bistro
noun
bis·tro
ˈbē-(ˌ)strō 
ˈbi-
ˈbi-
plural bistros
1
: a small or unpretentious restaurant
2
a
: a small bar or tavern
b
Synonyms
Examples of bistro in a Sentence
a bistro in Paris that serves veal chops and hearty stews
a section of the city populated with casual bistros offering entertainment to suit nearly every taste
Recent Examples on the Web
How to get the look: Idiosyncratic art, bistro glasses, a trad lantern.
—
Sean Santiago, ELLE Decor, 8 Sep. 2023
Dine in the elegant turn-of-the-century main dining room or reserve a table in the jazz bistro with live jazz music overlooking Bourbon Street.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2023
Since the region is known for its seafood, grab lunch in an Old Town bistro before gearing up for an afternoon of sightseeing.
—Elly Leavitt, House Beautiful, 21 Aug. 2023
The menu brings together soul food, Southern classics, New Orleans specialties, and upscale bistro fare.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
There are huge markdowns on outdoor seating right now, including this bistro dining set, which is 66 percent off.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 12 July 2023
Buy It: Onn. 32-inch Class HD LED Roku Smart TV, From $98 (was $144), Walmart Best Target Fourth of July Deals Incandescent Outdoor String Lights Restaurant-level bistro lighting unlocked!
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2023
Mezzanine Bistrot, the museum’s casual natural wine bar and bistro, is overseen by the sommeliers from Venice’s popular Vino Vero.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 30 Aug. 2023
At La Grille, a bistro hangout for over 40 years that nearly went bust as Covid hit, a dozen new employees have been hired to tend to the growing crowds.
—Liz Alderman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
Sean Santiago, ELLE Decor, 8 Sep. 2023
Dine in the elegant turn-of-the-century main dining room or reserve a table in the jazz bistro with live jazz music overlooking Bourbon Street.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2023
Since the region is known for its seafood, grab lunch in an Old Town bistro before gearing up for an afternoon of sightseeing.
—Elly Leavitt, House Beautiful, 21 Aug. 2023
The menu brings together soul food, Southern classics, New Orleans specialties, and upscale bistro fare.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
There are huge markdowns on outdoor seating right now, including this bistro dining set, which is 66 percent off.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 12 July 2023
Buy It: Onn. 32-inch Class HD LED Roku Smart TV, From $98 (was $144), Walmart Best Target Fourth of July Deals Incandescent Outdoor String Lights Restaurant-level bistro lighting unlocked!
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2023
Mezzanine Bistrot, the museum’s casual natural wine bar and bistro, is overseen by the sommeliers from Venice’s popular Vino Vero.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 30 Aug. 2023
At La Grille, a bistro hangout for over 40 years that nearly went bust as Covid hit, a dozen new employees have been hired to tend to the growing crowds.
—Liz Alderman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bistro.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French
First Known Use
1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near bistro
Cite this Entry
“Bistro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bistro. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
bistro
noun
bis·tro
ˈbēs-(ˌ)trō
ˈbis-
ˈbis-
: a small or modest restaurant
More from Merriam-Webster on bistro
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share