Before-and-after photos show the streets of Paris going from empty to alive again, as restaurants and cafés in France reopen

• On Tuesday, restaurants, bars, and cafés in Paris, France, were allowed to reopen their terraces and outdoor spaces.
• Strict regulations are still in place. For example, diners must be seated at least three feet apart, significantly reducing restaurants' seating capacity.
• However, the city says it will temporarily allow eateries to extend their outdoor spaces onto sidewalks to allow for more guests.

Paris without its cafés is like New York City without its bodegas, or Italy without gelato.

You can almost feel Parisians' joy at being able to drink lattés in the sun once more, as the French capital's cafés, bars, and restaurants reopened their terraces on Tuesday, after almost three months of lockdown.

Other changes include the opening of museums, parks, and beaches nationwide, and of theaters, gyms, and pools in some areas of France. Nonessential travel within the country is permitted once more, and all schools can reopen, though only to a limited number of kids at once.

The City of Lights is slowly coming back to life.

Keep scrolling for before-and-after photos that show how Paris is emerging from lockdown.

For the first time since March 15, bars, restaurants, and cafés in France were allowed to welcome guests.

Maison Sauvage in Paris, France, on May 5, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

"Terraces are part of Paris life," a Parisian café-goer told France 24.

Maison Sauvage and Atlas restaurants in Paris, France, on May 5, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: France 24

Paris is considered an "orange zone," and was thus only able to open outdoor seating, according to France 24.

Avenue de l'Opera in Paris, France, on April 13, 2020 (top) and June 2, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: France 24

Restaurants in some of the country's "green zones" were able to reopen their indoor dining rooms, too.

Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris, France, on April 16, 2020 (top) and June 2, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

According to France 24, authorities are allowing eateries to spill out onto sidewalks, and also plan to temporarily close streets to cars in tourist-heavy areas to allow for more room.

The Champs Elysees in Paris, France, on April 16, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: France 24

Indoor seating won't be available in Paris until at least June 22, per AP News.

Place du Tertre at Montmartre in Paris, France, on March 25, 2020 (top) and June 2, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: AP News

Still, locals are optimistic.

Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, France, on March 23, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, "The reopening of cafés, hotels, and restaurants marks the return of happy days!"

Galeries Lafayette in Paris, France, on March 27, 2020 (top) and June 2, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: Twitter

Restrictions are still in place, however.

Quartier Latin in Paris, France, on April 11, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Restaurants, bars, and cafés have a 10-point list of regulations they must adhere to in order to reopen, according to France 24, such as staff having to wear masks and keeping customers at least three feet (one meter) apart.

Rue de Rivoli in Paris, France, on April 13, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: France 24

This will dramatically reduce restaurants' capacity, especially French establishments that are known for their intimately close quarters.

Grands Boulevards in Paris, France, on March 27, 2020 (top) and June 2, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Restaurateur Xavier Denamur told AP News that one of his restaurants, which usually has room for 126 diners, will only be able to accommodate eight with the new regulations.

Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, on March 27, 2020 (top) and June 3, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: AP News

For the French, however, it's the beginning of the road back to relative normalcy. "We're back where we belong," a Parisian café-goer told France 24.

Grands Boulevards in Paris, France, on March 27, 2020 (top) and June 2, 2020 (bottom).      Charles Platiau/Reuters

Source: France 24

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