Budgeting Food in Paris
 

Bonjour!

I'll be in Paris for 7 days in May (solo trip), and I'm trying to work out a budget. I know that food costs can range *drastically.* If one were to get coffee and a croissant in the morning at a cafe, a bigger lunch, and a quick sandwich, etc for dinner, what is an approximate budget?

I'm hoping to spend somewhere around 30 euros a day. Is this reasonable? I know the food in Paris is part of the experience, but I am also a grad student. I've never been to Paris before, so any advice or insight on budgeting would be very welcome!

Thanks!

That seems doable - many places offer a "prix fixed" manu for lunch and dinner - you will have several choices for each course and its a good value. Usually these menus are displayed on chalk boards outside the cafes - hopeully you can read some French? Also there are many places where you can get take out, very good food, to take on picnic or back to the hotel. And remember, wine will probably be cheaper than Coke, in case you want to try some of the local vintages. If you post where you are staying in Paris, you may get some specific restaurant recommendations.

Thanks suec!

I do speak French, "un peu." I should be fine reading and speaking, but listening is always the hardest part for me. :)

I'm staying in the Marais, at Hotel Sevigne.

30€ is fine. You do not need to experience the delights of French gastronomy on this trip -- save it for when you are earning more money. And do not forget to pick up some items at the supermarkets, delis (<i>traiteurs</i>) or street markets.

to cut food budget and not starve:

FLUNCH - cafeteria-style restaurants all over Paris and France - for about 10 euros unlimited helping of veggies, salads, bread etc and one large serving of meat - stuff yourself - carafes of wine a few euros. patrons are mainly locals - i often get berating comments from some Fodor food snobs for even suggesting FLUNCH but to me it is really typically French food and also fast as you want and no surly waiters to deal with.

Restaurants flunch : Repas, Adresses, et horaires d'ouverture. - [ Translate this page ]
Site officiel des Restaurants flunch. Retrouvez tous nos services, notre actualité et la liste des restaurants flunch : adresses et services.
www.flunch.fr/

Carte des restaurants flunch : Adresse, Services.
Découvrez notre carte interactive afin de localiser en un seul coup d'oeil ...
www.flunch.fr/restaurants/carte-restaurant.aspx
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Flunch Cafeterias - Paris for Visitors
Or maybe you're too poor, or just too tired, to enjoy a leisurely dinner at a nice restaurant? Flunch, the French cafeteria chain, has a table waiting for ...
europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/flunch.htm

And Monoprix and supermarkets are ubiquitous - hop in there for take-out deli fare and huge sandwiches for a few euros - every place in Paris IMO is an appetizing picnique spot!

Grab a copy of Let's Go Europe - written by college kids for low-budget backpackers - they highlight cheap restaurants, food, etc.

Your budget will be fine. My sister and I were on a tight budget and we thoroughly enjoyed take away food (paninis, gyros, crepes) as well as a wonderful croque monsieur from a chain restaurant. And our picnic of bread, cheese & fruit from a street market still makes me swoon when I think about it.

Good for you for going solo! I'm trying to work up the nerve to do it.

And don't forget the good tip put forward by Kerouac when I asked for his budget meal place at 66 Champs Elysees :Chez Quan where you can get a meal for under 10euros. I'm definitely giving that one a try!
I also found this place in a Paris guide by Bill Gillham entitled "Parisian's Paris". It's Le Petit Caboulet, 6 Place Jacques Froment, Metro Guy Moquet. Here the lunch menu is 10euros. I have no idea whether that is 1,2 or3 courses. He comments that it is outstanding value for the quality and the food is traditional and well prepared. A la Carte is 30euros.
He goes on to say "Of all the bistros on our list this is one you'd like to be a regular (it has plenty of those from the neighborhood). In good weather tables on the pavement(sidewalk) are to be preferred.

At Au Relais, 48 rue Lamarck, Metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt
you can get a 2 course lunch plus a cup of coffee for 11euros.

But my choice for an excellent omlette would be Au General La Fayette, 52 Rue La Fayette, Metro:Cadet
Here, done in the style like 'Espagnole' which I guess would be a Spanish omlette, costs just 9.50 and includes a salad or frites.

We do lots of picnics when we go. Pack a corkscrew and knife (in your suitcase of course--not your carry on!)

In the Marais you can go to Breizh Cafe without breaking the bank: http://www.breizhcafe.com. I loved the food and atmosphere. Very hip. And a good place to go solo.

rainy_day - We find no reason to spend 9-12euros on breakfast at our hotel. If it's included in the price of the room it's a big plus of course.
We tend to take off to the closest McDonald's where you can get a coffee(or tea) and three little pastries croissant-style, for about 2 euros.
Do remember that eating at a cafe` or restaurant at lunch-time is far cheaper than in the evenings. Might be good to give yourself a hot meal midday and take snack items back to your room for dinner.
Hope you have a wonderful time - if there is a GTG during the time you are in Paris do try to join in as they are great fun - maybe make that your one big splurge evening!

30 euros are more than enough for the types of meals you described in good, but modest places.

As a Parisian, I probably don't spend more than 20€ a day to eat (and drink). From 6 to 9€ for lunch when I have to eat out, and the rest of the budget for the things I eat at home.

Good sandwiches are found at many bakeries. If you see a line out the door at lunch time, take a look.

hi, rainly day,

if you want to save money in Paris, DON'T drink beer. the prices are horrendous - about €5-6 for a small beer, €8-12 for a large one. more in some places.

stick to the house wine, and ask for "un carafe d'eau" - tap water...we had no problem at all with being served with tap as opposed to mineral water, but I suppose it might have been different if that was all we were drinking.

if you don't want a full meal, look for the plat du jour - which is usually a cheap main dish based on what was best at the market that day.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

Do look at all the blackboard specials everywhere. I've enjoyed many outstanding plats du jour.

I could live nicely on the composed salads, tartines...

For things like sandwiches, croissants...best bet is a bakery or traiteur.

Coffee in cafes is very expensive. I bring a one-cup coffee maker I purchased on a previous trip (not to save money, really, but to have a cup without having to get dressed and go out for it first thing).

0.35€ for a beer in a supermarket.

Oh, I guess I should pull up my restaurant slate thread again...

http://tinyurl.com/d9jq3d

I don't usually drink beer, I prefer wine, but the prices are about the same for beer or wine where I go and they sure are not 5-6 euro for a small one or 10-12 for a large. I get a draft 1664 or something and the price is around 3-4 euro for 25 cl. The prices are about the same for beer, wine or soda or carbonated water at the cafes I go to. Perrier usually costs more for some strange reason.

I don't know where annhig is drinking or what kind of beer, but that's sure not my experience. Here is one of my favorite places, for example (Academie de la Biere near Port Royal), you can see the prices are only about 4 euro for a 25 cl beer amd 8 euro for 50 cl and those are not the cheapest beers on tap. You can also see the price of Coke, etc., is also about 4 euro.
http://www.academie-biere.com/

At the two or three Cafes per block, do what the locals do, eat at the bar. If you sit, you will pay more, and in the heavily tourist areas, ther may be a three tier pricing scheme. These prices have to be posted in the establishment, somewhere. Good luck finding it. It's a game, just learn the rules and you will do fine.

Two places I highly recommend in the Marais-

Miss Manon- it's a bakery that sells some wonderful sandwiches and panini. Exceptional pastries also.
87 rue Saint-Antoine (on the corner of rue Saint-Paul)


Le Passage Obligé- a nice place to sit, be served and enjoy a 10 euro lunch.
http://www.lepassageoblige.com/

I forgot to add-

If it's a nice day and you get a sandwich from Miss Manon, ask for it "to go" and take it across the street to enjoy in the Place de Vosges.