I'll be in Paris in a few weeks and was wondering how to greet waiters and others during dinner. Do I still use bonjour after dark or do I switch to bon soir?

Bonsoir is perfect.

If it is any sort of decent restaurant you should not be the first person to be offering a greeting. Wait and see how the waiter greets you and then say your "Bonsoir."

"Bonsoir" on way in, "Merci au revoir" on way out would be perfect.

I have also been wondering about what time of day one switches to bonsoir. Is it around 5 or 6 pm? After dark (which would change with the time of year)?

Hey guys,

I live in Montreal, Quebec and I work as an evening receptionist. My general rule is after 6pm to switch to "bonsoir". Hope that helps!

Layla

Now that it's getting dark early, I find that some people greet me with a bonsoir as early as 4:00 pm. Or smile and say bonsoir, bonjour, comme vous voulez. They also tend to say bonsoir if it's near the end of their shift, their focus is on getting away from work and off to their favorite cafe.

And "bonne nuit" only when one or other of you is going to bed (separately, of course).

Bon soir on arrival, bonne soirée on departure.