THE RISE OF THE BROWN BEAN
Potts Point and Kings Cross are fast becoming the Kings of cafe culture in Sydney.
Kings Cross, a precinct within Potts Point, and its 500 metre strip from the Coke sign to the El Alamein fountain has, at last count, eight cafes or take-away coffee outlets. Add in Llankelly Place and it jumps to twelve. Macleay Street has nine, some with French influences including La Fontaine, Buvette and Le Frérot apart from the heritage cake shop, Croissant d’Or.
That makes twenty-one in total.
There are more then a dozen others in nearby streets including Ken’s Continental and Bloom’s Uliveto in Bayswater Road.
And even more in Victoria Street, another three or four.
It has been said, perhaps hopefully, you can’t walk more then a dozen steps without tripping over a cafe.
It’s all a coterie of cafes and potpourri of public delights.
Cafe de la Fontaine, 1A Darlinghurst Road opposite the heritage-listed El Alamein fountain, after which it takes its name, is more French than Coco Chanel or the Eiffel tower.
It’s like stepping into a cafe on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré only a little more obsessive.
The interior is dripping with French artifacts including antique copper pots, a pressed metal ceiling, French flags and heraldic pennants, gilt baroque mirrors, Beaux Art architectural remnants, panels from a 19th century chateau, original enameled street signs, a gendarme’s cap and, at last count, nine Eiffel tower statuettes, including the large statue on the outside awning.
French cafe style chairs, cast iron and marble tables and a long banquette adorn the interior as staff glide across the floor taking orders
The menu is, as expected, dominated by all things French.
For example, strong coffee, eclairs, big baguettes, six types of crepes and croques monsieur et madame.
Chandeliers hover above every table as conversation bubbles and the street crowd ambles past creating a flaneur’s delight.
by Andrew Woodhouse
Heritage Solutions
Cafe de la Fontaine
1A Darlinghurst Road Potts Point NSW 2011
Email cafedlf.pottspoint@gmail.com
Ph 0449 934 899
