For years, Maison Balzac has drawn shoppers to Bourke Street with its colourful glassware and homewares. This winter, however, regular visitors will notice something different. Nestled between hand-blown glasses and decorative pieces are shelves lined with French pantry staples, artisan olive oil, fresh bread, flowers and locally made treats. The temporary pop-up, known as MB Marché, has transformed the Surry Hills boutique into a neighbourhood grocer for just over a month.
Rather than stepping away from its design roots, the concept combines homewares with artisan food, reflecting Maison Balzac’s focus on everyday living. The market will run until 14 July, bringing together French pantry favourites and products from small Australian producers.
Maison Balzac founder Elise Pioch Chappell built the Australian homewares brand around everyday rituals, with glassware, table settings and decorative pieces inspired by French living. MB Marché extends that concept by pairing pantry staples with the brand’s homewares.
Instead of replacing the store’s signature collections, the groceries are displayed alongside Maison Balzac’s handmade pieces, allowing visitors to browse pantry essentials and homewares in the same visit. The market takes inspiration from the atmosphere of a traditional French neighbourhood grocery, where food and everyday living come together.
Curated Delights Worth the Visit
Much of the appeal comes from the carefully chosen mix of products rather than the sheer size of the market itself. Visitors will find bottles of Goldi olive oil and vinegar sitting harmoniously alongside Maison Balzac’s colourful glass vessels, while jars of Six Eyed Scorpion chilli crisp add another vibrant burst of colour to the displays. These Australian-made pantry staples have been selected because they reflect the exact same attention to detail that has become synonymous with the Maison Balzac brand. The dairy and condiment selection also highlights respected local makers who prioritise craftsmanship.
Pepe Saya butter, rich drinking chocolate, and decadent salted caramels share shelf space with Olsson’s flavoured salts, giving home cooks simple yet luxurious ways to elevated everyday meals. Fresh eggs sourced from a family farm in Coledale and jars of Mountain Mist honey supplied through the founder’s personal family connections add a lovely, grounded touch to the market.
Weekend shoppers have even more reason to stop by the boutique. Fresh sourdough from Tonton Bread in Newtown and seasonal flowers from Buds & Bowers are delivered specifically for the market, making it incredibly easy for locals to pick up bread, blooms, and premium pantry items in one single, inspiring visit.
Of course, authentic French favourites play an important role in the pop-up’s charm. Visitors can browse items including classic coquillettes pasta, tinned sardines, Orangina, and nostalgic sweets that are typically difficult to find in a regular supermarket. Together, this global and local selection creates a small, evocative taste of a Parisian corner shop right in the middle of Surry Hills.
Strengthening the Local Community Fabric
Independent retailers have long helped shape the distinct, vibrant character of Surry Hills. Local cafés, artisan bakeries, contemporary galleries, and design stores have made the suburb one of Sydney’s most walkable and celebrated destinations, where people frequently spend an entire morning wandering between independent businesses rather than heading straight to a commercial shopping centre.
MB Marché builds beautifully on that community culture by bringing together several independent Australian producers under one roof. Rather than creating a permanent grocery business, Maison Balzac has introduced a short seasonal experience that encourages people to explore local food makers while visiting one of the suburb’s best-known design stores.
This creative collaboration also gives smaller producers another valuable platform to introduce their artisanal products to new, appreciative customers. The concept perfectly reflects a broader global shift towards experience-led retail, where modern shoppers are looking for something far more personal than simply filling a basket.
While MB Marché will only be open until mid-July, it offers something genuinely different for anyone planning a weekend around Surry Hills. Whether visitors leave with a crusty loaf of sourdough, a bottle of premium olive oil, or one of Maison Balzac’s distinctive tinted glasses, the market celebrates the simple idea that good food and good design belong together.
Published 25-Jun-2026
