12 Smart Tips for Eating Well in Paris Without Overspending
Travelers talk a lot about Paris prices. Some say the city feels reasonable, others say the bill climbs fast. Paris can be easy on the wallet if you know how the city works. Here are the main lessons people share on how they keep your food budget under control.
1. Know The Real Price Range
A standard restaurant meal in Paris sits around 20-25 euros for a main and dessert. Many places land closer to 30-40 euros per person if wine is involved.
Kids’ menus usually hover around 10 euros. Lunch is almost always cheaper than dinner. Midday set menus fall in the 15-25 euro range in bistros, and many cover two courses.
These prices hold steady across the city unless you sit beside a major landmark. A simple sandwich near the Eiffel Tower can jump to 14 euros, while the same thing in a neighborhood bakery costs around 5€.
2. Make Lunch Your Main Meal
Lunch deals carry the best value. Restaurants open earlier, the mood is relaxed, and the bill stays reasonable.
Travelers with kids lean into this. They sit down for a proper lunch, then switch to something simple at dinner.
Many restaurants open dinner service late, often at 19:30, which makes lunch a practical anchor for the day.
3. Ask for Tap Water
Water adds up fast in Paris cafés. Ordering a carafe d’eau is normal and free. Servers bring it without fuss.
Drinks are often the most expensive part of the meal, especially sodas and coffee. You also find free drinking fountains across the city, so carrying a reusable bottle pays off.
4. Bakeries for Cheap, Good Food
Boulangeries carry the budget on their backs. A baguette usually costs 1-1.5 euros. Croissants sit in the 1-2 euro range.
Sandwiches made with proper bread and good ingredients usually land between 5 and 8 euros. Many bakeries offer lunch formulas around 10-12 euros that include a sandwich, dessert, and drink.
Some travelers point out deals at places like Liberté where two people can share a generous combo. Pistachio croissants even show up as a filling meal on their own.
5. Supermarkets and Eat on the Go
Monoprix, Franprix, and Carrefour are familiar stops for budget travelers. Ready-made salads, sandwiches, and small meals sit around 6€. Bottled water costs far less here than in cafés.
Many travelers grab cheese, fruit, bread, and charcuterie for easy dinners. Even without a kitchen, assembling simple meals in a hotel room works well.
Grocery stores also stock plenty of cheap picnic items if you plan to eat in parks or along the river.
6. Build Picnics Into Your Routine
Picnics are one of the great Paris hacks. Grab roast chicken pieces from a butcher, fruit from a market, and a fresh baguette from the nearest bakery.
Cheese and pâté cost little, it’s easy to spend under 10 euros per person and eat well. A bottle of wine from a shop rounds out the meal.
7. Bouillons for Classic, Low-Cost French Dining
Bouillons are old-style French restaurants serving simple dishes at sharp prices. They remain some of the most recommended spots for travelers on a budget.
The food is traditional, portions are solid, and bills stay low. Many don’t take reservations, so lines form, but people say the wait is worth it.
8. Affordable Neighborhood Spots
The Latin Quarter is a great area for inexpensive meals. You find menus around 16 euros and creperies offering full meals under 15 euros. Crepes work for families because they’re fast and filling.
Other dishes that pop up include couscous around 10–14 euros depending on the street, flammekueche at places like L’Alsacien Châtelet or the Flams chain, and simple burger or falafel menus in the 12-15 euro range.
9. Location Warps Prices
Standing in front of a major landmark almost guarantees higher prices. Tourists often realize this only after buying a drink. Grab a café table a few blocks away and the cost drops.
Even inside train stations, prices spike. Someone mentions paying 18 euros at Gare du Nord for a basic sandwich-croissant-coffee combo. Once outside the station area, the same items cost far less.
Menus are posted outside by law. You can scan the prices before stepping in. Travelers say they avoid places where dishes have no clear price or where the board looks inflated for tourists.
10. Apps That Locals Rely On
The Fork helps filter restaurants by price and often offers discounts of 20–30 percent. People say to check the bill to make sure the discount applies.
Too Good To Go is another common tool. It lets you buy leftover bakery or restaurant food at the end of the day for only a few euros.
Travelers also rely on Google Maps to check menus, ratings, and prices before choosing a place.
11. Family-Friendly Restaurants
Families point out that Paris restaurants are welcoming to kids. Bofinger comes up for its child-friendly service and an 11€ kids’ menu.
Other places like L’Atelier Entrecôte & Volaille appeal to families thanks to generous meat-and-fries menus, with lunch prices under 20. For parents with young children, these spots remove guesswork.
12. Skip Hotel Meals
Hotel breakfasts can be convenient, but most travelers skip hotel lunches and dinners because the city’s options are cheaper and better.
Bakeries, cafés, markets, and simple restaurants give you far more value than hotel dining rooms.
Final Words
Paris doesn’t force you into expensive meals, it rewards travelers who pays attention to where locals actually eat and those who structure their day smartly.