South Kensington’s finest French offerings

This beautiful Art Deco cinema is part of the Institut Français, the government-backed organisation for promoting the French language worldwide. They offer regular screenings of French films – both new releases and classics – as well as other European films in translation. And each autumn they host a festival dedicated to French cinema.

The oldest French bookshop in London, it has been located in South Kensington since 1978. Within you will find the largest selection of French-language books in the city, as well as an extensive children’s section with comics and bilingual books for learners. The bookshop also hosts events with French authors and other writers from the Francophone world.

In a neighbourhood well-stocked with boulangeries and patisseries, this is one of the best. Frederic Vaucamps is a celebrated pastry chef from northern France and his signature dish is the small, delicate meringue known as a Merveilleux – made to a secret recipe. As well as several shops in France, they now have a range of international stores, all producing delicious desserts of the highest quality.

Chanteroy is an épicerie offering an impressive selection of French food. They opened their doors in 1998, serving both the local community, as well as many bars and restaurants with imported French products. Within you will find an exceptional range of cheese and dairy products, numerous pâtés and preserved meats, as well as seasonal favourites like Galette de Rois. They also prepare cakes on site and deliver for free to addresses across London.

Two of the neighbourhood’s best-loved French restaurants. First, the original Aubaine, which is still the company’s flagship venue, offering a traditional French menu available in a cool, contemporary setting. Meanwhile, Michelin-recommended Margaux provides classic European dishes made from fresh local ingredients. In addition, they have a popular bar serving a carefully selected range of outstanding Old World wines.