Some restaurants are so overrun with tourists that the experience is not fun or the food just isn’t up to par. On the flip side, a fancy Parisian bistro can be a little intimidating for visitors who want a more casual experience or don’t want to spend a few hundred euros.

We’ve done the “hard work” over the years of testing dozens of restaurants, wine bars, and bakeries around Paris to find our favorites that offer quality without breaking the bank.

Related: 10 tips for saving on Paris dining

5 Paris places that attract locals and tourists

We’ve compiled five reliable spots to eat and drink where you can always enjoy good food, pastries or wine at a good price. Sure, you might be seated next to a table of tourists happily snapping away on their iPhone, but you might also be sitting next to a group of French business people out for a Friday office lunch.

Both tourists AND locals love these five spots:

Lunchtime at Bistrot Victoire means a hearty (and cheap!) serving of duck confit!

Bistrot Victoire

6 Rue de la Vrillière
1st arrondissement
Nearest metro: Bourse or Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre

Located just a quick stroll from the Louvre, Bistrot Victoire is definitely on the tourists’ circuit. However, we’ve also seen many locals dining there as well. With delicious plates like steak frites, salmon tartare, and roast chicken at very fair prices, this cozy bistro is always packed for lunch. During a recent visit, we chowed down on a lovely duck confit with two glasses of wine and a coffee for less than €20.

The view from the bar at Robert et Louise.

Robert et Louise

64 Rue Vieille du Temple
3rd arrondissement
Nearest metro: Saint-Paul or Rambuteau
website

Does a grilled steak over an open wood fire sound like it might hit the spot? Robert e Louise is your ticket to carnivore heaven. Vegetarians will be happy too with a delicious mushroom omelet on the menu. Located in the heart of the Marais, this restaurant is a favorite for visitors from all over the world, but it also attracts French people. One time, I had lunch at a table with a group of five French pensioners going all out for an epic meal.

Sip a glass of wine or bring a bottle to take your favorite vintage to go.

Le Baron Rouge

1 Rue Théophile Roussel
12th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Ledru-Rollin
website

Run by a friendly group of vin lovers, Le Baron Rouge really is the wine bar of our dreams. They have an incredible selection of French vintages, the prices are very cheapo-friendly, and the staff is always ready to offer suggestions. As a bonus, they have a nice menu of small bites, so you can pair your Sancerre with a trio of cheeses or a tin of gourmet sardines. Keep an eye on the giant barrels where Parisians come to fill up their bottles to bring home.

Your reward for getting a table: A beautiful buckwheat crepe at Breizh Cafe. Photo: Kent

Breizh Cafe

109 rue Vieille du Temple
4th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Filles du Calvaire
website

With so many crepe stands all over the city, you’d think it would be easy to find a tasty version. But it’s a lot harder than you think! Our solution is to head to Breizh Crepes where you can sit down and dine on a tasty buckwheat crepe from the Breton region and enjoy a glass of traditional cider. It’s not the cheapest crepe in town and there can be a wait if you don’t have a reservation, but after a few bites, you might just be planning a return trip.

Related: Our favorite crepes and creperies in Paris

It’s worth the wait for the scrumptious treats at Du Pain Et Des Idées.

Du Pain Et Des Idées

34 rue Yves Toudic
10th arrondissement
Nearest metro: Jacques Bonsergent
website

We’re not big fans of waiting in line for anything, but once you’ve tasted the pastries at Du Pain Et Des Idées, you’ll see what the fuss is all about. They have perfectly-baked loaves of bread, spectacular cakes, flaky croissants, and savory snacks filled with cheese and bacon. The top attractions are “Les Escargots” — a spiral pastry that can be filled with anything from raisins to chocolate and pistachio.

More Paris cheap eats

Looking for more places to eat in Paris on a budget? You might want to check out Chez Chartier or read up on how you can eat your way through Paris on €20 a day. And let us know where you love to eat in Paris!

The post Paris: 5 Affordable restaurants loved by both locals and tourists appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And there’s no need to empty your wallet trying to dine like Louis XVI. Parisians have mastered the art of exploring their city’s cuisine without breaking the bank.

Bon appétit!

More tips for dining in Paris

• 8 Dinners in Paris for €10 or less
• 10 Tips for saving on dining in Paris
• 5 Meals to try before you leave Paris
• All posts on saving on dining in Paris

Paris cheap eats itinerary

From a classic Parisian breakfast to their famous crêpes, here’s a dining timetable to follow to keep your costs in check.

Note that this eating itinerary doesn’t include wine or beer, but a few glasses of delicious house wine won’t add much to your budget. You also don’t have to worry about tipping in Paris most of the time, especially in cafes and markets.

Here’s how you too can explore French food like a Parisian for under €20 a day.

9 am. Breakfast: Croissant & coffee

The key to a Parisian breakfast is to be light and quick. Life in France starts later than the US, most businesses don’t even open until 9 am, and “early birds” get to work around 9:30 am. As a result, an emphasis is placed on a short and efficient breakfast.

To start your day like a Parisian, walk to one of the local bakeries or many grocery stores you’ll find on every block like Franprix, Monoprix, G20, or Carrefour. Grab a freshly made apple croissant or a pain au chocolat for €1 and an espresso (“café” in French) for another €1.

Breakfast total: €2

Related: 6 Breakfast pastries in Paris beyond croissants

Rotisserie chicken is a delicious lunch option in Paris. Photo: sk

12 pm. Lunch: Rotisserie chicken

After the powers of the French espresso start to wear off, you’re ready for lunch. This is your time to explore the creativity of French cuisine — the rotisserie chicken. Pop into a local rôtisserie shop or seek out a Franprix (or another supermarket) to pick up a piping hot rotisserie chicken and savory potatoes. At the market, they go for as low as €3.90.

Rotisserie chickens are a way of life for Parisians, and you’ll see many Parisian cafes and restaurants lined with rows of slow-roasted rotisserie chicken, with the potatoes waiting patiently at the bottom of the oven to be seasoned by the juices from the meat.

Of course, these aren’t just ordinary potatoes, these potatoes are also cooked with white wine and seasoned to perfection. One pack can feed two people and the quality is always fresh and tasty. Supplies can be limited, so make sure you visit the store during lunchtime or you might find yourself out of luck!

Lunch total: €3.90

Related: The best affordable set menus in Paris for lunch

3 pm. Snack time: Sweet or savory crêpe

What would be a Parisian menu without the classic sweet or savory crêpe? For this, you have multiple options because Paris is full of crêperies.

Oddly enough, one of the best sweet crêpes that I have had was purchased right next to the Eiffel Tower. When you come out of the Trocadero Metro station on line 6 or line 9, there’s a crêpe stand that sells freshly made crêpes for €3. As you munch on the sweetness of the crêpe, don’t forget to look up, as you’ll have one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower right in front of you.

If you prefer something savory, in the 5th arrondissement, there’s a crêperie that makes the most delicious savory crêpes in Paris. The crêpes at Chez Niko’s on 44 Rue Mouffetard are filled with gooey cheese, grilled onions, seasoned ground beef, tasty potatoes, and much more! This is not a crêpe for the weak. You cannot walk and eat this crêpe at the same time (trust me, I’ve tried).

Afternoon snack total: €3

Sitting down to dinner in Paris. Photo: Geoff P

7 pm. Dinner: Classic French cuisine

After a bit more exploration, you’re ready for dinner. In the 6th arrondissement, there’s a restaurant that serves classic French dishes at bargain prices. Le Petit Olivier (82 rue du Cherche Midi) offers a two-course dinner (and lunch) menu for only €10.

You can choose from a wide variety of authentic French cuisines like escargot, steak, fish dauphinois, duck confit, and many more options that’ll have your tongue wishing you had paid better attention in your high school French class!

Dinner total: €10

One-day total

Total Paris dining budget for one day: €18.90

Do you love dining in Paris? Tell us your secrets on how you save in the comments below.

Proof of the €3.90 roast chicken and potatoes! Photo: Mayowa Ige

The post Paris Cheap Eats: How to eat your way through Paris for less than €20 a day appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Around the rest of Paris, however, it’s good to have a few suggestions for when the urge hits. Prices vary widely but expect to pay €3-7 for a takeaway crepe. Restaurants are a bit pricier, at €8-15 for a savory crepe, though look out for set menus that score you a savory and a sweet for decent prices.

Related: 8 Great meals in Paris for €10 or less

The best Paris crepes to try during your trip

Market Crepes: Top Pick

Head to the Marche des Enfants Rouge for the city’s most over-stuffed crepes at Chez Alain Miam Miam. Alain takes his time making each item fresh, grating the cheese onto a freshly prepared buckwheat crepe and loading it with salad, meat, and fresh herbs. The line can wrap around the market, with waits exceeding thirty minutes, but no one walks away disappointed having spent only €7. If he likes you, he may throw in a few sweet crepes for dessert. Take the portable meal to the nearby Square du Temple and embarrass yourself as you try to get it into your mouth.

Latin Quarter Crepes

If you’re meandering through the Latin Quarter by the Pantheon or you just had a pint in one of the student-friendly bars on rue Mouffetard, head to Au Petit Grec (66, rue Mouffetard, 75005). They heap ingredients onto a wide variety of crepes, including seasonal ones like the Savoyard, which offers a thick mountain of cheese and potatoes. Prices hover around €5-6 for the savories. I’ve never had room for a sweet crepe afterward, but they look just as good.

Marais Crepes

On rue des Rosiers in the Marais neighborhood, right down the street from famed L’As du Falafel, there is a blue façade that serves up traditional crepes called La Droguerie — perfect for something that’s not falafel while strolling rue des Rosiers (56 rue des Rosiesr).

Around the corner, you’ll quickly find Princess Crepes (3, rue des Ecouffes, 75004). Keep your eyes peeled for a storefront that resembles a geisha’s dollhouse topped with whipped cream. This tiny store puts a kitschy, nontraditional, Japanese spin on the crepe — and you won’t break the bank while indulging with each creation somewhere around €5. The ice cream is a welcomed touch.

Restaurant Crepes

For a sit-down crepe experience, everyone always buzzes about Breizh Café (109 rue Vieille du Temple) in the Marais. Don’t get me wrong, they’re excellent, but between needing a reservation and fighting all of the “foodie” tourists that go there, it can get kind of frustrating. And at €12-16, it’s not the cheapest.

You have other choices when it comes to crepe restaurants that don’t require reservations. For example, on Ile Saint Louis the tiny Café Med (77 rue Saint Louis en l’Ile) serves up no-frills crepes that hit the spot. Sure it might not feature high-end ingredients, but a good old ham, cheese, and egg crepe doesn’t need anything fancy.

Several other restaurants serve up crepes with a fork and knife for around €10 or less. On the Right Bank, West Country Girl (6 Passage Saint Abroise) is a favorite for those like baker/writer David Lebovitz. On the Left Bank, La Crepe Rit du Clown (6 rue des Canettes) is an easy go-to when you need a crepe fix. Little Breizh (11 rue Grégoire de Tours) is another solid address with some more gourmet options, right in the heart of Saint Germain, and it’s been on food writer Patricia Wells’ radar.

Sitting down to a buckwheat crepe with a cup of cider for lunch. Photo: Neil Conway

Tips for eating crepes

Remember crepes are savory or sweet. Savory varieties are best served on a buckwheat crepe and filled with ham, cheese, or egg, but each creperie has its own set of concoctions. Some get crazy with fish, potatoes, various cheeses, and Bolognese sauce (students love it). The buckwheat, however, means they are generally gluten-free but don’t depend on it.

Sweet crepes are made of flour and can contain fruit, Grand Marnier, honey, or Nutella among other items. You can even just eat a sweet crepe on its own, or nature, as the French say. Your best bet is just to try several of them and judge for yourself.

Hungry yet? What are your favorite spots in Paris for crepes? Tell us in the comments!

Note: This post was updated in April 2016 with new listings and current information.

The post Paris Crepes: The best crepe stands and creperies appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.