I've been told that you can tell what kind of food a cafe serves by the color of the awning & umbrellas. Is this so? What do the colors mean?
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
I've never heard Rick Steves mention this, and have consulted many French travel websites since 2001, and have never heard of it. My guess is that this is not correct. And yes, you can always check the menu outside.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
689 posts
I've eaten in tons of Paris cafes and never heard that. But, you don't need to guess via color coding anyway. France requires restaurants to post their menu. You should be able to walk up to any place and find a menu on a window or chalkboard. If you don't see it just ask. Remember that menu is "la carte"--"menu" actually refers to a multi course menu. So if you ask for the menu rather than la carte you will get more than you bargained for.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Urban myth. Forget it.
Umbrellas and awnings are largely provided free by booze peddler since they carry advertising.
Color is liquor logo color or whatever was cheapest the day they were made -- or what former owner's wife thought was cute.
Posted by
OP
galt, USA
16 posts
Thanks, apparently my friends tour guide was pulling her chain!
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Probably. Tour guides (even some who post here)can be notorious for that!
Posted by
Northbrook, Illinois, USA
303 posts
Gosh, I've been there 5 times and never heard that.