Drinking in Paris

[ldjsue]

I am not a drinker. I don't enjoy alcohol and I know it is a large part of the french culture.
Will there be resentment if I am not ordering drinks at a restaurant?

[Oakglen]

If you are still feeling guilty about it, order a bottle of Badoit, a slightly aerated, bottled water, our favorite. They will make a nice profit on the water, albeit not comparable to wine markups.

[sunshine842]

Drinking in and of itself is not a large part of the French culture. Enjoying a nice pairing of food and wine is, though.

But no, if you don't want a cocktail or a glass of wine, don't order one. No one will even blink.

[Delucacheesemonger]

l drink, some of my friends do not, never noticed any difference in treatment when drink or not.

[PBSF]

No problem about not having alcohol. To stay within French custom, drink tap or bottle water with your meals. Save the tea or coffee for end of the meal, after the dessert. And the soft drinks if you are incline at cafes.

[ManInTransit]

Reviving an old thread what is the custom in Paris regarding water. In London pretty much all restaurants have come round to the view that they should serve tap water when the customer requests it. What is the situation in Paris in fine dining, classic bistros and fancy new wave bistros respectively?

[Maximilien]

(IMO, and that applies to a lot of places, not only Paris)

If ordering wine/alcohol, it is acceptable to ask for a simple "carafe d'eau" (tap water).

If not ordering wine/alcohol, I think it is acceptable to ask for simple tap water in bistrots/cafés, but for more formal restaurants, I'd order bottled water.

Some high-end restaurants do offer filtered water (from tap water).

[Delucacheesemonger]

Some is becoming a lot. Good moneymaker f they are charging 1-2 euros per bottle of still or gazeous reverse osmosis water. Actually works for me, l like bubbles, this was l pay a lot less than for Chateldon or whatever. l have been seeing this trend all around the world, interestingly enough first place l saw it was in tiny Harbor Island in the Bahamas 7 or so years ago.

[jock]

Actually I first saw it in Paris about five years ago. At Juveniles.

[DaTulip]

Not at all! You can order water anywhere. Coffee, tea, & your basic soft drinks are readily available too.

[forestd]

No, there will be no resentment.