By Lisa T. Bergren

Trying to keep to a budget—and still eat—is no easy feat in Paris. Be advised that you might encounter what is the equivalent of $10 Cokes if you sit down in some of the more famous cafes. It’s pretty typical to spend $4-6 on a drink for kids (or coffee for you), which can bring up your food bill really fast. Everyone warned us that eating in London was expensive, but I found that the simple act of dining was what nearly killed us in Paris. It was hard to not spend at least $25-30 per person on lunch (15 to 20 Euro, including drinks), to say nothing of dinner.

Cost-saving Ideas

If you’re anywhere near the Bon Marche (Metro stop right by it), make a family trek to shop and carry back supplies (take an empty rolling suitcase!). The food emporium is next to the department store, and has tons of goodies, as well as fresh food. You can buy picnic supplies, as well as sodas to bring back to your room—and take out with you for the day so you can just order tap water at cafes. Great little gifts to bring back too—sea salt and chocolate!

We took Crystal Light packets with us and filled water bottles to carry with us each day while touring. Disguises any funky water tastes and helps you avoid the $5 Coke scenario, at least some of the time.

Boulangeries/paitisseries: Fabulous bakeries can be found on almost every city block—pastries in the morning, a fresh baguette to snack on—mmmm…. let the fam carb-up at will. You’ll be able to split more meals.

Fresh produce markets are on nearly every street; I bought a banana for $.50 and fab strawberries for $4. Great way to get some vitamins in the mix, when enjoying diets heavy in butter, chocolate and white carbs.

Many neighborhoods have farmer’s markets twice a week; ask about those closest to you, upon arrival, so you don’t miss it.

If you’re not having to escape cold or rain, look for corner stalls of cafes that offer sodas, juices, sandwiches and crepes to eat on the street. You’re in Paris—don’t you want to sit and watch the people go by anyway?

Have the kids eat from the children’s menu (labeled “d’Enfant”). Even my almost-fourteen-year-old had more than enough food eating from these options—and they always included a yummo dessert.

Warn the kids that French restaurants do not offer “free refills” on drinks like chain restaurants in America, so if you’re like me, you’ll be limiting them to one special beverage per meal.

Other Tips:

• Croque Monsieur is a kid-friendly sandwich—a French version of toasted ham and cheese (or variations of it), served open-faced. My kids also like salmon, which was fortunate, since it appeared on most menus we saw. If your kids haven’t had salmon, consider making it a few times before you go to introduce them to it.
• Need to unwind after a long day of touring with the kids? Like wine? Ordering a partial carafe is pretty affordable in Paris. Rosé is a light, fruitier, pink wine. Rouge is what you want if you like red. Pretty hard to go wrong, even if you just go with the house wine.
• You’ll need a French phrase book to help you decode French menus. Most are on chalk boards and not translated—I copied a few key pages to have with me in my purse, so I didn’t have to carry the book with me.

Recommended Restaurants

We loved the funky, casual Café du Marche, on Rue Cler, near the Eiffel Tower (about €20 pp). It’s on a great market street to walk through too. The café in Musee d’Orsay is FABULOUS (but about €28 pp). My kids still can’t get over their food/desserts. (The clock, pictured above, was right above our table. The museum/café is in an old train station.) Other recommendations ( no reservations, so get there early):

• City Crepes Café, 73 Rue de Seine, American-friendly J (about €14 pp)
• Refuge des Fondues, 17 Rue Trois Freres (about €20 pp)
• Chez Gladine (Classic French food), 30 Rue des Cinq Diamants (about €20 pp)

Bon appetit!

Related Posts: London/Paris Spring Break:

London, Part 1/3: Heathrow to London; Youth Hostel, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Fat Tire Bike Tour, Oyster Cards

London, Part 2/3: The Eye, Gastro-pub, Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Tower of London, Churchill Museum, Brass Rubbings

London, Part 3/3: Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor

Ferry vs. Chunnel: Paris via Calais

French People are Nice (and Paris is Safe)

Paris with Teens

Versailles: Fat Tire Bike Tours