The French cherish that time of day when they’ve finished up with work, obligations and errands and can relax with friends over a drink or two to “open the appetite” before moving on to the more serious matter of dinner. Most restaurants that don’t exclusively cater to the tourist crowd won’t begin serving dinner until 8 p.m., so settling down to a beverage and perhaps some light finger foods is the ideal way to finish off the day and kick-start your night.

Cheapo-friendly aperitif spots

Finding cheapo-friendly spots to enjoy one (or more) of the delicious apéritif drink options is not always easy, especially in high-traffic tourist areas and the more chic neighborhoods like Saint Germain des Près, the Champs-Elysées or the Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re looking for an apéro experience that’s easy on the wallet, check out some of the bars and cafés in parts of town that are more “fly” than “flush.” Many of these neighborhood haunts have adopted the decidedly American institution of Happy Hour, offering cheapo drinks and food during those twilight hours.

El Café Bar
45 rue Rodier, Paris 9th
Neighborhood: “SoPi”

South of Pigalle, or “SoPi” as it’s become known, which is roughly hemmed in by the Saint Georges, Anvers, Pigalle and Blanche Métro stops in the 9th arrondissment, is quickly becoming the go-to quartier for hipsters, musicians, and start-up players looking to see and be seen. The vibe in this ‘hood is studied-cool, so pull that trilby down over one eye and grab a seat at El Café Bar.

While it may not be much to look at from the outside, one glance at the fashionable crowd seated on its patio will tell you you’ve found the right place. With a steady buzz of conversation, a guitar in the corner just waiting to be strummed, and Pastis priced at a mere €2.20 to quaff alongside the wooden boards heaped with finely sliced Iberian ham and hunks of cheese from the Pyrénées, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d somehow wandered into a village café in the South of France.

La Perla
26, rue François Miron, Paris 4th
Neighborhood: Marais

The area that straddles the 3rd and the 4th arrondissments is home to über-cool, bohemian boutiques, trendy restaurants and Paris’ gay neighborhood. While it may not be a Cheapo’s first destination, you can still find deals on late afternoon drinks and snacks.

Stroll down to the bottom of rue Vieille-du-Temple to La Perla and snag a table, either on the patio basking in the sinking sun or inside the lovely bar for €5 cocktails from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Bonus: A bowl of free chips and salsa is brought to every table, and refills are only €1.90. Or go for a big platter of nachos for €9.50 that will easily satiate two peckish revelers.

Tribal Café
3 cour des Petites Ecuries, Paris 10th
Neighborhood: Faubourg Saint Denis

“Faubourg” is an old French word that means village. Any time you find yourself in an area of Paris called a faubourg, you’re actually in what was once a village outside the city limits back when Paris had walls circling it. The Faubourg Saint Denis is a working-class neighborhood that’s on the rise as journalists, artists and fashion industry-types buy up the relatively affordable real estate and camp out on lazy afternoons with friends in the local bars.

For that village feel, get out your map or GPS and find cour des Petites Ecuries, a cul-de-sac home to several friendly little watering holes.

A favorite is Tribal Café, where everyone comes for the easy ambiance, the €3 pints, and free—yes, free—plates of mussels and fries on Wednesdays and Thursdays and platters of couscous on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s hard to beat those prices, so come early to stake out your table!

Other neighborhoods

There are plenty of other neighborhoods, such as rue Oberkampf and the Canal Saint Martin in the 11th, Ménilmontant in the 20th near the Père Lachaise cemetery, and Buttes aux Cailles not far from Place d’Italie in the 13th, that boast friendly spots advertising slashed drink prices during l’apéro. So, if the price is right, take a seat—you may just discover your own Happy Hour hot spot.

Read more!

Looking for more advice on the “aperitif experience” in Paris? Check out these posts: Local aperitifs and the locales to try them and five summer drinks to try in the Marais.

Also, if you’re heading to Paris soon, be sure to swing by our Paris guide for information about recommended budget hotels, and many more articles on ways to keep it cheap.

The post L’Aperitif in Paris: 3 trendy “happy hour” spots for Cheapos appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So here’s what to do to keep the coins in your pocket and the wine in your tummy.

Squat a Piazza

If you’re not picky on location but like to be around people, here’s what I suggest. Make your way to one of the piazzas, like Piazza Sant’Ambrogio and find yourself a seat on the steps of the church or any of the benches.

Next, resist the temptation to drink at one of the surrounding establishments. They will be overpriced and lousy. Instead, walk the neighboring streets until you find a little store (some call it a “kiosk”) that sells cheap beer and wine. There are lots of these in Florence and lots of people do it.

Purchase a beverage, return to the piazza, soak up the ambiance and toast the stars.

Fun bars for aperitivo

If you are not big fan of “piazza guzzle” here’s a few bars that are fun. First try “Volume” in Piazza Santo Spirito with its vintage/museum deco. Or the nearby La Cité (still my personal favorite) with its book-covered walls and small music stage.

Or maybe it’s food you want with your aperitivo, so try Kitsch Bar where you’ll have access to a full buffet of Italian specialties during aperitivo time.

If pubs are more your thing, try The Lion’s Fountain Pub, which is usually overflowing onto the square.

Bottoms Up

Have you heard of Vin Santo? If not you need to try it. Often made in Tuscany’s very own Chianti Region, Vin Santo is a strong sweet wine served either before or after dinner (or at any other time of the day that you see fit). You can pick it up anywhere that sells wine, but my suggestion would be one of the larger supermarkets where it is definitely cheaper (Coop, Esselunga, etc.).

And if you are completely new to the Italian drinking scene, consider trying an ice cold shot of Limoncello, a lemon liqueur from the south or a shot of Grappa, Italy’s answer to Tequila.

The post Florence: How to enjoy a cheapo aperitivo appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a few suggestions for spending a fabulous (and Cheapo) day in the Marais:

1. Coffee kick-off

Start your walk out with a coffee at the old-worldly Café Les Philosophes (28, rue Vieille du Temple). The white-apron-clad waiters serve up standard espresso at decent prices. Moreover, the people-watching is amazing.

2. Vintage wears

Next, stroll one block north and turn right onto the rue des Rosiers, a tiny street lined with Kosher eateries, falafel joints, and boutiques.

Stroll past the eateries (for now) until you arrive at the quirky vintage shop called Vintage Désir (32, rue des Rosiers). Men and women can appreciate the many inexpensive vintage clothing options, but be prepared to dig and be elbowed by fashion-forward Frenchies.

Nearby Free ‘P’ Star (8, rue St-Croix de la Bretonnerie) and The King of Frip (33, rue du Roi de Sicile) are some other great alternatives to the pricey boutiques.

3. Falafel break

For cheap eats in the neighborhood, skip the restaurants and indulge in the area’s delicious falafel joints. You might initially scoff at the idea of eating falafel in Paris, but after one bite from famed L’As du Fallafel (34, rue des Rosiers) you’ll agree with Lenny Kravitz (their celebrity patron) that it’s the best in the world. And at only €5, it’s a steal for Paris. When the guy at the counter asks you a question, say, “Oui” – he is asking if you want spicy sauce!

Across the street is Micky’s Deli, a play on the New York deli scene, which offers a burger, fries, and drink for only €8.50.

If you have time for dessert, swing by the legendary Mazet de Montargis (37 Rue des Archives, Marais) for a tasty candy sample. It’s one of our favorite free things to do in Paris.

4. Visiting Victor

For some culture, continue down rue des Rosiers and turn left towards the Place des Vosges, the royal square built under King Henry IV, France’s beloved king. If the quaint park and uniformly beautiful buildings aren’t enough, head over to the Maison de Victor Hugo (6, Place des Vosges). Here the author of the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Les Misérables” lived, and its permanent collection is free to visit. It’s open every day but Monday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

5. Time for an aperitif

You must be exhausted — and thirsty! It’s time for an aperitif. Don’t avoid drinking in the Marais simply because you assume that prices will be high. Rather, indulge in the happy hour culture and grab a pint for €3.70 at the Open Café (17, rue des Archives, happy hour from 6-10 p.m.), a gay hotspot that’s also “straight-friendly.”

If you want a more mixed crowd, head over to La Perle (78, rue Vieille du Temple) for an inexpensive glass (or carafe) of wine. The young hipster crowd spills out onto the sidewalk until closing on weekends.

After a cheapo day in the Marais, you’ll be well fed, more cultured, and probably tipsy enough to think that your new vintage hat really does look incredible on you. Hey, it’s the Marais. Anything goes!

Your favorite places in the Marais

Do you have a favorite place to visit in the Marais? Share with us in the comments section!

The post Paris: A Cheapo day in the Marais appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Drink specials

Here’s a short list of apéritifs—along with a few daytime touring suggestions to go with your drinks— that’ll help you ease into the evening in harmonious style. So, during “l’heure de apéritif” (the gateway to dinner), you can kick back with a journal or sketchpad avec a cold beverage, and look and feel like a vrai local.

Something old in Montmartre

Local Laurent demonstrates the art of the Picon.

Hankering for a taste of the past? Order a Picon. Created by Gaétan Picon in 1837, this bittersweet blend of oranges and deep blue gentian flowers is typically served with a demi-pression (small draft beer), into which you pour the Picon-bière. Aromatic and richly colored, the orange-toffee flavored brew combines with the hops to pack a potent punch. Take caution! “Just one,” smartly advised local film editor Laurent, “otherwise you just might tumble down.”

Everything tastes better in context. So, if you’re in Montmartre, work up your thirst with a stroll by Van Gogh’s old digs at 54 rue Lepic, Picasso’s studio at the Bateau Lavoir (13 Rue Ravignan), or the Chat Noir at 84 Blvd. Rouchechouart (where Erik Satie tickled the ivories). If you still aren’t parched, check out the old zinc bar exhibited at the Musée Montmartre.

Something new (er) in St-Germain

After the 1915 ban on Absinthe, folks had to make do with Pastis, which tastes nearly the same but no longer induces appearances of la Fée Verte (the Green Fairy) as the hallucinogenic muse of artists and poets. Opalescent green in color with a distinctive anise taste, it’s usually mixed with water and ice. For a literary twist, add champagne instead of water for a concoction Ernest Hemingway lovingly called, “death in an afternoon.”

Promenading through St-Germain? Look for the former residence of Julia Child at 81 rue de l’Université (she had her own homemade absinthe recipe!), or the Closerie des Lilas, where a plaque embedded in the bar marks Hemingway’s favorite seat. Visit the Musée d’Orsay. Note those cloudy green glasses in the works of Degas, Lautrec or Van Gogh.

Something borrowed in the Marais

In 1885 Fernand Muraux found a recipe in Switzerland and introduced Suze (named for a Swiss river). Another gentian-based apéritif, this old-fashioned bar favorite is normally served on ice with equal parts water or orange juice. Make a conversation piece of it by challenging your drinking companions to describe its strange and peculiar flavor! Picasso once said, “I put all the things I like into my pictures—too bad for the things, they just have to put up with it.” Check out his 1912 collage “Verre et bouteille de Suze.”

While meandering through the Marais, visit the Musée Picasso or Musée Carnavalet (where you’ll spot Steinlen’s original Chat Noir sign!).

Something blue in Montparnasse

Say “Kir” for a classic (and classy) refresher made of crème de cassis (a blackcurrant liqueur) in white wine. Originally called blanc-cassis, it was named for Canon Félix Kir, the Mayor of Dijon who popularized it when the good red Burgundy was confiscated during the German Occupation. As usual, brewmaster Hemingway made his own version with vermouth, called “Chambéry Cassis.”

Afternoon aperitifs near Picasso’s old haunt.

Take a break from hobnobbing in Montparnasse with a visit to the Musée Montparnasse. Also hit up Hemingway’s house at 70 bis rue Notre Dame des Champs, or see where Gertrude Stein held court at 27 rue de Fleurus (where Papa was a frequent caller). For real café-culture ambience, try Le Select at 99, Boulevard Montparnasse.

Bon Voyage et Santé, Cheapos!

The post Paris Tip: Local aperitifs and the locales to match them appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.