I found a $15 hidden gem for eating in Paris

Last summer I spent a week in Paris and was shocked by how much restaurants near tourist spots cost. A local baker told me to check out the lunch menus at smaller brasseries away from the big attractions. I found one near the 11th arrondissement that had a three-course lunch for 12 euros, compared to 30 euros for a similar meal near the Eiffel Tower. The food was actually better because more locals ate there. Has anyone else stumbled on a cheap lunch spot in a big city by just walking a few blocks away from the crowds?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannahcraig19h ago

Buddy of mine found a killer 8 euro lunch near Palais Royal just by turning down a random street.

ivan_harris11h ago

lol that's always how it goes right? You spend an hour reading reviews and planning and end up with a mediocre 15 euro sandwich, then your mate just wanders into some random alley and finds the meal of a lifetime for pocket change. I swear Paris rewards people who just give up and get lost. Bet it was some tiny place with a guy who barely speaks English and has been making the same three things for thirty years. Absolute gold.

bailey.jennifer4h ago

Honestly, @hannahcraig that's the kind of find you can't really plan for. I had a similar thing happen near the Louvre once, just wandered down this tiny side street and ended up at a place with only four tables and a guy who just pointed at the menu board and shrugged. Best chicken I've ever had, probably 9 euros with a drink. It's like Paris gives you a reward for letting go of the map.