French President Emmanuel Macron has backed a call for the traditional French 'bistro' restaurant to be included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Speaking at the annual Galette des Rois celebration at the Elysée Palace on Monday, Macron said that the campaign for French bistros is "one that he wants to back", describing bistros as "at the forefront of this French expertise.”The Association of French Bistros and Cafés launched the campaign to have these establishments listed as UNESCO heritage sites back in 2024, arguing that "French bistros and cafés are guardians of time. A traditional French bistro - or bistrot - is a place where you can enjoy homemade dishes for reasonable prices along with alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. Many bistros also have a traditional or old-fashioned interior decor, intended to highlight the many years of history of the French bistro. These restaurants are, however, coming under pressure as the rising cost of living and the increasing popularity of fast food and food delivery apps mean that the French are dining out less.

Source: The Local January 07, 2026 16:41 UTC