Skip breakfast in the hotel to save a few euros and splurge at some freshly baked carbohydrates instead. Paired with a coffee at a local café (be discreet) or even takeaway while seated in a park (it’s possible), any of these pastries will be a welcomed change from the perfectly delicious but potentially mundane croissant.

Plus, they’re very cheap ranging from €1.80-3 each.

1. Pain au lait (with chocolate!)

If you want something less buttery but just as satisfying, go for one of these little loaves. Baked with a bit of milk and butter, this take on the brioche is best with chocolate chips scattered through it. It’s like a breakfast baguette, perfect for dipping in coffee.

2. Chausson aux pommes

It’s like a croissant but with apple sauce inside. In the US it is known as the apple turnover. You still get the buttery goodness of other pastries but the sweet apple filling makes it feel downright healthy. Look for these alongside the croissants. It counts (probably) as one of your daily fruit requirements.

Related: A quick guide to Paris cafe etiquette

3. Escargot

No, not snails, though these pin-wheel shaped pastries do owe their name to the one of France’s other culinary treasures. These flaky pastries can be rolled up and filled with almost anything, from pink pralines or cinnamon to raisins or — my favorite — chocolate and pistachio. Every bakery that sells them will do them differently, so have fun trying them all.

4. Pain Suisse (or “drops”)

It’s that thing that doesn’t seem like it belongs with the other pastries. Oblong and with gooey yellow pastry cream oozing out of it, I might never have ordered one if it wasn’t studded with bits of chocolate. But I’m glad I did. The brioche holds up well to all of that cream, but it’s definitely not for those who like a light breakfast.

5. Almond croissant

Imagine a croissant filled with almond paste and topped with slivered almonds. Or take a regular croissant from yesterday’s batch and fill it with almond paste and coat it in a sweet syrup before baking it again, giving it a new life. Either way, you get yourself an almond croissant. The reused ones are my favorite, heavy with a frangipane (almond-flavored filling) layer.

6. Mouna

This one’s not French technically but has roots in Algeria. Still, the sweetened bread topped with pearl sugar is an easy fix for someone who wants to keep it simple. Often sold in little domed buns but also in loaf form, the pastry is popular around Easter but can be found all year long in Paris.

The post Paris: 6 breakfast pastries to try that aren’t croissants appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Curious to try some of the best? Here are five top picks when searching for Bavarian baked goods in and around Munich.

Related: A guide to Germany’s discount grocery stores

Bigger is usually better when it comes to German pretzels. Photo: Audrey Sykes

1. The pretzel

It’s soft, it’s lightly salted, and can be the size of your head. Yes, the Bavarian pretzel, or brezen, is a staple to all beer halls and traditional bakeries in Munich. Mouths will water when the gold-crusted dough breaks apart to reveal a fluffy white dough, slightly sweet and amazing with a spread of butter or mustard.

Krapfens (aka Berliners or doughnuts) always make the taste buds happy. Photo: digital cat

2. The Krapfen

Imagine a homemade pastry the size of your fist, fried and sprinkled with sugar. The krapfen is made with an airy yeast that melts into a joyfully dense doughnut in your mouth. The krapfen filling can be vanilla cream, raspberry and apricot. The pastry has different names depending on the region in Germany, but Bavarians carry an assortment on display (the vanilla is similar to Bavarian cream).

3. The Plum Cake

In German it’s zwetschgenkuchen, but let’s just stick to a somewhat messy plum cake. It’s like an angel food cake dough, with freshly sliced plums on top that have been slightly cooked in a gelatin. The plums are juicy enough to seep through the cake, then the final combo is chilled to perfection. Sometimes topped with butter crumbles or whipped cream, a perfect choice for the not-so-sweet dessert types.

4. The Apple Strudel

Apfelstrudel is a slice of Bavarian heaven, and a personal favorite worth a couple extra euro splurge. Pastry dough is rolled as thin as possible, and the strudel in general consists of multiple layers of baked cinnamon apples, strudel sheets, nuts and raisins. It’s served warm with a vanilla sauce that tops it off as a comforting, heart-warming dessert.

5. The Rum Raisin Pancake

A Bavarian and Austrian classic, this rum raisin and almond pancake is called a kaiserschmarrn. Small strips of pancakes that are light and sweet, usually with a warm side topping like homemade applesauce or plum sauce. Usually it’s created as one large pancake, and the tradition is to tear it apart into pieces with your hands. It’s a simple snack and perfect for two, to go.

The post Munich: 5 classic Bavarian bakery items for around €1 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Why? Well, in Italy we do not have breakfast, or at least we do not have breakfast the way other people usually have it. For a Venetian, morning calories are usually consumed in the form of sweet things: a shot of espresso coffee or a cappuccino and maybe (but only maybe) a small croissant (called brioche) or a small doughnut (called krafen or bombolone, depending on which part of Italy you’re in) and fruit.

Breakfast at the bar

If your hotel doesn’t provide breakfast, then you should head down to a local bar (there is one in every corner in Venice) and order an espresso or cappuccino and a freshly baked croissant or krafen.

Important: Make sure to have your coffee and pastry at the counter because it will be much cheaper than sitting down. If you take a table, you will be charged extra for table service. At the bar, you can experience a very quick breakfast, Italian-style.

Breakfast at the pasticceria

If you prefer a longer and more relaxing breakfast, then head to a local pasticceria (cake shop) where they have some small tables and get yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea (make sure to order milk with it, otherwise it will come with lemon) and a nice freshly baked pastry. In Venice, go for a bignè al cioccolato (a choux pastry filled with chocolate cream) or a slice of strudel. This will be a bit more expensive, but the cakes are worth trying.

Here are three of my favorite pasticcerie:

Pasticceria Rosa Salva is a classic Venice bakery. Photo: Miquel R

1. Pasticceria Rosa Salva

Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo
Tel: +39 (0)41 5227949
Website

This is one of the oldest bakeries in Venice, dating back to the 19th century. Here you can try a large selection of typical Venetian cakes, cookies, brioches, rolls, sandwiches, tramezzini (a typical Venetian triangle soft bread sandwich), fritters, meringues, millefeuilles and much more.

2. Pasticceria Tonolo

Campo San Pantalon, just at the back of Chiesa di San Rocco near Frari
Tel: +39 (0)41 5237209
Hours: Tues-Sat 7:45 AM – 8 PM, Sun 7:45 AM -1 PM

Pasticceria Tonolo is usually ambushed with customers on Sunday mornings. (Italians often buy cakes on a Sunday to take as presents for whatever lunch they might be invited to.) Expect long lines, but wait with patience: It is worth it!

If you’re in Venice around Christmas, try the focaccia (a special Venetian sweet bread). At Carnival time, try the frittelle. Bignè alla crema (cream puffs) are a good choice all year-round.

Right in St. Mark’s Square, Caffe Florian has been a favorite spot for decades. Photo: Son of Groucho

3. Caffe Florian

Piazza San Marco 56-59
+39 (0)41 5205641
Website

Caffe Florian in St. Mark’s Square is the oldest café in Italy and one of the oldest in Europe. It’s a great place for an upmarket late breakfast or brunch. It will not be cheap, though you cannot compare the location and the setting to any other in the world. The café offers also a whole menu dedicated to breakfast, with all kinds of dishes and drinks. Try their selection of teas and pastries: You will not be disappointed.

Note: This article was updated on July 24, 2014 with new information, links and photos.

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To avoid hearing me groan when you tell me what you paid for your sandwich, here’s a list of suggested “price ceilings” for some Parisian basics. It’s a good list to keep handy to save a few euros or, you know, if you’re ever a contestant on a French version of “The Price is Right”…

1. Glass of wine

While beer and cocktails can dent the wallet pretty quickly, wine should never be too expensive in a standard café or bar. Avoid the more specialized wine shops and wine bars and opt for a glass of red or white at a more low-key joint. Limit: €4

2. Steak frites

Most cafés and bistrots serve traditional yet affordable French fare. From the well-traveled but enjoyable Chartier to the classic Les Philosophes in the Marais, a cut of meat and frites shouldn’t be a splurge. Limit: €18

3. Walking/bike tour

With multiple free walking tour options, some tourists prefer a private tour to explore the city more intimately. With dozens of choices out there, it’s hard to pick. A walking tour with Oui Paris Tours or a bike tour with Fat Tire is a great, affordable way to get to know the city. Limit: €30

4. Electronics adapter

Many a traveler forgets that outlets and plugs are different in Europe. Souvenir and electronic stores sell adapters to make your chargers fit into the wall outlets, but the cheapest ones can be found at BHV, the all-purpose department store in the Marais. Limit: €10

5. Crepe/Sandwich

Street food can be found everywhere, so prices are competitive. At lunchtime, the choice often comes down to a sandwich or a crepe. For a gooey ham and cheese crepe or a chicken and veggie sandwich, I never worry about having enough money. Limit: €5

6. Clothing

With wintertime approaching, having appropriate socks (ones without holes) seems important. Unprepared visitors often wonder where to get the latest Parisian fashion as they shiver in their tee shirts. Do like the Parisians do and head to the closest H&M or, better yet, to Japanese department store Uniqlo by the Opera Garnier for some good shopping and great site-seeing. Limit: €40 pants, €40 sweater, €3 socks

7. Café

Instead of 7-11 and Dunkin’ Donuts, the French head to the café for a pick-me-up that won’t break the bank. A café (an espresso) may leave some tourists longing for a cup of Joe, but for mere euros you can squat a seat for as long as you’d like. (Tip: Stand at the cafe’s bar for cheaper prices.) Limit: €2

8. Theatre/Opera tickets

If you packed a top hat or a ball gown anticipating a night at the theatre, there is hope. Last minute “rush” tickets for the Opera Garnier and Bastille are extremely affordable if you are patient enough to line up 2-3 hours before the show. Théâtre du Châtelet, which often hosts musicals like Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd, offers rush tickets up until the minute before curtain. Limit: €30

9. Pastry

Unless you’re going to try the trendiest macaron or a French-style cupcake, pastries are a steal in Paris. Bakeries all over the city will serve up the best flaky croissants, lemon tarts, or apple pastries for mere coins. Limit: €3

10. Entrance to a bar/club

If you choose to go to a bar or club on the Champs-Elysées, good luck to you. Personally, I’d never enter a place that made me pay a cover. There are plenty of nightspots on rue de Lappe by the Bastille or in the winding streets of Montmartre that will keep the budget-conscious partier happy.  Limit: €0

What do you think, Cheapos?  What other price limits can you imagine in Paris? Share your own “price ceilings” in our comments section.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Paris? Our editors have inspected, reviewed and photographed Paris’ best inexpensive accommodations. We’ve got picks all over town, in the Latin Quarter, near the Louvre, in the Marais and more central neighborhoods.

The post Paris Prices: The maximum we’d pay for everyday items appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Bakery sandwiches

Bakeries also usually sell sandwiches, which are typically “sub” style on a half or whole baguette. These are called bocatas or bocadillos. Expect to find bocatas with the following popular combos: ham with olive oil and tomato, Spanish omelet with olive oil and tomato, cheese with olive oil and tomato, dried sausage olive oil and tomato…

They don’t do the mustard and mayo combo here much, though you might come across the more standard American-style sandwich (called “sandwich”) in some bakeries. These will have mayo, lettuce and tomato, etc.

Bakeries are a good place to get cheap yet delicious and usually healthy breakfast and lunch food. You could also buy bread at the bakery and then grab some cheese at the market and make your own bocatas to take with you for the day. This is definitely the cheapest option.

A few bakeries I adore are:

Baluard
C/ Baluard 38
Barceloneta, Spain

The best bakery in Barcelona? Not sure, but it was ranked number two by Time Out. It’s fabulous, and on the weekends there’s a line out the door and down the block for its buns. They do bocatas, many sorts of breads, muffins, cupcakes, “pizza,” empanadas and a whole array of mouthwatering desserts.

BoPan
Various locations
Web site

With quite a few locations around town, this bakery is a bit more high-end, offering specialty breads and sweets.

Panadaria Paul
C/ Rosselló, 490
08025 Barcelona

One of my top-five bakeries in which to enjoy a coffee and a sweet raisin roll. It’s a love-hate thing, because Paul has caused me to break my diet routine many a time. Fresh baked bread, morning pastries, desserts with gooey chocolate and fresh berries.

Other options

While these bakeries offer something special, any bakery will do. Wherever you stay, there is sure to be a bakery nearby. If you don’t see one, ask the receptionist, as he probably has one close by that he likes!

I will never understand how Spaniards eat so much bread and sugar and stay so thin…. It’s a mystery.

The post Barcelona: Best bakeries for delicious cheap eats appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

North African nations of the once-mighty French empire, including present-day Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, still maintain important links with France, especially concerning immigration and cultural exchange. Today these communities are an integral part of the Parisian scene. Unfortunately, however, it’s cultural tensions with these groups that receive most of the media attention.

Food for thought

For better or worse, cultures often become defined by their food, and the Maghreb countries are no exception. While there could be a magic carpet hidden amongst the fabric stores of the Barbès neighborhood, let’s focus on the couscous, mint tea, and orange blossom pastries that await Paris-bound travelers.

Here’s my Cheapo-friendly tour of where to experience the tastes of North Africa in Paris:

Mint tea

Mosquée de Paris
2 bis, Place du Puits de l’Ermite, 75005
Web site

For the best mint tea in Paris, head to the Mosquée de Paris in the Latin Quarter. The building was inaugurated in 1926 and is the third-largest mosque in Europe. While most non-Muslims cannot enter the building freely, the café connected to the religious monument offers a taste of the Maghreb.

Mint tea (€2) flows plentifully while an assortment of North African pastries awaits you. Sitting in the blue-and-white tiled courtyard, watching the sparrows flit among the foliage, you forget that you’re in the heart of Paris, or even in Europe for that matter.

Art and cultural exhibits

Institut du Monde Arabe
1, rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard 75005
Web site

To experience some more culture, head to the Institut du Monde Arabe, which since 1987 has been hosting art, photography and cultural exhibits stemming from Arab nations. For just €6 (€4, reduced), the exhibits are yours to roam. If money is an issue, the rooftop terrace and café offers sublime views of the city and the Seine–and access via the elevator is absolutely free.

Algerian couscous

Les 4 Frères
7, Boulevard de la Villette 75010
Web site

When hunger hits, a steaming plate of fluffy couscous and stewed vegetables is a sure-fire cure. Restaurants all over the city propose the North African specialty. My favorite is Les 4 Frères, located just up the street from the Belleville Metro station. The restaurant offers some of the cheapest and tastiest traditional Algerian fare in the city. A plate of couscous with either chicken, beef, or lamb is only €7.20–a small price to pay for a veritable feast. Don’t hesitate to try a pastry or two – they’ll bring the platter to the table and let you decide.

North African pastries

Bague de Kenza
Various locations
Web site

If we’re going to talk pastries, there is definitely a one-stop must-see for any serious sweet tooth. The Bague de Kenza chain offers some of the best Algerian pastries in the city. Feast on flaky pastries rife with almonds, orange blossom, honey and pistachio. There are six locations in Paris, so there’s no reason to miss out on one of their fig-glazed or honey-enrobed delights.

Outdoor market

Barbès market
Boulevard de la Chapelle
Open: Wednesday and Saturday

Since picnic season is upon us, a trip to an outdoor market is always helpful when shopping for affordable fruits and veggies. One of the most exotic (and least expensive) is the Barbès market situated just south of the Montmartre district and open every Wednesday and Saturday. As with most Parisian markets, after noon the vendors start unloading their goods at much lower prices, often selling baskets of produce for just a euro or two.

The crushing crowds along the Boulevard de la Chapelle will transport you out of Paris and into a Moroccon souq, with shouting vendors hawking their produce to a diverse crowd of North African Parisians. Be warned, it’s not for the agoraphobic.

Your suggestions?

Even if you’re still planning that North African adventure, let us know where in Paris you find your inspiration. Where is the best place to find tastes from across the Mediterranean? Share your advice in the comments section.

The post Paris meets North Africa: Tastes of Morocco and Tunisia appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Appeltaart met slagroom
Typical price: €3.75

Apple pie with whipped cream will always be a soft spot for the Dutch. In cafes this pie is usually on display, letting all eyes marvel at its deep, staggering slices of apple cinnamon filling and towering, dense crust. It’s served cold or at room temperature, so add some whipped cream on the side and dive your dessert fork into a swirly dream of delight.

2. Stroopwafel
Typical price: €1 (at the market), €2.50 (grocery store)

Take a very thin waffle iron, cinnamon batter, remove from heat, pour thick stroop syrup over one waffle and press it against another hot waffle to make a soft and gooey syrup sandwich. That’s a stroopwaffle; and they’re to die for. Buy them warm and king-size at the outdoor markets or pre-packaged in the supermarket (which would make a great cheapo souvenir… if you can resist them!).

3. Poffertjes
Typical price: €2.50

Think warm, puffy pancakes the size of quarters, showered with a flurry of powder sugar and a drizzle of stroop syrup. Poffertjes are a good excuse for a sugary breakfast, but are also considered a cozy snack during the winter months. These silver-dollar cousins are served best with hot chocolate or spiced wine, especially after an afternoon spent ice skating.

4. Amandel koekie
Typical price: €1

Amandel koekie are little almond cakes easily finished in two or three bites. The cake is a cheap buy at the supermarket (usually located next to the stroopwafels), but are also available fresh out of the oven in the bakery section for about a euro. Just look for the golden cookie-shaped cake with a naked almond on top, and enjoy.

5. Peren ijs
Typical price: €.75

This pear-flavored Popsicle is a summer treat, a favorite among kids and perfect for cooling off at the beach. They’re cheap, not too sugary, and carry a light, natural taste. These sticks of soothing satisfaction can be picked up from most ice cream vendors, gas stations and beach snack shacks.

The post Amsterdam: 5 delicious Dutch desserts not to be missed appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Finding affordable Kaffee und Kuchen is… well, a piece of cake in Berlin. But if you’re looking for something extra special, here are a few suggestions:

1. Albrechts Pâtisserie
Rykestraße 39 (Prenzlauer Berg near Kollwitzplatz)
Tel: +49 (0)30 440 172 73
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Web site

As the name suggests, Albrechts Pâtisserie draws from the best of France and Germany. Combining “German traditions with French finesse,” Albrechts offers up to 20 different kinds of sumptuous cakes and pies on any given day.

The owner’s personal favorite? Stephanie Albrecht recommends the Schokodom, a tower of fluffy sponge cake and two kinds of mousse au chocolat, topped with more chocolate. In addition to the Prenzlauer Berg location, there are shops in Schöneberg and Charlottenburg (see the Web site for details).

2. Koriat
Pannierstraße 29 (Neukölln)
Tel: +49 (0)30 288 791 79
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Thursday), 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Friday to Sunday)
Web site

Israeli baker Aviv Koriat doesn’t bother delivering. Instead, folks from no less than 16 cafés personally pick up pastries from Mr. Koriat’s eponymous bakery in Neukölln.

The spartan shop has no seating inside, but it does offer a sidewalk bench. Try to look nonchalant as you balance your peach and pistachio cake on your lap while sipping espresso. You are on hipster-filled Pannierstraße, after all.

3. Der Kuchenladen
Kandtstr. 138  (Charlottenburg near Savignyplatz)
Tel: +49 (0)30 310 184 24
Hours: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Tuesday to Friday), 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Web site

If you want to feel special without spending a fortune, check out this little shop. Der Kuchenladen serves handmade delicacies to a select few customers—that is, those who battle it out with young families and gay couples to grab one of the four tables in this tiny, pink-walled café. You’ll find all the usual suspects of German bakeries here, but always with a twist.

4. Alles Gute…
Simon-Dach-Straße 3 (Friedrichshain)
Tel: + 49 017 814 432 45
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday to Friday), 10 a.m. to 5 pm. (Saturday), 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Sunday)

Follow the smell of freshly baked brioche and you’ll find yourself at Alles Gute. Whether you like your latte with organic or soy milk, this café on fashionable Simon Dach Straße caters to your whimsy. Plus, you won’t find a cheaper slice of artisan cake in the neighborhood.

5. Opernpalais
Unter der Linden 5 (Mitte)
Tel: + 49 (0)30 202 68-3
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Web site

If you feel like splurging, you can mingle with the well-heeled dames at Opernpalais, which boasts “Berlin’s biggest selection” of over 65 cakes (including some for diabetics). The servers can be a tad impersonal, but you can’t beat the location on magnificent Unter der Linden.

The post Berlin: 5 great bakeries for coffee and cake appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A cinnamon roll and coffee at Cafe Esplanad.

Are your taste buds unstimulated? Not to fear—Helsinki’s hidden culinary strength lies in its selection of cute cafes. No one can subsist on coffee and pastries alone, but here are three Cheapo-approved cafes for tiding you over between meals.

Café Esplanad
Pohjoisesplanadi 37

Sitting pretty just off Helsinki’s Esplanadi Park, Café Esplanad is known for more than its prominent location. The café’s giant “korvapuustit” (Finnish cinnamon rolls) are simply delicious. Esplanad is self-serve, so ask the cashier for a roll, pour yourself a coffee, and sit near the window to watch the pedestrian traffic pass by. A pastry plus a coffee (with free refills) will set you back about €5.

Café Engel
Aleksanterinkatu 26

If you prefer stunning views to people-watching, take a seat at the Café Engel, which counts as its neighbor the famous Helsinki Cathedral. (The café is even named after the cathedral’s architect, Carl Ludvig Engel.) The café is popular with locals, and even hosts outdoor film screenings in the warmer months. A full breakfast costs around €13, while coffee and a slice of cake is €7-10. After lingering over your table, head across the street to the Cathedral’s steep steps for a post-meal workout.

The view from Cafe Engel.

Café Ekberg
Bulevardi 9

Southwest of Esplanadi Park in Helsinki’s hip Kamppi district, Café Ekberg dates back to 1915. The beautiful, bite-size pastries and cakes on offer here make for the perfect afternoon sugar rush. Known for attracting a more mature crowd, the café also offers a good breakfast. Just make sure to have the morning meal on a weekday, when the meal costs €9—the price doubles to €18 on the weekends. If you prefer to stop in for a pastry or sandwich, expend to spend €2-10.

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Visiting one of the finest food capitals of the world, a place chock-full of bountiful “Bon Produits” (specialty shops), all managed by certified gastronomical experts who are more than willing to share their vast wealth of knowledge, is abso-fruga-lute-ly not the time to shop at a chain grocery store in order to save a few centimes.

Splurge on a café.

So take in all those wonderful boulangeries, pâtisseries, chocolatiers, confiseries, glaciers, éspiceries, fromageries, charcuteries, poissonneries, caves, and cafés with a clear conscience. And don’t be shy. Ask for recommendations! Ask questions, and in the process you’ll take home more than the receipt.

Here’s my personal sampling of things to not miss while in France. Cheapos, splurge on!

1. Crème brûlée

Before cracking open this classic beauty, lift the ramekin to your ear, and lightly tap on its hard, caramelized topping with your spoon. Breathe in. Savor the moment.

2. Pain au chocolat

The proper way to eat it is to pinch off teeny morsels with your fingertips to make it last as long as possible. However, I usually peel the individual layers off slowly, thoroughly enjoying each melted chocolate nugget I encounter.

3. Fromage

Big wheels do keep on turning. Like skirts, cheese is seasonal, and the variety is endless. So pace yourself! Start off with the “Cantal jeune.” Named after the volcanic peaks of the Cantal mountain range, it’s hard to find this one-month-old taste sensation outside of France. Why, even the Sun King gave it his Good Palace-Keeping seal of approval. Also, don’t hesitate to ask the fromager for a cheese recommendation based on the wine you just bought down the street. They’ll gladly help you out.

Baguettes from Gérard Mulot.

4. Baguette

If it’s still warm from the oven, do as the locals do and rip a chunk off and pop it in your mouth as soon as you step out of the bakery. I’ve noticed that males tend to carry their baguettes like caveman clubs, while women usually cradle their bread.

5. Macarons and meringues

The ultimate instant sugar rush—but what-the-hey? You only live once, right? That’s what she said. Catherine de Medici’s Italian pastry chefs introduced the macaron to France, and Ladurée is credited with its stream-lined modern sandwich-look.

6. Wines

It’s perfectly normal to say, “I’m looking for something around five euros to go with [fill in the blank].” Trust me, everyone else is asking the same question. Tip: Caviste Pascal Fauvel at La Cave de Abbesses at 43 rue des Abbesses clearly marks his recommendations with heart-shaped signs that read, “Coup de coeur maison.” Others follow suit.

7. French onion soup

Yummy escargot

Day or night, it’s a hot and hearty Cheapo happy meal (sans prizes).

8. Escargots

If you end up loving them (and most people do) then you’ve made a culinary discovery, and if not, at least you’ve got a funny story to tell, and everyone will admire your bravery. I usually order my snails bathed in garlic, butter, and herbs in their little spiral shells. Yum!

9. Crêpes

“Je voudrais une banane-chocolat crêpe, s’il vous plaît,” is another one of my tickets to paradise.

Tartes at Les Petits Mitrons.

10. Tarte

Any ole tarte will do as long as it comes from Les Petits Mitrons at 26 rue Lepic in Abbesses, just up the street from the Moulin Rouge, and kitty-corner from the café featured in the film “Amélie.” You can also buy your pie by the slice!

11. A drink in Parisian café

If you visit Paris and miss out on this experience, Cheapos, we are no longer friends. Yes! Your alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks will cost a little more than in a grocery store, but the upside is that you’ll be given courtside seats to people watching, and you can stay as long as you like.

12. At least one article of clothing

For the simple love of bragging rights, do pick up a scarf, shirt, or slacks. Then, for years to come you’ll be able to say, “Oh, this old thing? I picked it up in Paris years ago!”

Cheapos, do you have a favorite French treat? Do tell!

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