Don't expect Parisian cafés to be like your local coffee shop — they're about more than getting a caffeine fix.

In Paris, you can sit at a café and relax for hours.

Kyra Alessandrini

Cafés are an essential aspect of Parisian culture, and there are few better places to romanticize your life. So when you're in the French capital, sit down at one of the outdoor terraces, sip on an espresso, and people-watch for as long as you'd like. 

In the morning, most cafés serve breakfast, which often consists of a sliced baguette, warm tea or coffee, and juice. At night, some turn into bars.

Don't expect Parisian cafés to be the same as your coffee shop at home. Here, you'll rarely find to-go cups, non-dairy milk, or specialty drinks like lattes or iced coffees. 

If you order a coffee in Paris, expect your waiter to hand you an espresso. For those who don't drink black coffee, request milk in your coffee by asking for a "café crème" or a cappuccino.

Tourists can still get their familiar to-go cups and lattes at coffee chains, which have larger menus catered to international travelers.