The verdict at a glance
| Cliché | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Parisians wear berets | False |
| They stroll around with a baguette under their arm | True |
| Parisians are rude | False |
| Everyone speaks English, or nobody does | It depends |
| A croissant for breakfast every morning | It depends |
| Paris is dirty | It depends |
| The life of Emily in Paris | False |
| Nobody eats dinner before 8 pm | It depends |
| There are cafés everywhere | True |
| Waiters ignore you | It depends |
| Everyone smokes | False |
| Paris empties out in August | It depends |
Verdicts established in October 2026 from the facts cited below.
1. Parisians wear berets: false
Verdict: False. The beret is a traditional hat from the south-west of France, associated with Béarn and the Basque Country, not a Parisian trademark. On the streets of the capital you rarely see one, mostly on older people or as a fashion accessory; tourists wear them more than locals do. The cliché owes a lot to posters and postcards of the last century. Tip: if you buy one as a souvenir, no Parisian will laugh at you, but don't expect to go unnoticed.
2. The baguette under the arm: true
Verdict: True. According to the Observatoire du Pain, France eats 320 baguettes per second, more than 6 billion a year, which works out at roughly half a baguette per person per day. The artisanal know-how of the baguette has been on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list since 2022. So yes, you really do see Parisians heading home with their bread under their arm, especially at the end of the day. Tip: visit a neighbourhood baker, ask for a "tradition" rather than an ordinary baguette, and see our best bakeries in Paris.
3. Parisians are rude: false
Verdict: False, with a caveat. Parisians live in a dense, fast-paced big city and do not always smile at strangers in the street; that is reserve, not rudeness. The rules of politeness are simply a little different: you say "Bonjour" when entering a shop before making any request, and "Merci, au revoir" when leaving. Skipping it comes across as rude. Tip: greet first, then ask, and most exchanges turn warm. The details are in our guide to rules and etiquette in Paris.
4. Everyone speaks English, or nobody does: it depends
Verdict: It depends. According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, France ranks 38th worldwide with a "moderate" level of English (score of 539), up 11 places on the previous year; it is a voluntary test, so only a rough indicator. In hotels, museums and tourist restaurants English is widespread; in a neighbourhood café, at a baker's or at an administrative counter, much less so. Tip: start with "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais ?" rather than launching straight into English: the effort is appreciated and the exchange gets off to a better start.
5. A croissant for breakfast every morning: it depends
Verdict: It depends. Many Parisians have a quick breakfast on weekdays (coffee, toast, cereal, yoghurt) and keep the croissant for the weekend or a special occasion. On the other hand, a croissant and coffee at a café counter or from a bakery remains a very common ritual for people who work close to home. Tip: for a good breakfast, choose a bakery that makes its pastries on site and try a butter croissant; our selection is in the best bakeries in Paris.
6. Paris is dirty: it depends
Verdict: It depends. The city's services clean the streets, but a dense capital that welcomes millions of visitors inevitably has overflowing bins, grubby pavements after a market or a weekend night out, and a few neighbourhoods harder hit than others. The impression changes a lot from one arrondissement to the next, and often you only need to cross a boulevard to see the difference. Tip: look up as much as down: the façades, the rooftops and the parks make the city's image too. For other peace-of-mind questions, see our guide Is Paris safe?.
7. The life of Emily in Paris: false
Verdict: False. The series is fiction: the settings are real Parisian places, but the heroine's apartment, working rhythm and social life are in no way representative of an ordinary resident's life. Parisians mostly get around by metro, often eat lunch near their office and do not live in a postcard setting. Tip: use the series as a map of places to visit, not as an instruction manual; our list of films and series shot in Paris shows which addresses you can actually see.
8. Nobody eats dinner before 8 pm: it depends
Verdict: It depends. Parisians tend to dine between 7:30 pm and 9 pm, and many restaurants reopen for dinner at 7 or 7:30 pm after the afternoon break. A table at 6 pm is often possible in brasseries and tourist restaurants, but you may be among the very first customers. Many families with children eat earlier at home. Tip: book, especially at weekends, and check the evening service hours before you set out, because many places close between services.
9. There are cafés everywhere: true
Verdict: True. Cafés and terraces are part of the landscape in most neighbourhoods: you drink an espresso at the counter, meet friends, read a newspaper. Terraces with a famous setting cost more than neighbourhood cafés: you pay for the surroundings as much as for the cup. Tip: a coffee taken standing at the counter generally costs less than one sitting in the dining room or on the terrace; our addresses are in the best cafés in Paris.
10. Waiters ignore you: it depends
Verdict: It depends. French-style service is less demonstrative: the waiter does not check on you every five minutes, does not bring the bill unprompted and assumes you can stay at your table as long as you like. This is not indifference but another way of leaving customers in peace. Tip: catch their eye, raise a hand or say "S'il vous plaît", and ask for the bill when you are ready. Service is included in the prices: see our guide to tipping in France, and to avoid nasty surprises, tourist traps in restaurants.
11. Everyone smokes: false
Verdict: False. According to the Santé publique France barometer, 24% of adults aged 18 to 79 said they smoked in 2024, 17.4% of them daily, the lowest level ever recorded. Smoking has been banned in Paris parks and gardens since 29 June 2025, as well as in enclosed places and enclosed terraces; open terraces remain allowed. The image of smoky terraces therefore no longer matches reality in a great many places. Tip: if smoke bothers you, choose a table inside or the right side of the terrace; all the rules are in our guide Can you smoke in Paris?.
12. Paris empties out in August: it depends
Verdict: It depends. Some Parisians go on holiday in summer, some neighbourhood shops, independent restaurants and bakeries close for one to four weeks, and residential districts are quieter. But the city does not empty: tourists arrive, museums and major sights stay open, and Paris Plages opens the riverbanks. Tip: check the summer hours of specific addresses before you head out; weather, events and closures are detailed in our guide what to do in Paris in August.
Going further
Clichés are fun, but the best way to check them is to take a stroll. To prepare your stay, see rules and etiquette in Paris, Is Paris safe? and the best cafés in Paris. Facts observed in October 2026.
