Paris Daytime Eats: 7 Under $7
Spend a week in the city of light, and it’s easy to become super spendy. Paris is, of course, one of the world’s foodie capitals, with more than 70 Michelin starred restaurants within its 20 arrondissements. In order to navigate the incredible food scene, spend less during the day to make room in your budget for an amazing dinner each night. Here’s our list of the top 7 pastries, breads, crepes and snacks, all for under $7, to get you through breakfast and lunch.
As always, all recommendations are either locally-owned, environmentally sustainable, or culturally significant
As always, all recommendations are either locally-owned, environmentally sustainable, or culturally significant
2. L'Éclair de Génie: Salted Caramel Eclair
Sea salt. Caramel. Eclair. Need we say more? L’Eclair de Genie has a few locations within the city, and any (or all) should be sought out. |
1. La Reine Des Bles Boulangerie: Olive Baguette
In Paris, fresh, warm and perfectly baked baguettes aren't exactly uncommon. But the folks over Reine Bles Boulangerie in the 5th arrondissement bake the most delicious and perfect green olive bread in the city. It’s hard to explain, but there’s something magical that the moisture from the whole green olives do to the center of the baguette. The result is a light, fluffy, moist middle surrounded by a thick crust with an olive surprise every few bites. And at $1.70 per baguette, you can get two. Tip: Get there early - they do sell out! 
|
The bakery specializes in small, delectable eclairs, with unique flavors that are (almost) too pretty to eat. With flavors like chocolate ganache, creamy apricot, soft fig and dark chocolate, it’s safe to say everyone will be satisfied.
|
3. Au P'tit Grec: Fromage et Champignons Crêpe
Located within a stone's throw of Place de la Contrescarpe, one of Paris’ university neighborhoods, Au P'tit Grec serves up what all students crave: a lot of delicious food for very little money. The crêpes are covered with marinated mushrooms and a ridiculously divine amount of perfectly melted cheese. |
|
|
If you like, you can add lettuce and tomato before the giant pancake is folded in thirds and handed over the counter. Now comes the difficult part - getting your mouth around it to take the first bite. Au P'tit Grec is great for lunch but also open late night and crepes are about $4.00.
4. Gerard Mulot Patisserie:
Cherry Clafouti
Skip the beautiful tarts, the crusty croissants and the pastel macaroons and head straight for the cherry clafouti. If you’re unfamiliar, clafouti is a traditional French dessert of black cherries in a thick cake-custard batter. It’s the perfect combination of flavors, a slightly sweet base with jewel-like tart cherries poking through. Gerard Mulot perfects the clafouti, and serves it up from large rectangular sheets, where you can request a little square or a larger one to share. Bring your pink pastry box to nearby Luxembourg Gardens for an excellent mid-morning treat.
Cherry Clafouti
Skip the beautiful tarts, the crusty croissants and the pastel macaroons and head straight for the cherry clafouti. If you’re unfamiliar, clafouti is a traditional French dessert of black cherries in a thick cake-custard batter. It’s the perfect combination of flavors, a slightly sweet base with jewel-like tart cherries poking through. Gerard Mulot perfects the clafouti, and serves it up from large rectangular sheets, where you can request a little square or a larger one to share. Bring your pink pastry box to nearby Luxembourg Gardens for an excellent mid-morning treat.
5. L'as Du Fallafel: Falafel Pita
Le Marais is home to a handful of excellent falafel shops. While we’ve sampled most, our loyalty remains with L’as Du Fallafel. Don’t try to get fancy; just order the falafel pita and you won’t be disappointed. What L’as Du Fallafel does so perfectly, is the ratio of vegetables to falafel to sauce. Each bite has a bit of everything, with extra sauces on hand for those who want to add a little spice. The pita is also delicious, and strong enough to withhold the overflowing ingredients. The falafel pita is $6 at the window (or $8 inside, just don’t expect much from a service perspective).
Le Marais is home to a handful of excellent falafel shops. While we’ve sampled most, our loyalty remains with L’as Du Fallafel. Don’t try to get fancy; just order the falafel pita and you won’t be disappointed. What L’as Du Fallafel does so perfectly, is the ratio of vegetables to falafel to sauce. Each bite has a bit of everything, with extra sauces on hand for those who want to add a little spice. The pita is also delicious, and strong enough to withhold the overflowing ingredients. The falafel pita is $6 at the window (or $8 inside, just don’t expect much from a service perspective).
|
|
6. Le Loir dans la Theiere: Lemon Meringue Pie
Or rather meringue pie with lemon. Le Loir dans le Theiere is famous for its towering slices of lemon meringue pie, a perfectly whipped and browned sweet meringue on top of sour lemon crust. The pie is delicious, but the atmosphere in Le Loir adds to the experience. It has a trendy San Francisco or Portland coffee shop feel with Parisians sipping tea in front of laptops and posters of the latest concerts and events covering the wall. Warning: adding tea or coffee can be a bit steep, so come caffeinated if you want to save a few bucks.
Or rather meringue pie with lemon. Le Loir dans le Theiere is famous for its towering slices of lemon meringue pie, a perfectly whipped and browned sweet meringue on top of sour lemon crust. The pie is delicious, but the atmosphere in Le Loir adds to the experience. It has a trendy San Francisco or Portland coffee shop feel with Parisians sipping tea in front of laptops and posters of the latest concerts and events covering the wall. Warning: adding tea or coffee can be a bit steep, so come caffeinated if you want to save a few bucks.
|
|
|
7. Du Pain et des Idees Boulangerie: Crusty Square Bread
Located in the underrated but up-and-coming Canal Saint-Martin district, Du Pain et des Idees is a great place for a break from the boring baguette. Run by Christophe Vasseur, voted Paris’ best baker in 2008 by Gault & Millau Magazine, the beautifully decorated boulangerie serves up a range of unique breads, ranging from rose flavored croissants to escargots (snails), flaky pastry filled with flavors like rum raisin and pistachio. Although we very much enjoy the apple chevre chausson (pictured here), our favorite remains the pain des amis - bread of friends - a perfectly soft bread with a thick crust and a rich, nutty flavor. Bring a piece to the canal and watch the hipsters roll by. A slice of bread will run you about $3. |
|
You definitely don’t have to break the bank to enjoy some delicious daytime eats in Paris. And it’s not necessary to succumb to the expected croissant or boring baguette when there’s so many more interesting options! If you’re interested in more ideas beyond the expected, check out our guide to the best (slightly) under the radar things to do in Paris. Happy eating!
|
|
