Smokers can be fined 68 euros (88 dollars) for smoking in the wrong place and business owners will be fined 135 euros.
Owners of premises can provide hermetically sealed smoking rooms, with powerful extractor fans, but the high costs are likely to put many off this system.
Next year will bring in a second stage with a complete ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.
Some restaurants in France have already moved forward on this and a growing number are already completely smoke-free.
The French government has also said it will make allowances for hospital patients with mental illnesses and for people battling against alcohol or drugs.
