Drive into Lovedale, and you don’t expect to stumble into Southern France — but that’s exactly what happens when you arrive at Café Brocante.
Garden tables spill onto the lawn. Children wander freely between pétanque games and ice cream cones. Antique chairs sit beneath trees older than Australia itself. And somewhere between the scent of buckwheat galettes and freshly brewed coffee, time stretches just a little longer than usual.
Café Brocante and Pardon My French Antiques are a collaboration between four owners — Alexandra and Guillaume, alongside Lauren and Gareth — blending French culture, regional Australian hospitality, and a shared belief in taking life a little less seriously.
They aren’t trying to replicate France perfectly — the kangaroos make that impossible. Instead, they offer something rarer: an honest cultural collaboration, rooted in friendship, memory, and the simple pleasure of slowing down. And in a region known for weddings and wine, it may just be the Hunter Valley’s most unexpected little escape.
We spoke with them about pen-pal love stories, treasure hunting at French brocante markets, and what “joie de vivre” looks like in Lovedale.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did your journey with French food, antiques, and Australia intertwine to eventually become Café Brocante and Pardon My French Antiques?
Guillaume and I (Alexandra) have been living together in France for the last 13 years. Guillaume is French-born, and I’m Australian. Our romance actually started as pen pals, which is pretty cute.
Lauren and Gareth bought Bluebush Estate in 2024 and shared the news with us over Zoom. Gareth is a childhood and long-time friend of mine. At the time, Guillaume and I were hatching another return to Australia — this time with our daughter, Charlie — and an idea to bring French antiques over.
Gareth and Lauren offered an ideal spot to try it out. We’re all passionate about French culture, and if the antiques gamble didn’t work, Guillaume said we’d sell crêpes “to pay the rent.” Gareth and Lauren would handle the coffee, with their son Hunter bringing his passion for it.
So far, the collaboration has been a great success. The French antiques — each selected from brocante markets in France — pair beautifully with the café. The European feel, the honesty, the authenticity. The antique tables, chairs, art and the setting feel intentionally slow and generous — garden tables, space for kids, pétanque under the trees.
What kind of experience are you hoping people will have?
We’re inspired by France and its brocante markets. Our vibe is very much an invitation to take time and step out of your everyday. In French culture, dining is a leisurely, social ritual — not a quick fix. You sit with family or friends and just be present.
We wanted to create a space where kids can “free range”, where people can bring their dog, picnic, read a book and stay for sunset. There isn’t another café in the Hunter Valley holding space like this, and that’s exciting.
French food doesn’t have to be expensive or intimidating. We’re showing a different side of French culture than what Australians might be used to seeing.
You source antiques directly from France. What draws you to a piece?
It’s like treasure hunting amongst the chaos of the markets. I like finding something and having to imagine it in a new context; it's how you find the real treasures. I’m an artist (Alex Platt Art), so I’m drawn to unusual and interesting artworks.
Guillaume has been collecting for years and looks for items with heart. Some of the tables are older than colonial Australia, and that kind of history and warmth, and stories are what people are drawn to for their homes.
What do crêpes represent to you personally?
Guillaume grew up eating crêpes. Food carries so many memories for him. For me, I just love good, simple food and fresh ingredients. I do my best to make each one as well as I can, so hopefully people can feel the love that goes into them. The Complete Galette — our most traditional menu item — is found at every market in France. Our crêpes and galettes are as authentic as we can do, so they taste like home.
What parts of French culture felt most important to honour here?
We noticed immediately how different the ingredients were in Australia compared to France. It became essential to find the closest match possible — including butter. We use New Zealand butter for our crêpes; I think they have greener grass and fat cows like we do in Normandy! The buckwheat flour is imported from France to give the true dark brown colour and crispiness that a galette should have. That authenticity matters to us.
How do food and objects work together to tell a bigger story?
The café and antiques are intertwined. The café tables are antiques from France, and they’re for sale. The displays spill into the café. You’re immersed in the music, the smells, the chatter, the flavours. Customers often share their own stories — trips to France, favourite meals. French expats feel relieved being able to speak their language and feel culturally understood.
Of course, you do have to ignore the kangaroos and kookaburras, but that’s the beauty of the collaboration!
Our children are often here too, picking flowers, helping, playing. It’s become a story about community and shared experience.
What kinds of moments have stayed with you since opening?
We hosted a local school’s French class — 30 students nervously ordering their crêpes in French. They all did so well and came back for seconds.
We’ve had people travel just to buy an Orangina.
Previous owners of Bluebush Estate have returned just to see the café and shared beautiful stories of the property’s past.
It’s also been bittersweet selling pieces from our own French home: a stool from my art studio, a velvet armchair from a special party. The pieces carry memories. When Guillaume shows someone the hidden drawer in a cupboard or a pencil note on the back of a canvas, and the item sells, that story transfers to a new owner. That’s special.
How important is joy and leisure to the philosophy behind Café Brocante?
Very. The French say joie de vivre — joy of living. Taking in everyday moments. We embrace Australian coffee culture, yes, you can grab a quick flat white. But we also offer the moment to look up, notice the landscape, and watch a hot air balloon drift past. We don’t take it too seriously. Even our Instagram videos are meant to create small moments of joy.
What does a ‘good life’ look like to you right now?
We’re living it. We all work hard with passion and balance it with family time. On our days off, we head to Newcastle Beach for a swim.
A sunny day at the café feels like a dream. Rainy days? Well, that’s when the Paris-style hot chocolate shines.
The project itself is the good life — friends supporting each other, our kids playing together, artists and musicians dropping in. We’re grateful for every person who visits and comes back with friends.
Are there behind-the-scenes details that mean a lot to you?
I hand-painted the Café Brocante sign on the food truck, and my dad even shaped the timber. Guillaume and I meticulously clean, oil and repair every antique ourselves. We want these pieces to be loved for years to come. That care matters to us.
Looking ahead, how do you hope this evolves?
We hope people keep coming back. We have ideas for special events to deepen the French cultural experience. Mostly, we hope people make memories here. Sitting in the sunshine with loved ones, telling stories, laughing — that’s what matters.
Café Brocante & Pardon My French Antiques
196 Wilderness Rd, Lovedale NSW
Friday–Sunday, 7am–4pm
@cafebrocante.lovedale
@pardonmyfrench.antiques
