Paris loves its café terraces. Its neighbours have had enough
The pandemic-era terraces were meant to be temporary. Five years on, the city is trying to decide what to keep
On a mild evening the terraces of the ninth arrondissement are full by seven and loud by nine. For the people who live above them, that has become a problem with no closing time.
A proposed ordinance would require terraces on residential streets to close at 10pm and would cap their size at one and a half times the café's indoor floor space. Café owners say the rule would cost thousands of jobs.
The council votes next month.
