Café / Tabac / Bistro price decoder

A Parisian café menu has three price tiers for the same espresso: comptoir (counter), salle (interior table), terrasse (outdoor seat). The same coffee can cost €1.20 or €4.50 depending on where you sit. This tool decodes the menu and tells you where to sit.

Step 1 — Decode the price tier you're looking at

Item on the menu

Where you'll be

Arrondissement or area

What this tool actually solves

French cafés and bars display the same drink at three prices: counter (cheapest), salle (interior table), terrasse (outdoor). The price step is usually 20–60% between tiers — terrasse can be 2× the comptoir price for the same espresso. Tourists almost always sit on the terrasse and pay 2× without realising.

A few shortcuts:

Counter: stand or use one of the 5–8 bar stools. The cheapest price. Service is "self" — the barman hands you the cup, you drink standing up.
Salle: sit at a table inside. The middle price. Full service, server brings the drink.
Terrasse: outdoor seating. The most expensive. Often includes a discretionary "service compris" line.
Note: there's no obligation to sit in a particular zone if you ask the barman. If you ask for a "café, sur place" (at the bar), you pay comptoir. The moment the server comes to your table, you pay salle.

How to read the result

The result shows the typical 2024-2026 price for the chosen item, location and arrondissement tier. The "if you sit outside" line shows the 50–100% extra you'll spend for the privilege.

Limitations

Price ranges are 2024–2026 averages in € for the listed areas. Montmartre Place du Tertre can charge €6–€8 for an espresso on the terrasse — far above the median. Paris café terrace increases have outpaced inflation ~3% per year since 2020.

FAQ

Are the prices different at the time of writing?

They are different in the sense that a Parisian café typically raises espresso prices 2–4% per year, and is on average 8% above the 2024 baseline in 2026. Some neighbourhoods have grown faster (Marais, 11e).

What's the minimum I have to order?

There is no legal minimum in France. But many cafés enforce a "one drink per person per hour" floor on terrasse tables, and a few brasseries enforce a minimum spend. If you sit down, ordering just an espresso is fine — a polite "service compris" line will appear, but you won't be forced to order food.

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Disclaimer

Estimate only. Café prices vary widely.