bistro
Americannoun
-
bistros
plural
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a small, modest, European-style restaurant or caf é.
-
a small nightclub or restaurant.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bistro
1920–25; < French bistro ( t ), originally argot, first attested in the sense “proprietor of a tavern” (1884); of obscure origin
Compare meaning
How does bistro compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A bistro is a cozy little restaurant. The word comes from Paris, of course, but there are bistros all over the world. Bistros started in the boarding houses of Paris, where landlords would serve food to the public in order to make some extra money. The history of the word itself is slippery, but it might be related to the French word bistouille, slang for “bad alcohol.” Or maybe the Russians brought it when they wanted food bystra, or fast. Who knows? We do know that a bistro is a small restaurant that grown-ups like. There’s no room for crayons.
Vocabulary lists containing bistro
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
According to city records first reported by Santa Monica Daily Press, the Victorian will be converted into a members club including a pool, spa, fitness center and coffee bistro.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
We're speaking in the middle of the same crowded bistro, where maracas, horns, matracas, and chants almost drown out our conversation.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
A solution ex machina prevented it from closing, but instead of maintaining the status quo, everybody committed to leveling it up to a Michelin star-worthy bistro.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
Soon the peddlers men gave up on coal and the bistro was born—created not by Parisians, but by Aveyronnais immigrants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
We showered, put on such clean clothes as we could muster, and eagerly repaired to a popular nearby bistro called the Georgia Mountain Restaurant.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
To do so, I stay away from bistros in fancy neighborhoods, which charge too much and often cook up mediocre food.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
In return, Europe offers inexpensive healthcare, walkable cities dotted with sidewalk bistros and co-working spaces where English has displaced the local tongue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
The wrap that has quietly risen to ubiquity in café fridges, trendy bistros and airport grab-and-go kiosks.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2025
But for the mom-and-pop shops in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades — the dry cleaners, tattoo parlors, bars, bistros and stores that sold antiques, flowers, books, pottery and macaroons — the devastation is more personal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2025
In Paris, our cab let us off in the Marais district, a place of narrow streets and sidewalks, of bistros, shops, and small hotels.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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