French Dining Etiquette: How to Eat Like a Local in France

What This Guide Covers

Whether you're ordering a quick café crème or sitting down for a long dinner, understanding the basics of French dining etiquette will help you feel more comfortable. You’ll learn how to greet your server, when to ask for the check, where to put your bread (not where you might think!), and what to expect from a typical restaurant experience.

For first-time Paris visitors and countryside explorers alike, understanding these unwritten rules creates space for genuine connection. When you know the rhythm of French restaurant service, you spend less time feeling awkward and more time savoring both exceptional cuisine and the cultural experience surrounding it.

We've gathered insights from decades of French dining experiences so you can relax at the table and focus on what matters: extraordinary food, memorable conversations, and the distinct pleasure of dining the French way.

Bon appétit!