If you have a chance, try a baguette tradition. It is more expensive 1.20€ but oh so much better than a baguette.

Photobear--

The crepe stands we have seen (mostly walk-up windows associated with a traiteur or a lunch-counter restaurant) have prices in the 2-5 euro range for a crepe, depending on ingredients and location. Sit-down creperies (or places with crepes as well as other items) often include a small salad with the crepe and seldom charge less than 7-8 euros. The galette-style crepes (the larger, squarish ones) usually cost more.

The night before last we walked away with a crepe fromage-poulet (cheese and chicken melted inside a folded up crepe) for 2.5 euros while strolling along Rue Mouffetard.

I have personally found that it is more likely to be disappointed in a sit down creperie than in a stand on the street, particularly due to the price difference. If you are buy a crêpe for 3 euros, it is still okay if it is not great. If you are paying 9 euros for the same crêpe because you are sitting at a table, it is significantly more annoying.

Kerouac--

I agree! The fromage et poulet crepe that I saw made before my eyes and to my specifications (poivre? oui; pas de sel, s'il vous plait) was as tasty as any I have had in a sit-down place. The biggest reason to get a crepe at a "real" creperie is the opportunity to have ingredients like ratatouille, which don't seem to be available at the take-away places I have seen.

The "fast food" like baguette sandwiches and crepes are well worth trying, not just for the low cost but because they can be very good. A few nights ago we brought back an assortment of middle eastern take-out from a Mavromatis, heated it in the apartment, and had a fine dinner.

For 23 days we have dined enjoyably at a variety of cafes, bistros, and restaurants for generally one meal a day. (We often have breakfast in the apartment--cereal and fruit; or baguette, beure, et confiture; and/or patisserie bought that mnorning--but have had petit dejeuner out a few times.) We aim for lunch or dinner out and the other in the apartment (or take-out). We have had three lunches or dinners costing as much as 50-55 euros for two--one drinking wine and the other not. All the other meals were less than that, and the only "stars" were in our eyes.

I understand the desire to dine at well-known, upper-end restaurants that require reservations weeks in advance while vacationing in a city like Paris, but we have enjoyed ourselves immensely without doing that. It is possible to dine well for very reasonable cost.

Ed l'Epicier is cheap, I used to shop there a bit when I've stayed in the 14th and 15th arrondisements, there was one in each. The one in the 15th is at 81 rue Cambronne. There used to be one on rue Notre Dame des Champs in the 6th, but I think it's gone now. There was one near Les Halles, also. Those stores are pretty basic, but things are cheap. I didn't really find it worth my time to shop there much, as I'd have to go elsewhere anyway to get other things.

My previous post on this thread pointed out it did not need to be expensive to eat in Paris. Today we wandered into a different situation.

Our "explore Paris" adventure began with the #63 bus from Gare d'Austerlitz/Jardin des Plantes to the end of the line at Porte de la Muette. As we walked back through the 16e on the largely-residential Avenue Henri-Martin, we took a "pour boisson seulement" table at Le Flandrin to stop for a well-needed drink. Almost all the "dejeuneurs" (it was lunchtime) wore business suits at this fairly upscale place.

Ms. Bear's cafe cost 4.00 euros and my 33cl Coke Light cost 6.30 euros (about $9.80). With 150cl of Coke
Light costing just under 1.50 euros at Franprix, the privilege of occupying a very nice table in a very nice establishment among very nice people meant that my drink cost about 19 times as much, per unit of volume, as buying larger bottles at the store.

I am not complaining. We took up one of their nice tables at a busy time (although I think the cost would have been the same at any time). Buying in bulk will usually cost less. We were happy to have that experience at that time. But sometimes a cl of Coke isn't just a cl of Coke.

We had some similar experiences. It all comes down to that one is not buying a drink but unlimited table time. In fact, it is used that way. I have on more than one occasion seen folks working and writing at the table for long periods of time all for the cost of a cup of coffee.

bookmark

I highly recommend you go to <davidliebovitz.com> and read his food blogs from Paris. You'll find beautiful photos of French food and some wonderful tips on places that are open on Sunday as well as good places for inexpensive meals in Paris. He also lists addresses for open air food markets where you can buy fresh food where the locals shop.

We always travel with a picnic backpack and buy local bread, cheese, fruit, wine and chocolate. Making a late cafe lunch your main meal and doing your "picnic" for dinner will save you lots of euros.

Breakfast at your French hotel will probably be just coffee, bread and butter with jam and perhaps fruit, juice or yogurt.

Bon voyage!

What a great thread... We'll be staying in an apartment in the 4th, next to the Pompidou Centre. Any suggestions on grocery stores and bakeries?

Also, are there "ethnic" restaurants all over the city and in the touristy parts? We're huge Indian/Greek/Thai food fans...

A third question: How can you tell how much, say, a cup of coffee costs at the counter vs. at a table? Is there usually a menu that lets you know this?

The bar and table prices are usually posted (I think it's the law) right by the bar. You can go look at them before sitting and ordering.

I was in Paris last week, and it was expensive. But at some point of the trip I just wanted to enjoy and splurge a little bit.
Well, that said, some tips. Monoprix doesn´t open on Sundays. I´ve stayed on the 8th, and found out good places to eat at a very reasonable price. Meals ranging from 10-16 Euros (for person), and went with wine or beer - cheaper than soda or bottled water. Crepes on a street vendor around 3-5Euros, depending on the filling. Starbucks 4.50-5 Euros, but well worth for the sitting area. Expressos at bistros and brasseries around 3-4 Euros. Breakfast at the hotel 18-25 Euros; at patisseries or coffee shops 9Euros (coffee, juice, jam and bread). Most restaurants have the plat du jour (just the main dish or also an appetizer or salad, or else dessert) starting at 9 or 10 Euros per person.
Enjoy and have a great time on that wonderful city!

I'd like to see that 25€ hotel breakfast. Were you staying at the Ritz?

Couldn't be the Ritz - that charges 35 Euros per breakfast. The prices in zago_kreb's post, though, are for a very expensive area of Paris, and if you don't eat there, you can spend much less.

bookmarking and thanks very much.

What would you think an average day's cost for food would be in Paris if having breakfast in apt., main meal as late lunch, and small/lite dinner ?