Eat your way around the gourmet capital of the world with our guide to delicious cheap eats in Paris

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There's no getting away from it: spending time in the City of Light can be expensive. And particularly so when evening rolls around. While you can grab a great-value lunch from a handy boulangerie or a Marais falafel stall, finding a cheaper place to enjoy dinner is trickier. To crack it, you need to keep an eye out for old-school bistros, hidden canteens and innovative streamlined takes on fine-dining – and as luck would have it that's exactly what we've dug out for you here. Tuck in…

We've picked the best spots in Paris for those with big appetites but small budgets

Boco

At this chain of three restaurants, you can enjoy food created by Michelin-starred chefs for a fraction of the price you’d expect to pay elsewhere in the city. Five culinary stars were tasked with creating the menu, covering starters, mains and deserts and using mostly organic produce. The restaurant takes its name from the recyclable glass jars that the meals come in. In other words, everything about this restaurant is designed to help you dine guilt-free. The polenta lasagna and braised beer with potato puree come highly recommend. 

Address: 3 Rue Danielle Casanova, 75001 Paris, France

Contact: +33 1 42 61 17 67

Opening times: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm

Price: £

Bistrot des Victoires

Close to the Louvre, this small but cheerful bistro is typically Parisian, with nostalgic décor including globe lights, wooden furniture and frosted windows. In other words, it’s the ideal place to hide away on a cold day, or relax in summer. The usual staples are all on the menu, but without the pretentious price tag of other nearby eateries. Opt for steak frites with thyme, or confit de canard, followed by the tarte tatin.

Address: 6 Rue de la Vrillière, 75001 Paris, France

Contact: +33 1 42 61 43 78

Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am-midnight, Sat-Sun 10am-midnight

Price: ££

Cantine Merci

This modern restaurant on Boulevard Beaumarchais is all about relaxing while you dine. It’s bright, airy and full of friendly staff able to help you navigate the menu of salads, soups and risottos. Most meals have at least some fair-trade ingredients and you’re encouraged to plump for a healthy order – think organic salmon or chicken and salad. If you want to throw your good intentions out of the window, dive into the delicious desert menu afterwards.

Address: 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris, France

Contact: +33 1 42 77 79 28

Opening times: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm

Price: ££   

La Pointe du Groin

Chef Thierry Breton’s restaurant offers cheap and quick meals for those fed up of station fast food. The name means ‘pig’s snout’ in French, and it’s this sort of rustic food that is on offer, with bread made on site and a stack of oxtail and pork dishes. For around €20 you can even get a box of wine along with your food. Although maybe don’t take it onto the Eurostar.

Address: 8 Rue de Belzunce, 75010 Paris, France

Contact: +33 1 48 78 28 80

Opening times: Mon-Thurs 11am-3pm 6pm-midngiht, Sat 6pm-midnight

Price: £

Peruse our list of great food and good value restaurants and cafes in the capital

Foyer de la Madeleine

If your appetite is large but your budget is small, look no further than Foyer de la Madeleine, a foodie hotspot located close to Jardin des Tuileries. The Foyer is a collection of eateries, but among the shops and expensive restaurants selling Champagne and foie gras is a small canteen serving up three course meals for €8. You’ll find it opposite the grand entrance to the Madeleine, hidden behind a small door. Just make sure you keep it a secret, OK?

Address: 8

Contact: +33 1

Opening times: Mon-Sun midday-midnight

Price: £   

Le Richer

Once a working class hub, Paris’s 10th arrondissement is undergoing a foodie revival. Open from 8am-1am and located at 2 rue Richer, Le Richer is a cafe, bar and restaurant all rolled into one. It offers braised beef cheeks, perfectly cooked poulet, buttered cabbage and other typically French dishes. Prices are keen – you can often get a main with side, desert and glass of wine for €20. It’s friendly and always busy, but doesn't take reservations. So be prepared to wait, particularly at weekends.

Address: 2 Rue Richer, 75009 Paris, France

Contact: +33 9 67 29 18 43

Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-midnight, Sat-Sun 9am-midnight

Price: ££

Discover the perfect eatery in Paris where quality and budget are compatible

Chez Omar

Although the queue is likely to stretch out the door, it’s worth hanging around at Chez Omar. The bistro is famous for its varied takes on couscous, with prices ranging from €11 to €24. The rest of the menu is more French than North African, with steak, fish and duck cooked to perfection. The slow-roasted lamb is a particular triumph. Chez Omar may be bustling and busy, but for a real taste of how cultures come together in Paris, and for a meal that won’t break the bank, this is the ideal spot.

Address: 47 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France

Contact: +33 9 86 39 91 14

Opening times: Mon-Sun midday-2:30pm 7pm-midnight

Price: ££   

Le Petit Clerc

A short walk away from the Eiffel Tower, Le Petit Clerc is the ideal pitstop after a day of sightseeing. There’s everything you could want here, from omelettes to croques. Roast veal is served on Tuesdays and roast chicken on Sundays – both for just €12.50. Better still, the average two-course meal costs around €20. Best of all is the cheese selection from Marie-Anne Cantin, renowned as one of the best fromageries in the city. Queues can run out of the door, so book in advance if you can.

Address: 29 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris, France

Contact: +33 1 45 50 17 50

Opening times: Mon-Sun 8am-midnight

Price: ££