Eating Cheaply in the Latin Quarter

The area around the Saint-Michel fountain is the Latin Quarter, a university district with plenty of relatively inexpensive places to eat. A main course at a Parisian restaurant typically runs from the high teens to the mid-twenties in euros, and a full menu easily tops €30, so eating out every time can pinch. When that happens, look to the quick bites Parisians themselves go for.

First up is the kebab, sold all over the Latin Quarter. You may not have come to Paris for a kebab, but it's hugely popular with young Parisians. It costs under 5 euros, the portions are generous, and it tastes great, so it's terrific value.

If you'd rather have something lighter and more French, try a crêpe or a galette. Both are made on a thin pancake (wheat flour for crêpes, buckwheat for galettes). A crêpe is a snack spread with Nutella, strawberry jam or sugar, while a galette is a meal substitute topped with egg, ham, cheese and the like, though the portion is on the small side for a meal. A basic crêpe is around 3 euros; add toppings like Nutella and banana, your guide's favorite, and it comes to about 5 euros. Galettes cost more, depending on toppings, usually around 10 euros.

If you're staying in an Airbnb, cooking for yourself is the most economical option. Eating out is expensive in France, but supermarkets are cheap. Ingredients cost little, but labor is expensive, which pushes restaurant prices up. Meat and fruit are cheap too, so shopping at a supermarket and cooking yourself can save a good deal on travel costs.

Finally, no mention of France is complete without bread. PAUL and Brioche Dorée, known as the people's bakeries, are chains, but the food is excellent: crisp croissants, pain au chocolat with chocolate in the middle, and sandwiches. Since you're in Paris, eat plenty of bread before you go.