Save Money on Eating Out on your next trip to Paris
Paris is home to some of the finest restaurants in the world. But if your budget doesn’t stretch that far it’s still easy to eat like a king on your visit to France without overspending. Follow our tips to eating like the Parisians do, and you’re guaranteed to save money on dining out in the capital.
A wine-lover’s dream
France is synonymous with wine, and wine-lovers will quickly find that it’s often actually cheaper to order a glass of vino than it is to order a glass of cola. House wines in Parisian restaurants, cafes and bars tend to be of delicious quality too. A glass of wine in France may well be smaller than the glass sizes you’re used to at home, typically 3 to 4 ounces, but Parisians believe in everything in moderation!
Order tap water
It is perfectly safe to drink the tap water in Paris, so save yourself some money and avoid paying for expensive bottled water when you dine out. Make sure that you order a carafe of water and the waiter will bring you a carafe of tap water. If you take a look around you, you’ll find this is what the locals order too.
Lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper
The French way of eating differs from what you may be used to. Instead of making dinner the meal of the day, the French make lunch their biggest meal and have a light salad, soup or quiche at diner time. Parisians economise this way, as lunchtime meal prices are far cheaper than dinner menus. You’ll find the city packed with restaurants and cafes offering great lunch deals, typically 3 course meals for under 15€. This is true of fine dining establishments too, so if you want to try the best restaurant in town, save money and go for lunch there rather than dinner.
Create your own meals
With so many fantastic delis, food markets, boulangeries and patisseries to choose from in Paris, there’s often no need to dine out at all. Make the most of the fine fresh food on offer all around you and head to the park for a picnic. Some fine local cheese, a fresh baguette and a bottle of wine is all you need, all of which can be bought incredibly cheaply on the street. Try groceries like Monoprix, Franprix and Carrefour City if you’re on a budget, as these are dotted around all over the capital.