When I think about France here’s what comes to mind: the Eiffel Tower, museums like the Louvre, wine and of course food like cheese and baguettes. French cuisine is regarded as the best in the world. Americans appreciate this import as well considering French food is one of the most popular ethnic foods in the U.S.

If you’re planning to open up a French restaurant, you’ll need to start with a compelling name that sparks imagery the country. If you’re struggling for good ideas, not to worry. Below are hundreds of authentic French restaurant and cafe names to get you get started. Scroll down now.

French Restaurant Name Ideas

Trying to name a French restaurant is a bit hard compared to other cuisine. You need to come up with names that are absolutely fancy, which is a common way to describe these dishes. Below are suggestions to kick off the brainstorming process. 

• L’Opus au Château
• Au Revoir French Bistro
• Blanchette French Restaurant
• Black Sheep Brasserie
• Pistache French Bistro
• Bon Appétit Paris
• Le vent d’Armor
• Blue Moon Over Avila
• Le Canard Rouge
• Restaurant Ratatouille
• Cafe Bourgeois
• Brasserie Lyon
• Marseille Style
• Restaurant Bon Appétit
• The Parisian Eatery
• Flavors of Provence
• French Food Lounge
• Cafe Des Artistes
• Brasserie Paradis
• Le Bistro Urbain
• Sel et Poivre French Restaurant
• Creme de la Crepe
• Creamy Spoon French Bistro
• Derby House Diner
• Crêpes Sans Frontières
• Pierre’s Restaurant
• Le Ventre de l’Architecte
• French Crepe Co.
• Riche French Bistro
• Cafe Creme Coffee Shop and Restaurant
• Etoile Cuisine Et Bar
• Pascal’s On Ponce
• Croque Monsieur Cafe
• Là-Haut au Château
• L’Atelier du Jardin
• La Truffe Noire
• Restaurant La Fontaine
• Au Sommelier du Château
• La Vie French Restaurant
• Boulud Sud
• La Table de L’Espadon
• Aux Fourneaux
• Le Cochon Gaulois
• Le Petit Château
• Les Vignes Montpellier
• Canard and Champagne
• La Maison Blanche
• Brasserie Boris Montpellier
• Les Gars De La Marine
• Les Frites Brasserie
• Au Vieux Moulin
• La Fabuleuse Cantine
• Cafe Des Amis
• Burger et Ratatouille
• Savoir French Bistro
• French Omelette Cafe and Restaurant
• Le Dazzle Restaurant

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• Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe
• Gaspard de la Nuit
• La Terrasse Rouge
• Cuisine Bourgeoise
• D’Amour Cuisine
• Dijonaise Restaurant
• Divine French Dining
• Etoile Brasserie
• Foie Gras Fine Dining

French Bar Name Ideas

French menu.

Although the French don’t really love drinking beer, they do love their wine. So, if you’re opening up a French bar, you need to pair it with a good name. 

• Fringale Restaurant and Bar
• French Quarter Bar
• French Vintage Bar
• The Parisian Saloon
• La Marine Des Goudes
• Le Quai Gourmand de la Major
• Brasserie du Louvre
• Pescadou Café and Bar
• The Cottage
• Chez Monsieur
• Camilo’s California Bistro
• The French Table
• Stella Mare’s
• Les Grandes Tables de la Friche
• Noisette French Cafe and Bar
• Oh La La Cafe
• Salut French Cafe
• Amandine Patisserie and Bar
• Un Peu French Cafe
• A French Drunk
• Brasserie Les Halles
• Pastis Restaurant and Bar
• Brasserie Lazare Paris
• Les Saucisses Épicées
• La Baraquette
• The French Wish
• Anis et Canisses
• Paris Classics Cafe and Bar
• La Viande French Grill and Bar
• Pierrot Gourmet
• La Rue de Paris
• Le Bistrok Montpellier
• La Terrasse Rouge
• Le Restaurant des Rois
• La Chaise Bleue
• Les Petits Parisiens
• Le Bouche à Oreille
• Le Bistrot du Cuisinier
• Le Bistrot Gourmand
• Bistro Chardenoux
• Augustin Bistrot
• Thym Et Romarin
• Le Petit Nice Passedat
• Le Bistrot Saint-Sauveur
• Le Coupe Chou
• Brasserie Lipp
• Au Vieux Moulin
• French Vintage Cafe and Bar
• Bistrot le Valentino
• Moments de la rue
• Mimi’s Bistro and Bakery
• Au Gouter de Jeanne
• Le Bistro Du Panier
• The Nouvelle Bistro
• Le Brise Miche
• Le Bistrot Gourmand 
• L’Anguille sous Cloche
• Bourgeois Cafe and Bar
• Les Baux de Paris
• Le Bistrot du Port

French Cafe Name Ideas

French Cafe.

France is known for its dreamy cafes and bakeries with outdoor seating. Thinking about opening up a French cafe? If you focus on wine, coffee, and light meals these names are for you. 

• The French Beanery
• Flight to French
• Coffee A La French
• Via Emilia Garden
• Sante Restaurant and Cafe
• Chou Chou French Bistro
• The French Corner Cafe
• The Eiffel Cafe
• Qui plume la lune
• Taix French Country Cuisine & Cafe
• The Parisian Cafe
• Seven Park Place
• Les Petits Saints
• Mille Feuille Dessert Shop
• Les Fous de L’Ile
• Le Marvelous Cafe and Bistro
• Patisserie Boissiere Restaurant
• The French Barista
• Cafe Republique
• Blanchette French Cafe
• Cafe Aroma
• Quiche Cafe
• Pescadou Cafe and Bistro
• French Meadow Bakery Cafe
• Le Tire Bouchon
• Rendez-Vous Cafe Bistro
• Les Casseroles en Folie
• Noe’s Crepes Coffee and Tea
• Le Petit Jardin Cafe & Flowers
• Coutume Café
• The Caféothèque of Paris
• Le Café de France
• French Rose Cafe
• French Haute Cafe
• La Ferme de Mon Père
• Le Opera Bistro and Cafe
• Over the Counter Cafe
• Le Rouge Ardoise
• La Cuisine Au Beurre
• Chocolatine French Cafe
• Cafe Brioche
• Le Peloton Café
• Café de la Rotonde
• Les Deux Magots
• The Hood Paris
• Meet Me in Paris Cafe
• French Quarter Cafe
• Audrey French Bistro and Cafe
• C’est La Vie Bistro
• French Accent Bistro
• Le Fromage Cafe
• Les Vins Cafe
• Mimi’s Cafe
• Say Oui Cafe
• Nouveau Cafe and Restaurant
• Cafe Faim
• Cafe Sparrow
• Sucre Bakery and Cafe
• Vinaigrette Cafe
• Francophiles Cafe

Fancy French Restaurant Names

French Bistro.

If you’re looking to add more class into the name, here are a few French restaurant name ideas that scream fancy. 

• Au Revoir Mon Amis
• Binge Paris
• Bon Voyage Hunger
• French Escargots Bistro
• French Dip Bistro
• Carte Blanche Restaurant
• Charcuterie Bar and Grill
• Chef France Restaurant
• Chez Nous Restaurant
• Coq au Vin Restaurant
• Restaurant Tous
• Frites for All
• Restaurant Quai
• Canard and Champagne
• Royal Trinité
• Chez Monsieur
• Le Lion d’Or
• Les Arômes
• Au Vieux Comptoir
• The Fancy Frenchmen
• Le Bouchon
• L’Entrecôte
• The Four O Nine
• Le Sauvage
• Chez Bonne Bouche
• Chez Françoise
• La Poule au Pot
• La Broceliande
• Le Bistronome
• La Grande Brasserie
• Berry Hill Bistro
• Le Van Gogh
• 2 Potes au Feu
• La Caravelle
• Les Fables de La Fontaine
• Un Petit Cabanon – Joliette
• Le Petit Canon
• Bistro Chardenoux

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• Bistro Paradis
• La Petite Pépite
• Le Pavillon
• Les Bains de Montpellier
• Carlyle Restaurant
• L’atelier des vins
• Le Coup de Fourchette
• Porto Venere Montpellier
• Bistro Le Crillon
• Tapas La Picadita
• Le Petit Chalet
• Le Borgia – Restaurant Montpellier
• French Curves
• Au Boeuf Rouge
• La Bouteille d’Or
• Folie des Sens
• L’Atelier du Boeuf 
• Maison de Pierre
• La Table du Chef
• Brasserie des Châteaux
• Brasserie Le Tigre
• Brasserie l’Orléans
• Les Deux Garçons

Famous French Restaurants from Around the World

Outdoor seating.

Looking for some inspiration for your very own French restaurant? Scroll down got name examples from the most famous French restaurants in the world.

• Mirazur
• Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée
• L’Astrance
• Le Chateaubriand
• L’Arpège
• Le Baratin
• Mokonuts
• Le Servan
• Le Cadoret
• Café du Coin
• Clamato
• Septime
• Aux Bons Crus
• Maison
• L’Amarante
• Le Tagine
• Breizh Café
• Pho Tai
• Parcelles
• Eels
• Les Arlots
• Raviolis Chinois Nord-Est
• Shabour
• Frenchie
• Au Pied de Cochon
• KGB
• La Bourse et la Vie
• Le Maquis
• Juvenile’s
• l’Huîtrerie Régis
• Menkichi
• L’Assiette
• Mosuke
• Joséphine Chez Dumonet
• Le Grand Restaurant
• L’Arpège
• L’Epicure
• La Scene
• Restaurant David Toutain
• Chez L’Ami Jean
• Restaurant Arnaud Nicolas
• Le Bistrot Flaubert
• Comice
•  The French Laundry
• Odette
• Le Bernardin
• Balthasar
• France-Soir
• DB Bistro Moderne
• Atelier Crenn

Popular French Restaurant Menu Ideas

So, maybe you’ve already decided on a name for your French restaurant. But you’re having trouble developing the menu. French cuisine offers a variety of different dishes to consider. Here are some of the most popular French menu items you can use to begin formulating a menu. 

• Steak Frites
• Chicken Confit
• French Onion Soup or Soupe à L’oignon
• Bouillabaisse
• Salmon en Papillote
• Quiche Lorraine
• Croque Monsieur
• Boeuf Bourguignon
• Cassoulet
• Lamb Shank Navarin
• Hazelnut Dacquoise
• Frangipane Tart
• Tarte Tatin
• Souffle
• Paris-brest
• Moules Marinières
• Blanquette de Veau
• Steak Tartare
• Confit de Canard
• Pissaladière
• Fondue Savoyarde
• Tartiflette
• Coq au Vin
• Coquilles Saint-Jacques or Gratinées Scallops
• Escargots
• Foie Gras
• Crêpes
• Salade Niçoise
• Crème Brûlée
• Potatoes Dauphinoise
• Lamb Chops with a Cognac Dijon Cream Sauce
• Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Croque Madame
• Jambon-Beurre
• Lyonnaise Salad
• Concombre à la Menthe
• French Lentils with Dijon Vinaigrette
• Gougeres
• Palmiers
• Caneles
• Cherry Clafoutis
• French Coconut Pie
• Passion Fruit and Lemon Meringue Tartlets
• Pear Tart
• Strawberry Fraisier with Lillet Chiffon Cake
• Poire Avec Orange
• Profiteroles
• Mousse Au Chocolat
• Chicken Basquaise
• Barigoule of Spring Vegetables
• Alsatian Bacon and Onion Tart or Tarte Flambée
• Cinnamon Apple Bostock
• Basque-Style Fish with Green Peppers and Manila Clams
• Cherry Gâteau Basque
• Steak Diane
• Pain au Chocolat
• Frozen Chocolate Mousse or Marquise au Chocolat
• Seafood Soup with Ginger and Yuzu Kosho
• Crepes Suzette
• Salmon Rillettes

How to Come Up with Your Own French Restaurant Name?

Outside a French Cafe.

It’s one thing to name a restaurant, but naming a French restaurant is going to be a challenge. You need to consider how you can effectively represent those fancy French words into something that’s memorable to customers. Here are some best practices for coming up with a name. 

Does Your Business Name Really Matter?

First of all, you need to ask yourself, does the name itself really matter when it comes to business? Well, the answer is resounding yes. A name can really make or break a business, especially a restaurant or food truck. This is because it can play a major role when it comes to the perception of the food you sell.

The name is the first point of contact for your customers, competitors and employees. Essentially, having the proper name can make marketing a restaurant easier. 

With that said however, you also need to remember that the name is just one of the many factors that you need to consider when it comes to attracting customers. You also need to provide offer fair prices, quality products, convenient location, good/friendly atmosphere, and advertising. 

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Determine Your Target Audience

Determining your target audience is one of the key strategies that businesses apply to make themselves successful. Nevertheless, doing so is a hard task when it’s natural to want literally everyone to enter your establishment. 

Identifying your ideal customer and target market will help you define your brand. On top of that, knowing your target will help you generate personalized marketing campaigns that resonate with customers. Also, this will help you create fair pricing and store hours.

Steak frites.

Start with a Location-based Name

When you are trying to come up with a name, we suggest that you try adding the location of your restaurant. For example, you can use 47th Street Delicatessen, Eastern Corner French Bistro, La Rue de Paris, etc. This will become much easier if your restaurant’s location is in a rural area or well-known street in your town.

The Shorter the Name, The Better (Generally speaking)

When naming any business or brand, it’s best to keep it short and simple. Why? Shorter names are easier to remember. Having a long name (especially if it contains French words) can be difficult to remember and spell for an American audience.

Make Sure that the Name is Unique

Of course, you would want your restaurant to have a unique name. This will avoid making it lost among other establishments that have the same name or have a name that sounds the same as yours. You want to stand out. 

Aside from that, coming up with a unique name will save you from a ton of headaches when it comes to legal issues that can arise from trademark infringement. As a first step to avoid this issues check Google to see if the name idea is already being used by another restaurant. This is a low-effort and fast way to make sure you’re not heading down the wrong path with your restaurant’s brand name.