French Script for Visiting a Cafe
If you are planning a trip to Paris or anywhere else in France, you are almost certain to visit a cafe! And if you’re anything like me, the simple act of visiting a cafe in a foreign country can be scary, especially if you don’t speak the language.
Well, don’t worry. I made this step-by-step guide specifically to hold your hand through the experience of visiting a cafe in France. Read this through one time (approx. read time is 7 min 47 sec) and then bookmark it so you can quickly access it when you go to the cafe!
Anytime you travel to another country, it is best to at least try to speak the local language, even if your grammar or pronunciation is not fantastic. This is especially true in Paris. Many tourists (ahem, Americans, ahem) visit Paris expecting everyone to speak English, which can be viewed as more than a little egocentric and lead to some unfriendly encounters with Parisiens. If you don’t want to be lumped in with this particular crowd of tourists, learning a few phrases in French can go a long way in getting on Parisien’s good sides.
Your French doesn’t need to be perfect for people to understand you, and chances are, a French person will hear you struggle your way through a French phrase, assume you are a foreigner, and switch to English without you even asking. The fact that you tried is enough to win some brownie points.
Understandably, however, trying to speak a foreign language can be daunting. Conversations can go any which way. So I wrote up a little script for an experience you’re bound to encounter if you visit France- visiting a cafe! I am by no means a fluent French speaker, but these phrases have seen me through countless cafe/ restaurant visits. Often, my server even speaks to me in French the whole time, meaning I passed as “fluent enough” in their eyes (a huge honor).
This guide will help prepare and guide you through an unfamiliar situation and hopefully put you more at ease for the next time you visit a French cafe.
This build-your-own-adventure script is for my socially anxious folks, people pleasers, overthinkers, perfectionists, or anyone who wants to make a good impression and practice their French skills.
In this step-by-step guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know before visiting the cafe and walk you through an example visit to a cafe, providing you with French phrases and English translations.
VISITING A CAFE- THINGS TO KNOW
Before you visit a cafe, there are a few things you should know to avoid any surprises during your visit:
Bonjour!
It is customary and polite to start any introduction with another person by saying, “Bonjour!” This starts your interaction off on the right foot.
Sitting Inside vs. Sitting Outside
In France, inside seating is typically reserved for people who are going to be eating a meal (brunch, lunch, dinner). If you’re only planning on getting drinks (“boissons”) (be it coffee or cocktails), plan to sit outside!
Specifying Tap Water
Some cafes/ restaurants will charge you for the water they provide- usually fancy Evian water. If you want to avoid this fee, ask for “une carafe d’eau”- this is tap water and it’s free.
Expresso vs. Coffee
In France, an expresso is called “un café” (Espresso) and a regular coffee is called “un café allongé” (Americano) or “un café filtre” (Filter coffee).
No Takeout Boxes
Cafes and restaurants do not typically provide takeout boxes for your food like they do in America. However, the portion sizes are considerably smaller, so you likely won’t need one in the first place.
Tipping Culture
Tipping in cafes and restaurants in France is not mandatory or expected the way it is in America, as service charges are normally included in the bill. However, if you are pleased with your experience and want to leave a tip, go for it! A customary tip, or “un pourboire” is usually around 5-10% of the total bill.
GOING TO THE CAFE (SCRIPT)
General Phrases~
Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?)
Oui (Yes)
Non (No)
Excusez-moi (Excuse me)
Pardonnez-moi (Forgive me/ excuse me)
S’il vous plaît (Please)
Merci (Thank you)
Merci beaucoup (Thank you very much)
D’accord (Okay)
Un moment, s'il vous plaît (One moment, please) ← If you’re not ready to order yet
Où sont les toilettes (Where are the toilettes?)
GETTING A TABLE
Introduction
[You arrive at a cafe and get the attention of one of the servers. Greet them with “Bonjour” and ask for a table- inside if you would like a meal and outside if you’d just like drinks (or simply want to sit outside)]
You:
Bonjour! (Hello!/ Good Morning!)
Bonsoir (Good evening)
Une table pour un/deux, s'il vous plaît (A table for one/two, please)
Une table en terrasse, s'il vous plaît (A table outside, please)
Une table à l'intérieur, s'il vous plaît (A table inside, please)
Server:
Pour déjeuner ou boissons? (For lunch or drinks?)
You:
Pour déjeuner (for lunch)
Pour boissons (for drinks)
[The server will seat you at one of the tables.]
Alternatively
[You arrive at a cafe and see a table free outside. You get the attention of the server and ask them if you can sit there]
You:
Bonjour! (Hello!/ Good Morning!)
Bonsoir (Good evening)
C’est possible pour un/deux? (Is it possible for one/two) ← a polite way of asking if a certain table is free for you to sit at
Server:
Oui (Yes)
Non (No)
Ordering
[The server comes up to your table to take your order and you can either ask for another moment or give them your order]
Server:
Êtes-vous prêts à commander (Are you ready to order?)
You:
Ah, un moment, s’il vous plaît (One moment, please) ← Indicates you need more time
Oui (Yes {optional}), Je voudrais le/la/les… (I would like the…{Insert order here}) ← You can always point to the menu as you order to help them understand you better
Avez-vous… (Do you have…)
La même chose pour moi, s’il vous plaît (The same thing for me, please) ← You can say this if you’d like to order the same thing as the person who ordered before you
Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît (A carafe of water, please) ← This is tap water that you do not have to pay for
[At the end of ordering, thank your server to keep things polite]
You:
Merci! (Thank You!)
Receiving Food
[Your server will bring out your drinks/food. At this point, ask for anything else you might want and/or thank them, and enjoy your order!]
You:
Excusez-moi, je voudrais… (Excuse me, I would like…)
…du sel et du poivre, s'il vous plaît (salt and pepper, please)
…du ketchup, s'il vous plaît (ketchup, please)
Merci (Thank you)
Finishing Up
[When you are ready to wrap up your experience and leave, tell your server that you would like the bill to indicate that you are finished]
You:
Excusez-moi? L’addition s’il vous plaît (Excuse me? The check please)
[Your server may or may not reply verbally, but here are some things they might say if they do:]
Server:
Avez-vous fini? (Have you finished?)
Êtes-vous prêt à payer? (Are you ready to pay?)
You:
Oui (Yes)
Oui, merci (Yes, thank you)
Alternatively
[Alternatively, your server may notice that you have finished your meal and ask you if you are ready to start finishing up]
Server:
Avez-vous fini? (Have you finished?)
Êtes-vous prêt à payer? (Are you ready to pay?)
You:
Oui, merci (Yes, thank you)
Oui, l’addition, s’il vous plaît (Yes, the check please)
Merci beaucoup (Thank you very much)
[The server will likely clear the plates and eventually return with your bill]
Paying the Bill
[When paying the bill, the server will typically bring you the check, then return later to take your payment. At most cafes, they have portable card readers, so you can pay right at your table with your credit/ debit card. Otherwise bring your check to the bar/ reception area to pay. You can also pay with cash if you prefer]
Server:
Voici votre addition (Here is your bill)
Vous payez en espèces ou par carte? (Are you paying in cash or by card?)
You:
Par carte (By card)
En espèces (With cash)
Splitting the Bill
[If you are with other people, your server may ask if you would like to split the bill. If they don’t, you can also ask yourself]
Server:
Comment souhaitez-vous diviser l'addition? (How do you want to divide the bill?)
You:
Par deux/trois, s’il vous plaît (by two/three, please) ← This will take the total sum of the table’s bill and divide it by the number of people (two/three)
[It may also be helpful/ polite to do the math on your phone and present it to your server as you say this^)
Alternatively
[If your server does not broach the subject of splitting the bill, you can bring it up yourself)
You:
On partage par deux/trois, s’il vous plaît (We split by two/three, please) ← This is a common, casual way to ask to split the bill by two/three
Paying with Card
[If you are paying with a card, your server will likely punch in your total and then ask you to present your card by holding out the machine to you. Then they may ask if you’d like your receipt]
Server:
Pouvez-vous présenter votre carte, s'il vous plaît (Can you present your card please?)
Voulez-vous le ticket de caisse (Would you like the receipt) ← “Ticket” means receipt
You:
Oui, merci (Yes, thank you)
Non, merci (No, thank you)
Paying with Cash
[If you are paying with euros, hand your money to the server. If you are not paying the exact amount of the bill, they will likely take the money and return with your change. If they do not, they may ask you if you’d like change, or you can indicate that you do not need change]
Server:
Vous désirez la monnaie? (Would you like change?)
You:
Oui, merci (Yes, thank you) ← Wait for your change…
Non, merci beaucoup (No, thank you very much) ← This indicates that you are wrapping up your time at the cafe
Non, gardez la monnaie (Non, keep the change)
Non, c’est bon, merci (Non, It’s good/ keep it, thank you)
Alternatively
[If you are paying with cash and specifically do not want change- for example, if you are leaving a tip- give them the money and let them know!]
You:
Gardez la monnaie (keep the change)
C’est bon (It’s good/ keep it)
Goodbyes
[You do not need to leave the cafe/ restaurant immediately after paying the bill, although you might opt to say goodbye to your server when you have paid since they might not come around to check on you anymore. When you are ready to leave, thank your server/ the waitstaff and wish them a good day!]
You:
Merci beaucoup! (Thank you very much)
Bonne journée, au revoir! (Have a good day, goodbye!) ← The most common way to say goodbye to people, whether at a cafe, grocery store, school, anywhere
Bonne soirée, au revoir (Have a good evening, goodbye!) ← The same as above, but used in the evening instead of the daytime
[Make sure you collect all your belongings and head back out into the world!]
Congratulations! You successfully visited a French Cafe!
Come back and reference this guide anytime, and eventually, you may just memorize the phrases you need to visit a French cafe without it.
If there are any other French scenarios you would like a script for or any other blog topics you would like to see, leave me a message in my “Contact Me” box! I would love to hear from you.
Happy travels and scrappy trails!
