Open Toed Shoes or Sandels Not Allowed in French Restaruants?

You've never heard such a thing because it's not true. Why do people invent such nonsense?

maybe if you're working in the restaurant :) Ha, ha!

I never heard of it either. Maybe some of the real high-end Paris places could have such a restriction, but I can't imagine anyone else.

Smart to wear open-toed shoes on a painting holiday -- easier to wash the drips off your toes! ;-)

What I find amazing is that not one but two people in one group actually think that people are not allowed to wear open toed shoes or sandals in restaurants. Perhaps, they were thinking about flip flops as opposed to say for example, a pair of YSL Tribute sandals.

there are fancy restaurants with dress codes which might turn away trainers or flip flops -- even those are not going to turn away open toed pumps or fancy sandals. But if you are dining at a place like that you probably know not to wear slunge wear.

These? http://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?cid=60979&vid=1&pid=898919223
I could see some restaurants that would consider these as not meeting their dress code.

These?http://us.jimmychoo.com/en/women/shoes/ren-85/black-coarse-glitter-fabric-sandals-REN85CGF010003.html#start=1
Somehow I can't see any restaurant refusing anyone wearing these.

Extremes on both ends of the open toe shoe continuum. Unless the restaurant has a Michelin star hanging beside the door, I wouldn't worry overmuch.

Lesson: don't believe everything you hear.
I wore nice sandals into restaurants in Paris and all over France, but not in 4* high end restaurants.

I was thinking the same thing, if I was wearing strappy Jinmmy Choo's would I be turned away?
We are going to Le Gindreau, a Michelin 2-Star restaurant for one dinner, http://www.legindreau.com/fr/restaurant.
I really don't want to bring a third pair of shoes for this one evening. . . . :-/

heather, your Jimmy Choo's will be fine... 😂

Heather,
Do you think your friends are using this as a veiled way to tell you they do not think your sandals look good enough to wear to dinner? Of course, we can't judge, as we don't know what your sandals look like. But, if they are Earth Shoe looking, maybe they figured it would be better to (white lie) tell you that restaurants don't allow sandals than to say "You are NOT going to wear THOSEEEEEEE sandals to dinner with us, for goodness sakes." ????

If you don't feel comfortable, take a pair or ballet flats from Target.....they pack like almost nothing and are a good basic shoe to wear just about anywhere. I wear them with jeans or to a very dressy event where I know it will be too dark (or crowded) for anyone to really inspect my shoes :)
Flat and comfortable is good for walking many blocks or just a block or two in Paris. But, for heavy-duty touring, I prefer my Merrells or Arcopedico sturdier shoes....the Arcopedicos might pass at a nice restaurant (age has its advantages ;) , but not the Merrells with Velco straps :o

Have fun, and let us know how you enjoy your special dinner.

I can't imagine that a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals would elicit the "you're not wearing thoose" response unless it was from envy but the poster above may be on to something. What kind of sandals are you thinking of wearing to the restaurant? Flip flops? The answer is no. Beat up Birkenstocks? The answer is no? Semi-stylish "non Jimmy Choo" clean, open toe sandals? The answer is yes, you can wear them.

I wore a pair of expensive, leather platform sandals to lunch at the 3-star Grand Vefour a few years ago. No issue at all, and I was probably one of the better dressed people there.

The Grand Vefour is only a 2-star now. Perhaps they lost a star over allowing patrons with open-toe shoes.

Would these be the same restaurants that allow dogs (with bare feet)?

Not anywhere I have eaten in any county that I have been in, in the past 17 years. This includes, France, UK, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Austria and Germany. Usually, they are happy you are stopping buy to spend money.

If it were me, I'd be going to the restaurant where the barefooted dogs were!! ;)
Just kidding.

If I were walking all day, doing touristy things, in open-toed sandals, I know that my feet would be completely filthy.
If I were to go to eat anywhere - Michelin stars or not - I'd want to wash my feet before going to eat.

In Spain it can be bikinis and men with bare chests at the beachside restaurants. And proper restaurants with decent stemware and cloth napkins. Thankfully only body beautiful in my circles. Lol.

Do you think perhaps they misinterpreted something? For example, when you take a cooking class, you are generally advised not to wear open toed shoes in the kitchen for safety reasons.

Yes, perhaps Lost in Translation and ...
"you must have frogs legs"
became
"You must have toad shoes"

I think I saw, on the internet, news of an incident where a woman with open-toed shoes was told to get off a flight, and when she refused the airline personnel threatened to throw her in jail, and put her children into foster care. Really bad. But on second thought, maybe the issue was something other than open-toed shoes. Sorry, these various issues do get confusing.

You sure she wasn't just an elderly doctor?

I think I saw, on the internet,

This is always the start of something bad.

Larry, sharp wit award.