Top Tips For Eating on a Budget in Paris

Backpackers (or anyone on a budget) visiting the French capital can save plenty of cash by staying in one of the excellent hostels in Paris. But bear in mind that cheap, convenient accommodation is not the only way to keep a tight rein on the purse strings.

Food is undeniably a very important part of anyone's travel experience and, surprisingly, there are many great ways to enjoy a budget-friendly meal in Paris without compromising on the quality. Here are some quick tips to help you enjoy some of the city's best culinary delights while evading the many tourist traps.

Steer clear of the famous landmarks – The best way to avoid tourist restaurants (and therefore tourist prices) is to stay away from the major tourist attractions of the city when choosing a café or restaurant. Avoid eateries located near the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame and the Champs Elysees, for example, if you don’t want to be charged through the nose.

Buy drinks at the bar instead of the tables – Wherever you choose hostels in Paris, they'll no doubt be located close to local restaurants with a bar. If you just want a drink rather than dine, you’ll pay significantly less by ordering directly from the bar rather than sitting at a table. You can always move to a table if you decide to eat later.

Avoid 'fizzy' drinks – You can blame cola taxes for the strange anomaly of sparkling water or fizzy drinks like coke costing a lot more than a glass of wine here!

Ask for a carafe of tap water – You can end up saving a lot of money if you order plain old tap water instead of bottled. "Une carafe d’eau" is the phrase you'll need if you don't want expensive bottled water brought to the table.

Enjoy freshly baked breads for breakfast – Rather than head to a café for an expensive tourist breakfast, follow your nose to a bakery (we promise it won't be hard around any of the hostels in Paris), grab a baguette, croissant or some other bread, add in some cheese from the supermarket and, voila, you'll have an authentic French breakfast.

Go for lunch or brunch instead of dinner – If you do want to try a more upmarket restaurant for some quality food, avoid doing so in the evening when prices tend to rise. Splurge on a lunch or brunch to take advantage of lower prices.

Choose "à emporter" instead of "sur place" – Basically, choose to take away your food rather than eat in at a table. In many cases this will be far cheaper and you can either take your food back to eat in the hostel, or find a sunny spot in a park and have a picnic.

Choose "une formule" – A set menu is one of the cheapest options for tourists to dine in one of the restaurants or cafes in the centre of the city. Be aware of supplemental orders though, which can translate to a few extra euros you may not be immediately aware of.

Tipping is not compulsory - Most restaurants here include a service charge in the final bill, so you are not obligated to pay an extra tip. Nobody will stop you from leaving a few euros for excellent service, though!

While staying in one of the well-located hostels in Paris will take care of the pounds, being savvy when it comes to eating well will certainly help you take care of the pennies.

Looking for a dream travel experience? Jason H. Cunningham works for Hostelling International, a company with more than 4,000 hostels worldwide in fantastic locations. For the best hostels in Paris, or anywhere else, join our global community and say hi to the world. From quality, affordable accommodation and backpacker tips, to meaningful volunteer opportunities and enriching our eco footprint, we are the world’s local hostelling hub.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.