmine-y and fragrant) and dark chocolate & orange (not too sweet with just the right amount of citrus). Surprisingly we preferred it over the Zumbarons that we usually get as the flavour

Daphne Law

When you walk in, you’re met with rows and rows of macarons, cakes, pastries and baguettes. Everything just looked so delectable. I

Simon Leong

I first visited this little gem of a French pâtisserie back in 2007 and very much enjoyed their mixed berry tart but sadly it wasn't available this afternoon to satisfy my cravings, possibly sold out. Today the Tarte au Chocolat is the standout for yummy

David

I finally settled on a mixed fruit tart. It looks so pretty and cute. It tasted as good as it looks too.

Monica

I shouldn't have asked where to meet up with this particular friend of mine. Without fail, every single time, it would be at Le Renaissance Cafe

Simon Park

La Renaissance not only stocks the range of Masterpiece pastries but also a whole ensemble of other sweet pastries, cakes, as well as savoury baked goods such as croissants, pies, quiches, baguettes, sandwiches and so on.

Steph

It was a surprisingly sunny Saturday afternoon and Asian Gaga and I had plans to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art. I have been dying to visit the Yayoi Kusama exhibit ever since it opened and Asian Gaga was more than happy to keep me company. Before h

Penguin Says Feed Me

Ever since tasting my last year’s birthday cake from La Renaissance with melt-in-the-mouth delicate chocolate sheets and light-as-air mousse, I knew that I had to return for more cakes and pastries! Charm had to go to The Rocks Markets to pick up some things and with the promise of cake I tagged along.

Penciljar

Monet. Beautiful white choc cake

Satiety Society

Great baguettes - all freshly made on the premises. Lovely coffee. The choice is yours to sit at the front amongst the hustle and bustle of The Rocks and watch whatever cruise ship is in dock or to sit in the quiet, secluded courtyard and escape the world while watching the pastry chef hrs at work through the window. Magnifique!

Pilks

Lovely croissants and great coffee. We will be back.

Aleisha Lam

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!. I don't even know where to start with their cakes, it's all just beautiful! Let me tell you, I am quite obsessed with their cakes. It is just so beautifully made and everything is enjoyable. The price is a bit high but that's expected for a shop located in the city. But seriously, it is definitely worth the money! Can't wait for another visit to La Renaissance!

Lourocks

Rude staff who sold ordered cake. Will never visit this cafe again, we ordered 2 cakes over the telephone to arrive less than ten minutes later to find the same girl we ordered from on the phone sell one of our ordered cakes. When I mentioned I believed it was our cake she was selling she tried selling another cake to the other customer, the other customer did not want to the other cake. I left without either cake but a bad taste in my mouth. Will never visit again and I will certainly never recommend.

Greg

Amazing!. Every time I go to La Renaissance I try and order a different cake. Each is amazing. This has to be the finest cake shop in Sydney. Each spoonful is filled with the most refined and delicate flavours... fragrant fresh fruits and soft heavenly sponges. The presentation and taste is just perfection.

Anna001

Nice. Approaching this famous rocks patisserie around midday, we were greeted with the sight of a line of patrons queuing up literally out the door! We joined the line, and purchased a mille feuille ($6 takeaway) and an almond croissant ($5 takeaway). The almond croissant was very sweet and strongly almond flavoured. The custard in the mille feuille was deliciously thick and tasty, the pastry not soggy at all, and the icing sugar a perfect (albeit messy when being eaten) finish. A very high quality sweets store.

Travelgeek39

Hangout place. It is situated in the Rocks just behind Guylian cafe. It has a beautiful little courtyard out the back as well as seating out in the front. The cakes are simply sensational and their pastry are incredible. After shopping at the duty free shops nearby, there is no better way to enjoy afternoon sun than sitting on their courtyard sipping good coffee with their cheese sticks...

Yulia

Still amazing. Haven't been here for about 6years and stopped by for a coffee and a tart (raspberry) for a total of $11 i was well satisfied to sit in the sun and eat the delicious tart and drink the coffee. I remember this place being top notch and it's good to see that it still is. Coffee was excellent - no sugar needed.

Upsydaisy

Amazing pastries, croissants and great coffee. Enjoyed breakfast so much we got take away baguettes for lunch. All was exceptionally good

Brianna McCoola

Beautiful pastries! Yum yum yum

Tom

Light fresh French provincial pies and the best in French pastries cooked on the premises. Fantastic courtyard cafe and seating out front where you can people watch on a Sat afternoon when the Rocks Markets are in full swing. The coffee is maginificent!

Artistspace

I love this place!. Three of my favourite things... The Rocks in Sydney, Beautiful Pastries and cafe and out the back is a dream... Come to this cafe as much as you can!!!! Everyone I take also loves it!!!

A.

Magnifique!. La Renaissance is a magical little French patisserie tucked away down Argyle St, where once inside you're enchanted by the rows of cakes, tarts, flans and other yummy looking pastries. After visiting this amazing find once before, it was a nice surprise to be in the area again so we made sure to drop in. The Croque Monsieur's are the best we have ever tasted and the accompanying fresh rocket leaves are tossed in a delicious subtle dressing. The coffee is fantastic and comes in cute cups with saucers. We shared a slice of the famous gateau opera and it was PHENOMENAL! Would go so far as to say this is the best cafe The Rocks has to offer.

Ronin47

Wonderful desserts. Bought a variety of things to take away - both hot stuff and pastries. The desserts were better than the hot items in my opinion - up to standard for a French patisserie with a selection of things you see in other places and some not so common items. Great stuff and although still a bit exxy but it is The Rocks.

TV

Better than Zumbo!. I knew this secret hidden patisserie hidden in the Rocks area for at least 10 years now, but I should never tell anyone of how good it is for fear they will be too famous and might move away from this location...lol... REALLY GOOD CAKES, far better than ZUMBO. THE BEST!

ShoopShoop

Best cakes in Sydney. Hands down the most amazing cakes in Sydney and so so so cheap it shocks me. They are not only aesthetically stunning but they are like a rollercoaster ride in your mouth. Loved the croissants both plain and almond and the pies but they don't taste so good anymore. Macarons are also amazing. Coffee excellent.

Debra Richters

My daughter and I were in Sydney for her birthday and had cakes from here twice.. best ever cheesecake. Thanks La Renaissance.

Jessie Cai

My fav cake shop EVER. They make the most beautiful cakes and the quality of the cakes are always high and consistent. A must every time when I go back to Sydney.

Sunnycoast Girl

Excellent little bakery. Very busy and hard to get a table. Pies are yummo. We had cheesecake and a vanilla slice also. Coffee was good and nice and hot. Tables outside were annoying being on a slope, wobbly and unstable.

Dan

Very good coffee and friendly counter staff. The whole experience was let down by the service of the girl who bought the coffee to our table. She did not smile at all and did not say a word. Then her friend arrived and received hugs, kisses and a smile. This is how we will remember this place. Shame.

Bec

Perfect French. Do not pass this place by!

Ra Ra Noodle

Joyous. Walked past this place a few times before and the line had been out the door. Decided to finally give it a go and was VERY impressed. Had a takeaway coffee and almond croissant. The coffee was of a high standard (though not an overly strong roast) and the almond croissant was the equal best that I have ever had. Headed down to the harbour with them and it made my day.

Dan Mandy Porter

Macarons, ham n cheese crossaint. Coffee. Mmmmmmmmmm

Foodpornjournal

Tried the ham and cheese croissant with bechamel sauce. So tasty and the pastry was perfect! Cute little cafe often with a queue out the door however it was pretty fast service. Would love to try out the rest of the delicious dessert pastries and cakes. Right next to The Rocks markets.

Bansheebeat

Absolutely wonderful cafe! Walk along the markets and then stop here for a baguette or perhaps something sweet and its like you're in France!

Jeanne Yu

Great coffees!. Perfect spot for saturday afternoon tea

Kelly

Best Patisserie in Australia!. You cannot go wrong with this place. The fruit tarts are delicious and the Tarte Tropézienne will amaze you.

El Boopy

Possibly the best croissant I have had! One of the best in Sydney. It is only a small store and there can sometimes be a line at lunch times but it moves fairly quick. Tasty pies too with real pieces of meat. This place can satisfy a savoury and a sweet tooth

Poly Yen

Awesome French Patisserie. Once u stepped in the shop u will be attracted the whole loads of food in the fridge. Get the staff to recommend. But i would strongly recommend to try on their croissant and cheesecake. Their coffee is nice too.

Jananas

Will be back. We tried a wide selection of the macarons - though personally, they weren't the best, they were still very tasty. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the goodies!

Andrew Kelly

Nice locale. Nice location with a few seating options at the front and more in the courtyard. There's a wide selection of French pastry options. I was a little disappointed with the Opera cake as it was sickly sweet. The macarons were underwhelming in this day and age where macorons are sold on every street corner.

Shona Hunt

Beautiful coffee... Might have to go back tomorrow for an almond crossiant or macaroon :)

Kylie

Great spot for something sweet. A drop in here often for a cafe and croissant/opera/friand/whatever looks tasty, and usually leave with dessert for that night too. Great food, great staff, and a lovely little courtyard. Definitely recommend it.

Giles

We found Renaissance on our first day in Sydney & kept going back! Beautiful baguettes, crunchy but soft, macaroons & OK coffee. Lots of French trevellers in there too. Always a good sign.

Rebecca R

Get the croissant (plain)

100 In 50 Days

10 out of 13 Best croissant + coffee i have had so far Nice coutyard In rocks so too many tourists - excellent in weekdays

Tardar Sauce

Love the French toast with apple & rhubarb jam!!!

Suedy

Great coffee, delicious macarons. Cherry and pistachio is the winner! Melt-in-your-mouth with subtle but surprising flavor combos. Great arvo pick me up!

Kano

YUM!!!. Best Macaroons... Great coffee

Wrap 'n' Rice Thai Cafe

I went to La Renaissance on Monday morning. It wasn't very busy so I could enjoy myself at the courtyard. It was relaxing and lovely. I had flat white coffee which was quite nice. Almond croissant was very good, butterly, almondy and crunchy. I reckon it could be one of the best almond croissant I have ever eaten. The traditional chicken pie was ok but not that special. This place is highly recommended for anyone who wants to see how good patisserie looks like.

Daruma

Fantastic, should visit

Stalksmcgee

Looked great. I had a choc macaron which was really good, but I had one from another place nearbye that was identical. I suspect they are not made in house.

Lea

Best Cheese Stick in Sydney. Felt peckish this afternoon and decided to try their cheese sticks 'coz I saw heaps piling on display. For $3, it's definitely the Best Cheese Stick I ever had in Sydney. Love the texture, piping warm and crispy. Very subtle taste for cheese stick. I can't wait to get back there for next weekend!

Arlanara

Heaven. Great food. Also has a hidden courtyard

Cake Lover

RUDE STAFF & POOR MANAGEMENT. DO NOT EVER ATTEMPT TO ORDER A CAKE through these guys! Hopeless!!! The staff are confused, rude, unfriendly & disorganised. A shame because I had heard so much about their cakes & as i order cakes for my office all the time for our staff brithdays, I was hoping to keep using Renaissance. However, i have never dealt with such rude, unhelpful staff in my life. Having worked in hospitality myself in various venues (from cafes to fine dining) I can not believe how unwilling the staff were to help customers trying to order cakes. Its not like the cakes are cheap either, so I don't understand the attitude and lack of help with simple queries. They need to put more of a focus on customer service, or maybe just fire some staff, in particular the girl who deals with cake orders! I know lots of people who'd love her job & who would probably do it a great deal better.

Erin

This place is always packed. Desserts are reasonably priced. Pistachio Macaroon is yummy but I would prefer more alcohol in their tiramisu.

Martin C

Don't pass it by. Good strong coffee and a beautiful range of pastry delights. Settle into a table in the courtyard and get stuck in. We are looking forward to going back to work our way further through the treats. The vanilla slice is a great place to start. Don't be put off by the line out the door. It's forms for good reason.

Chris

Yes the macarons here are fantastic, even better than the 'famous' one at Balmain, which i had to queue ages for. Personally i would rather have my macarons, almond croissants and other chocolate delights here where i could sit down and munch them with a nice coffee

Ebonyandlace

The place to be for your macaron cravings. All in all the best macarons ever. in sydney. haha can't say i've tried that many but sharing is caring and everyone i know loves the La Renaissance macarons :) They might be abit pricier compared to some others; but texture, flavour is amazing - definitely worth it. Dark chocolate ganache / Passionfruit milk chocolate ganache / China jasmine green tea white chocolate ganache are some personal favourites of ours :) Also have tried a slice of the Passion de Pierre cake which was alright (macarons better!) and the creme brulee (which was yum). Loving it :DD

Rosemary

Best Patissiere in Sydney. The macarons here are the best I have ever eaten and that includes Paris. The family who own La Renaissance have now opened a fabulous French style bistro just along the road in George Street. Love the Duck Confit but the Chartreuse Souffle is in my dreams cannot wait to go back. Hear the Cassoulet on a Tuesday night is sooooo good. Great food and great prices for a group night out.

Review La Renaissance Patisserie (the Rocks) - Sydney