What does brasserie mean?
A brasserie is a restaurant, typically French in style and character, that serves food and drink in a relaxed, often lively atmosphere. The word comes from the French term for brewery, reflecting its origins in the drinking establishments attached to breweries in nineteenth-century France, where beer was served alongside hearty food well into the night. Today, brasseries are found far beyond France, from London to New York, and are associated with generous portions, classic dishes such as steak frites and onion soup, long opening hours, and a convivial, unpretentious ambience. They sit somewhere between a casual café and a formal restaurant: more substantial and polished than a bistro, yet friendlier than fine dining. In English usage, 'brasserie' is a standard noun with the plural 'brasseries', and it carries pleasant connotations of continental charm and sociable eating.
nounA restaurant serving French food and drink, typically in an informal, lively setting and often open long hours; in France, originally a brewery or a bar attached to one.
- An informal French-style restaurant, often large and bustling, serving food and drinks throughout the day.
- (In France, historical) A brewery, or a drinking establishment attached to a brewery.
"We had a leisurely dinner at a Parisian brasserie near the Gare de Lyon."
"They lingered over steak frites at a classic brasserie on the Left Bank."
"The hotel's ground-floor brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily."
The English plural simply adds -s, matching the French spelling.
"The city's brasseries stay busy well past midnight."
The word 'brasserie' literally means 'brewery' in French — these beloved restaurants began as the drinking halls attached to beer breweries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brasserie
The word 'brasserie' was borrowed from French, where it means 'brewery'. It derives from the French verb 'brasser', meaning 'to brew', which itself traces back through Old French 'brace' ('malt') to Germanic roots also reflected in the English word 'brew'. Originally denoting breweries and their adjoining drinking halls in France, the term gradually came to describe the restaurants themselves before entering English in the late nineteenth century.
How brasserie is actually used
The plural is usually anglicized as 'brasseries', though the French plural 'brasseries' is identical in spelling; pronunciation of the final syllable varies between /-ri/ and a more French-influenced /ˈbræsəreɪ/.
Easily confused with brasserie
A brazier is a container for holding burning coal or fire, while a brasserie is a type of restaurant.