In France, the typical time for eating the main evening meal, known as dinner or ‘le dîner’, varies somewhat by region but generally falls between 7pm and 9pm. France enjoys a rich culinary tradition and the French dinner is often a leisurely, multi-course affair shared with family or friends. Understanding when and how the French eat dinner provides insight into the country’s culture and lifestyle.
When Do the French Eat Dinner?
Across most of France, dinner is eaten between 7pm and 8:30pm. This is considered the standard dinnertime in cities like Paris and is also common in most other regions. Here are some guidelines for when dinner is eaten in different parts of France:
- Paris & North: between 7pm and 8:30pm
- South of France: between 7:30pm and 9pm
- Southwest France: between 7:30pm and 9:30pm
- Brittany & Normandy: between 7pm and 8:30pm
Overall, the French tend to eat dinner later than their European neighbors. Countries like Spain and Italy also commonly sit down to dinner around 8pm to 9pm, while further north in Germany and Britain, 6pm or 7pm is more typical.
Why Do the French Eat Dinner So Late?
There are a few cultural factors that help explain why dinner is eaten later in the evening across France:
- Long lunch break – Lunch is the biggest meal of the day in France. French workers get an average 90 minute lunch break, which allows time for a leisurely 1-2 hour midday meal at home or at a restaurant. With a substantial lunch eaten late (around 12:30pm-2pm), dinner is pushed back.
- Afternoon snack – It’s common in France to have a mid-afternoon snack, such as pastries or bread. This holds hunger at bay until the late dinner hour.
- More daylight – France enjoys long summer days with daylight extending late into the evening, especially in the south. Late dinners take advantage of this light.
- Family meals – French families often gather for multi-course dinners, which requires some time in the evening to prepare and leisurely enjoy.
What Does a Typical French Dinner Look Like?
Dinner in France is considered the most important meal of the day. It is typically a sit-down, family affair that can last 1-2 hours or more. The traditional structure is:
- Apéritif – Drinks before the meal, such as pastis, champagne, or wine-based apéritifs.
- Starter (entrée) – Appetizers such as soup, salad, or charcuterie.
- Main course (plat principal) – Usually meat, fish, or poultry with vegetables.
- Salad – Green salad between the main and cheese/dessert.
- Cheese (fromage) – Served before or after dessert.
- Dessert (dessert) – Something sweet like crème brûlée or ice cream.
- Digestif – More drinks after eating, like Cognac or Armagnac.
In addition, dinner in France has an important social role. Good conversation is expected during long mealtimes shared with family and friends. The French generally avoid difficult topics like politics or money at the dinner table, preferring lighter and more pleasant discussions.
Dinner Traditions and Customs
Beyond just the food itself, French dinners involve certain customs and etiquette:
- Guests dress nicely, including jackets and ties for men.
- Punctuality is important. Guests should arrive within 10 minutes of the designated time.
- Hosts greet guests warmly with handshakes or cheek kisses.
- Meals are served in courses and eaten leisurely over discussion and wine.
- Bread is provided throughout the meal and often eaten between courses.
- The clinking of glasses is common before sipping wine as a table toast.
- Most meals end with coffee and possibly brandy or liqueurs.
Following these traditions allows foreigners to better fit into French dining culture during a shared dinner experience.
Dinner Times in Different Regions of France
While the overall dinner hour in France is between 7pm and 9pm, there are some slight regional differences:
Paris
- Typical dinner time: 7:30pm to 8:30pm
- Parisians often work long hours, so dinner is eaten later.
- Working couples may have dinner as late as 9pm to 10pm.
- Wealthier families dine closer to 8:30pm.
Nice & the French Riviera
- Typical dinner time: 8pm to 9pm
- The south enjoys long summer evenings well suited to late dinners.
- Later dining is also common in Coôte d’Azur resort towns.
Lyon
- Typical dinner time: 7:30pm to 9pm
- Known for its culinary traditions, Lyon embraces lengthy French meals.
- Blue-collar families eat on the early side, around 7:30pm.
Alsace
- Typical dinner time: 7pm to 8:30pm
- Proximity to Germany influences earlier dining than other French regions.
- Farming families in particular eat quite early, around 7pm.
Brittany
- Typical dinner time: 7pm to 8:30pm
- Colder climate brings earlier nights, so dinner is generally earlier.
- Seafood areas like Rennes tend to dine closer to 8pm.
So while the timing varies slightly, a leisurely dinner between 7pm and 9pm is standard across France. The French dinner experience is valued as much for its cuisine as for its social role in family life.
How Dining Times Differ Between France and Other Countries
Compared to its European neighbors, France eats dinner quite late. Here’s how French dinner times contrast with other countries:
| Country | Typical dinner time |
|---|---|
| France | 7pm – 9pm |
| Spain | 8pm – 10pm |
| Italy | 7:30pm – 9pm |
| UK | 6pm – 7pm |
| Germany | 6pm – 7pm |
Some key reasons for France’s later dining times compared to neighboring countries:
- Long French lunch hour leaves less daytime for an early dinner.
- Spain also has a late-lunch culture leading to late dinners.
- Northern Europe’s earlier dinners coincide with earlier dark evenings.
- Italy’s warmer climate allows for late dining like France.
So France’s famous late dinner hour is influenced both by its lunch culture and seasonal amount of daylight in the evening.
Changes in Dining Culture and Traditions
While late dinners are still commonplace, dining traditions in France have seen some changes in recent decades:
- Smaller family sizes mean more intimate, less formal dinners.
- Increased tourism influences earlier dining hours in some areas.
- Fast-paced modern life makes lengthy French meals challenging.
- Younger generations often eat quicker, casual dinners.
- Dining alone or in front of the TV is more common.
However, mealtimes and dining culture still remain important in French life. Sharing a long, well-prepared dinner with family or friends is still a core tradition, if not always on a daily basis.
Typical Dinner Menus and Dishes
Here are some classic dinner dishes and menus served in homes across France:
First Course
- Onion soup
- Salads with goat cheese (chèvre)
- Terrine and pâté
- Smoked salmon
- Mussels (moules)
- Oysters
Main Course
- Beef bourguignon
- Coq au vin (chicken braised in wine)
- Seafood (fish, scallops, shrimp)
- Confit de canard (duck leg confit)
- Cassoulet (white bean stew)
- Pork tenderloin with mushrooms
- Lamb or duck breast
Cheese Course
- Brie
- Camembert
- Roquefort (blue cheese)
- Goat cheese
Dessert
- Crème brûlée
- Chocolate mousse
- Crêpes
- Tartes (fruit tarts)
- Macarons
- Soufflés
- Profiteroles
The first and last courses tend to offer lighter fare, while the main course provides heartier sustenance. What ties a proper French dinner together is sharing several small dishes over many courses accompanied by lively discussion and local wine.
Dining Habits for Tourists and Expats
For tourists and expats visiting France, being aware of typical dining customs can help enrich the cultural experience:
- Expect dinner meals at restaurants to last 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Making reservations is recommended as restaurants may fill up.
- Dress nicely for going out to dinner.
- Arrive within a few minutes of the reservation time.
- Learn key dining phrases to interact with the waitstaff.
- Have some grasp of classic French dishes and menu terms.
- Understand how the multi-course structure works.
- Sample some iconic French wines to complement the meal.
Immersing yourself in the leisurely dining experience allows for a more authentic and enjoyable culinary adventure while visiting France.
Conclusion
The French dinner hour, typically between 7pm and 9pm across most of France, is a beloved tradition and centerpiece of family life. While specific timing varies by region, the multi-course dinner remains a cherished opportunity to enjoy France’s renowned cuisine. Tourists and expats can gain cultural insights by embracing the late, lengthy French dinner and its customs. With busy modern lifestyles making lengthy home-cooked meals challenging, the late shared dinner hour in France keeps alive a dining tradition that honors both food and social bonds.