Which French phrases matter most here?

“Vous êtes combien ?” (How many are you); “Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.” (A table for two, please); “Installez-vous où vous voulez.” (Sit wherever you like). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

French phrases for getting a table on a café terrace in France

At a café, say how many you are, “Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît”, then ask “On peut s'installer en terrasse ?”. Staff often answer “Installez-vous où vous voulez”. Ask “Vous avez le wifi ?” if you need it, and “L'addition, s'il vous plaît” when you’re ready to pay.

Try it · about two minutes

On a sunny afternoon you look for a free table outside a café and ask about the wifi and how late they’re open.

Sound on: the waiter speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Waiter
Vous êtes combien ?
How many are you?
You
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.
A table for two, please.
Waiter
Installez-vous où vous voulez.
Sit wherever you like.
You
On peut s'installer en terrasse ?
Can we sit on the terrace?
Waiter
Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?
What can I get you?
You
Un café noir, s'il vous plaît.
A black coffee, please.
Your drink arrives and you’d like to get online.
You
Vous avez le wifi ?
Do you have wifi?
Waiter
Tout se passe bien ?
Is everything all right?
You
Oui, merci. Vous fermez à quelle heure ?
Yes, thanks. What time do you close?
Waiter
Je vous apporte autre chose ?
Can I bring you anything else?
You
C'est tout, merci.
That’s all, thanks.

Which French phrases do you need?

Vous êtes combien ?
How many are you?
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.
A table for two, please.
Installez-vous où vous voulez.
Sit wherever you like.
On peut s'installer en terrasse ?
Can we sit on the terrace?
La table en terrasse est libre ?
Is the table on the terrace free?
Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?
What can I get you?
Vous avez le wifi ?
Do you have wifi?
Quel est le mot de passe du wifi ?
What’s the wifi password?
Je vous apporte autre chose ?
Can I bring you anything else?
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The bill, please.

What is worth knowing in France?

How a terrace works

1
Say “Bonjour” and how many you are. Staff will say if they want to seat you.
A table for two, please.
2
At many cafés you pick a free table yourself, then the waiter comes to you.
Can we sit on the terrace?
3
You usually pay at the table when you’re done: ask for l’addition. It doesn’t come on its own.
The bill, please.

Terrace or counter

Many cafés list one price for a drink at the counter and a higher one for the same drink at a table or on the terrace. The menu usually shows both.

Take your time

Order a drink and stay as long as you like: waiters usually won’t hurry you on a terrace. If you plan to work, ask about the wifi and closing time first.

Je peux rester travailler ici deux heures environ ?

Can I stay and work here for about two hours?

Questions about this situation

Which French phrases matter most here?: “Vous êtes combien ?” (How many are you); “Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.” (A table for two, please); “Installez-vous où vous voulez.” (Sit wherever you like). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in French

All situations in French

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

Try free on the App Store (opens the App Store in a new tab)

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.