SE POSER -- “sit down, chill, enjoy”

 

'SE POSER'

 “On va se poser quelque part pour manger.”
= “Let’s sit down somewhere to eat.”

The French didn’t just eat — they dined. In Paris, you didn’t see commuters sipping lattes on the metro, walking and drinking, or tearing into sandwiches by the driver or passenger of a car. For the French, meals weren’t a background activity; they were an event.

Food was about more than filling up. It was about pleasure, nourishment, and above all, connection. Sit down with French friends and you’d almost certainly hear the phrase “On va se poser” — let’s settle in, take a seat, slow down. It was the everyday reminder that eating was meant to be savored, never rushed.

Even at work, the ritual held strong. In many offices and public institutions, eating at your desk was actually forbidden. Officially, it was about hygiene. Unofficially? It was about preserving the sanctity of lunch. Stepping away, taking your break, sharing a meal — you returned to your desk refreshed and more productive. And in many workplaces, two-hour lunches were not uncommon, a rhythm of life no one questioned. And, it’s even acceptable to have wine at lunch. 

But times have changed. Global work culture, urban pace, and the rise of “grab-and-go” dining have chipped away at this tradition. The long lunch is shrinking, the desk sandwich is no longer unthinkable, and “se poser” is slowly giving way to multitasking. What was once a sacred pause is, for many, becoming just another part of the workday.

So why are Parisian youths breaking with tradition and eating on the go? Part of it comes down to pace. Life in the capital is faster than it used to be, with studies, jobs, side hustles, and long commutes crowding the day. Taking two hours to savor lunch doesn’t always fit into a metro-boulot-dodo rhythm, “Commute, work, sleep.”

Global culture has crept in too. Coffee cups on the move, poke bowls in paper cartons, and delivery apps buzzing at the door have made “grab-and-go” dining feel modern, even chic. Add to that the rising cost of living, and a sandwich on the run can seem like the most practical option for students and young professionals. They’re doing the “American hustle.” 

There’s also a shift in identity. For many young Parisians, eating quickly between classes or meetings signals efficiency and cosmopolitanism — a sharp contrast to the languid lunches their parents or grandparents took for granted. The old ritual of se poser still exists, but increasingly, it’s reserved for weekends and special occasions rather than everyday life.

This is solely my opinion, but after 18 years in Paris, I’ve noticed an alarming trend with the popularity and growth of fast food, unheard of doing just 15-years ago. Starbucks cups are everywhere now. Just today on Rue Mouffetard, I noticed that half the young people were eating and drinking while walking — sandwiches, pizza slices, pocket sandwiches. Granted, it’s a student-heavy neighborhood, but I never saw this until the past few years. Once, on the tram, a man in a suit with a briefcase opened it and pulled out a tuna sandwich. The moment he unwrapped it, the smell filled the carriage. A woman sitting nearby smiled sweetly and said, “bon appétit.” The words flowed out politely, but we all knew she was being very, very sarcastic. He simply kept chewing, unfazed.

But that doesn’t mean the French art of eating is vanishing. Paris still protects its café culture like a prized heirloom. Terraces brim with people lingering over a glass of wine or a croque-monsieur, and mealtimes with family or close friends remain sacred. Sunday lunches still stretch into the afternoon, and holidays are unimaginable without long tables, shared dishes, and hours of conversation.

For all the grab-and-go salads and lattes in paper cups, the heartbeat of French dining is still about slowing down, savoring, and sharing. If anything, the tension between speed and savor only highlights how deeply meals matter here — even to the youth who sometimes trade tradition for convenience. In Paris, food is never just fuel.

I know the world is shifting, becoming faster, more focused on convenience and saving time. But I can’t help hoping the French don’t lose that uniquely French “se poser” spirit — that art of slowing down, sitting together, and savoring a meal. Call it culture, call it tradition, call it common sense — it’s a rhythm of life that deserves to be protected.