Philippe, Melbourne

philipperestaurant.com.au

A colourful portrait of owner Philippe Mouchel’s mentor, Paul Bocuse, hangs on the wall of this so-Frenchy, so-chic private dining salon (which can accommodate up to 10 people) that’s removed in splendid isolation from the equally elegant main dining areas. The white wainscoting, gleaming metal pendant lights, gilt-framed mirror and pale-grey upholstered chairs are a study in pitch-perfect style, as is Mouchel’s classic-witha-twist French food.