How to feel like a million bucks in Paris - without spending a million bucks
Ah, Paris. The city of love, art, and the height of gastronomy. The city of 5-star Michelin restaurants, chic outfits, and cobbled streets. Sound expensive?
It wasn't - at least not for me!
I swear this will be the last time I mention this (*she lied*), but I studied abroad in Paris in 2018. With little to no plan, and no money. I had savings, but I was determined to use those limited funds strictly for school and hopefully post-graduation plans (if I could make it last that long). Being in Paris with no money doesn't sound too fun, does it? Ya girl got there and feared she might starve. A Black, teenaged Oliver Twist :(
But! I came back to the United States healthy and well-fed! And I did it without forcing myself to never eat out (and that's a good thing, since I'm a terrible cook). I mean, I ate good. I'm talking escargot (snails!), dining on steaks, and sipping wine beneath the Eiffel Tower - all while never spending more than 30 euros on a meal. It helps that tipping isn't really a thing in Europe, because they actually pay their servers decent wages (*side-eyes America*). The simple secret:
Eating like a local. Yeah, everyone knows this, but few people know how to practice it - when you're in a new country, it's difficult and even daunting to try and find the right spots to ~hit the spot.~ So, to make it a bit easier for you, allow me to introduce you to some of my favorite Parisian food-joints:
ANGELINA PARIS $$-$$$
One of the more expensive places on this list, because the hot chocolate here is 8 euros. But so worth it.
Angelina's is the place to hit up when your parents come to visit and are expecting some posh Parisian vibes, or if you're grabbing Brunch (with a capital "B") with friends.
Think "Breakfast at Tiffany's," or one of those fancy brunch spots in teen movies where the kids with too much time on their hands hang out to talk about the murder that happened during the football pep rally. This place gives off those kinds of vibes (without the murder part, of course). In other words, when you think "Paris," Angelina's is it.
This boutique spot serves everything from decadent pastries and sweets to savory croissants, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Whatever you do, just make sure you pair it with a cup of Angelina Hot Chocolate. This stuff is so good, y'all. The perfect blend of sweet and unflavored cocoa to make a drink that warms you up without taking away from the rest of your meal. Expect to spend around 30 euros if you're going for a full brunch/meal.
There are quite a few boutique locations, including one in Versailles, Galeries Lafayette, and at the Musée du Louvre. But I highly recommend the location at Rue de Rivoli, just steps away from jardin des tuileries. It is by far the largest location, with restaurant and tearoom seating. And the interior is amazing - the belle epoque décor (late 1800's architecture) and art decó details perfectly set the scene for your dining experience! 10/10 would recommend.
CAFE VOULEZ VOUS $-$$
One of the many seems-expensive-but-actually-isn't places that you'll find while wandering through the Latin Quarter, or venturing down one of the cobbled streets hidden away from the more touristy parts of the city.
I found this spot while wandering home from class. The New York-style vibe gently whispered "home" in my ear and I was drawn to it. I got a spot by the window, ordered some salmon pasta and a glass of rosé (how could I not?) and gave a hesitant "yes" when my waiter asked if I'd like to add an egg to my noodles. It was delicious, and the presentation was lovely.
I'd say that meal was around 14 euros.
Cafe Voulez Vous is a convenient spot for a nice sit-down meal while you're on the go. It's smack in the middle of La Marais and not far from Centre de Pompidou (a beautiful modern art museum). But even with its touristy location, this restaurant isn't overrun with tourists. And apparently, it transforms into a gay bar at night. It's in La Marais, so what did you expect?
During the day, it's a nice, simple way to get in a Parisian dining experience while you're out exploring. There are spots all over the city like this: brasseries, cafes, and smaller bar restaurants that offer good dining for cheap! Find them by venturing through areas like La Marais, Montparnasse or Saint Germain. Just remember to take the time to actually enjoy your meal! These spots are conveniently close to major attractions, but people will think you're weird if you sit for all of 30 minutes before leaping up to rush to the next location on your itinerary. So if you're in a hurry, just stick to the food carts so you don't offend anyone, okay?
OBAO $
When I was abroad, I found myself missing authentic cuisines like Japanese, Chinese, Jamaican (my love), and Mexican. But hey, just like in any country, international cuisines are a thing, people! Just because you're in France doesn't mean you'll only find French food. There's a diverse community of Asian, African, Portugese, and other ethnicities in the country, so you can bet the food is bumpin bumpin.
I love fried rice. Chicken, pork, vegetables, shrimp - just mix any or all of that in and I'm good to go. Obao Asian Street hit the spot. It's a "fast food joint," but don't think you can grab your food and eat it while walking about. You'll get a lot of looks. Instead, you'll stand in line, order your custom fried rice with a myriad of toppings, and grab a seat at the bar to chow down. Toppings range from corn, to chicken, to broccoli, and more - pile it up on top of fried rice or noodles for about 8 to 12 euros, depending on how many toppings you add.
Obao is also right around La Marais, so it's another convenient location to grab something to eat while you're out exploring. I frequented this place with friends after classes, and even came here by myself a couple times! While eating out is generally a social thing in France, Obao is a great way to grab something solo without the frills and questioning glances you might get when having a more typical sit-down meal.
COMPTOIR DE LA GASTRONOMIE $$-$$$
Fine dining without the typical fine dining prices. This family establishment is definitely where you'd go for an elegant meal out. It's perfect because this place won't break your bank, and you'll still get plenty of bang for your buck.
Comptoir isn't going to be overrun by tourists, despite its exquisite food and dining experience. But you'll see a ton of locals here, mostly couples on date night. So it's a good idea to call ahead and book a reservation, especially if you plan to go in the evening. In terms of dress-code, dress nice, but don't go overboard. French people always look good anyway, and I noticed most of the customers wearing their normal chic streetwear with maybe a blazer or nice sweater thrown on top. K, now let's talk about the food:
It was so good I went here twice. Once with a friend, where we shared braised duck and potatoes and french onion soup over red wine. The duck was amazing, not oily at all, and with plenty of meat. The soup was also delicious and paired nicely with the wine. Splitting the meal of my first visit, I paid 18 euros. The second time I came solo, and got an appetizer of escargot with white wine and a chocolate dessert. My waiter even gave me a free refill of my wine - I think it's because they assumed I'd been stood up on a date night, lol. I paid around 20 euros (I let myself splurge on the dessert). If you're not keen on splitting an entree, I'd plan on spending around 30 euros at Comptoir de la Gastronomie. Maybe 5 or 10 euros more if you go ham on alcohol and appetizers. But not bad for a fancy dining experience, right?
MONTMARTRE & THE LATIN QUARTER $-$$
Remember when I told you about the hidden gems that are the brasseries and cafes of Paris? Sections of the city like Montmartre or the Latin Quarter are also full of smaller-budget restaurants. And these locations are arguably some of the most picturesque spots in Paris!
Montmartre specifically is a favorite location of mine. The basilica Sacré Coeur is a huge white building that looks like a literally castle. Climb the steps to the top for an amazing view of Paris - including the Eiffel Tower, Parthenon, and Notre Dame in the distance! There's also a great restaurant right across from the Sacré Coeur - grab a spot by the window for an epic visage point.
The artist district of Montmartre is also home to the Fête des Vendanges - a grape harvest festival that occurs in October. Yes, that means wine. Admission to the festival is cheap, and you'll get access to wine tastings, food from all over the country of France, music, dancing, and so much more! Definitely take advantages of festivals like this one, as you could honestly get a whole meal out of spending a day here...and French wine-tasting is much more liberal than it is in the states. I'm talking a full, decent-sized glass per tasting! And you get to keep the glass as a souvenir afterwards. If you're not careful, you'll definitely get a lil tipsy.
As if it couldn't get any better, this area is great for authentic African and Jamaican cuisine - just a stone's throw away from the emblematic artist's district is the neighborhood known as Little Africa. I'd say it's probably the most overlooked neighborhood in all of Paris, despite its plethora of shops, salons, restaurants, and boutiques. Definitely worth a visit on your food tour.
STREET FOOD $
And now, something for those of you who like to walk and eat. I get it, you've got places to be!
Crepe stands. They're all over Paris. Stop by and they'll make them fresh, on the spot. My go-to is always a nutella and banana crepe, but if you're not into the sweet stuff, you'll love hearing about the beauty that is the savory crepe. I'm talking a crepe with turkey, cheese, spinach, mushrooms, tuna, salmon - basically a sandwich in a crepe. So if you thought a crepe couldn't be a filling lunch, I hope you now see the error of your ways. They can be as cheap as 2 or 3 euros.
Don't skip out on the smaller grocery delis, either. Walk in and you'll find ready-made sandwiches packaged for your walking tour as you explore. Ready-packaged, well-priced meals like these make to easy to just take the food and plop yourself by the siene. I can't tell you how many times I'd grab a quick lunch like this after classes and hang out by the river. Students and young folks will just sit on the walls overlooking the water to chat, eat, and enjoy the nice weather.
If you're feeling extra fancy, take your meal to the Eiffel Tower and have yourself a cute picnic! I'd often stop by a deli or grocery to grab a baguette, meat, cheese and maybe a small bottle of wine for no more than 10 euros and enjoy it beneath the tower. Yes, it's free to sit on the green beneath the Eiffel Tower. A great way to enjoy this attraction without spending money to climb to the top, because the view from below is just as good (in my opinion, it's better - views of Paris from the Notre Dame are far superior).
Singers and musicians will be sure to entertain you, and it's always fun to people-watch and judge other tourists. I saw at least three people get proposed to on the same night. A proposal in Paris at the Eiffel Tower - how original. Stay late enough and you'll get to watch the tower light up at night. Meals like this were some of the best I had in Paris, as well as being the cheapest.
And there you have it! There are plenty of ways to get just as much out of the food scene in Paris by eating locally and budget-friendly as you would dining at the most expensive spots in town!
Make sure to save this post for your first flight out to Paris...
Trust me, you're going to need it~
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