In this very ritualized food culture, eating on the go—either in the street or on the Metro—is frowned upon. You may even get a judgy bon appétit from a local if you’re spied eating on the street. So, while you’re visiting, embrace sanctifying food the Parisian way. There are few more delicious joys than a long, lazy lunch on a sunny bistro terrace.
If you can’t adjust to the French meal times (or just arrive into town during that awkward period between lunch and dinner), Bonte of French Side Travel suggests looking for a restaurant with “service continu” on the window. It means that spot doesn’t close the kitchen between lunch and dinner, and you can sit down for something to eat at any time they’re open. “For example, you could consider the beloved Au Pied de Cochon,” Bonte says. “It’s open 7 days a week and only closes for three hours between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.!”
8. Apéro is a way of life
Americans may be familiar with the concept of pregaming at a bar or friend’s house before a night out or sporting event. But in Paris, they favor the apéritif, more commonly abbreviated to apéro: a social after-work/pre-dinner drink accompanied by snack food, such as a glass of wine and charcuterie board. Many bars in Paris have happy hours (they use the English term) to accompany the tradition from as early as 5 p.m. and late as 8 p.m. You can also have an at-home version with wine from your local caviste (wine shop). Every supermarket has an apéro section close to the entrance where you can pick up dips, olives, crisps and so on.
A classic French apéro may include a glass of wine and charcuterie board enjoyed with friends outside on a terrace.
Getty Images
9. Don’t expect coffee-to-go culture
Parisians usually enjoy their coffee seated at a café, says Bonte of French Side Travel. “While today you can find some takeaway cups, this tends to be in specialty cafés, while most of the locals will enjoy their coffee sur place,” he says. While in Paris, take the time to savor your coffee and take part in the national pastime of people watching on the terrace. “But don’t worry, smoking isn’t required!” Bonte says.
10. Respect the importance of aesthetics
The whole design of Paris, with its elegant Haussmann sandstone facades, basically puts beauty before practicality. An example: Parisians are not allowed to hang laundry on their balconies as it will affect the look of the buildings. This push for aesthetic perfection extends to clothing, too, and Parisians tend to favor the pared-down and tasteful. According to this approach, any sartorial choice that prioritizes practicality to the detriment of beauty may well be judged by the locals, so if you really want to blend in, it’s best to eschew the likes of big, clunky backpacks, sensible wide-rimmed sun hats, comfortable walking sandals etc. However, you may decide you simply don’t care about these exacting local codes, and that’s just fine. For more fashion tips, see our full guide on what to wear in Paris.
11. Watch and learn for queueing etiquette
British reader, please take three deep breaths and keep your pearls close for clutching. The queuing style in Paris is simply incomparable to the type of exemplary in-line behavior we might expect in Blighty. And while New York subway etiquette requires you let the passengers off the train first, on Parisian buses and metros, it’s a free-for-all, without much waiting for passengers to alight before climbing aboard. In shops, queues do form but are unpredictable in flow. It’s not always clear who has priority and navigating the system requires a certain level of assertiveness and boundaries: being overly polite won’t get you anywhere. Watch and learn the locals in each scenario to gauge what is best to do in each situation.
