How to eat on Paris holidays

For hundreds of years, France has been renowned across the globe for having the best cuisine and some of the world's most celebrated restaurants. Its crown may have slipped a little in recent years as other restaurants, such as Spain's El Bulli and Denmark's Noma, gain in glory but France - particularly its capital, Paris - remains one of the world-leading destinations for fine dining. However, while Paris certainly has its fair share of top eateries, there are plenty of poor quality offerings too and it's important to learn where to eat well in the city before you dine.



As a general rule, avoid eating in restaurants near the biggest tourist attractions in Paris. These establishments are often too expensive and offer below-par food and service. Instead, venture away from these areas and look for local gems in one of Paris' famous arrondissements. If you're unsure of where to start, ask a member of staff in your hotel where they like to eat or get chatting to a Parisian in a cafe if your French is up to scratch. Alternatively, find a neighbourhood you like the look of and simply wander around, inspecting menus at every interesting restaurant or bistro you come across. If your French language skills are shaky, don't forget to carry around a phrasebook so that you can tell the difference between steak and salmon on a menu.

While French cuisine certainly has many highlights for the avid gastronome - from gleaming patisseries or moreish moules-frites - non-French food styles also offer much for travellers in Paris. Across the city, you'll find vendors of every type of ethnic cuisine, most popularly Chinese food stalls and Lebanese snack shops, where you'll find hummus, falafel and other Middle Eastern delights. Moroccan, Algerian and Indian restaurants are also popular and it's often in these ethnic establishments that you'll find some of the best vegetarian offerings.



In general, eating on Paris holidays can be a pricey affair - even if you avoid the tourist traps. However, food from street vendors is in general more affordable and ideal for travellers looking for a quick, tasty bite to eat during a day of sight-seeing. However, if you're at leisure to spend an afternoon by the banks of the Seine during a summer getaway in Paris, make sure to take a suitably Parisian picnic along with you. This usually involves a simple selection of bread, cheese and a bottle of wine, all of which can be affordably bought in a French market or gourmet shop.



If you have your heart set on dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant but can't afford the set menu, consider investigating lunchtime options. Most fine dining eateries will offer a fixed-price lunch menu for a vastly reduced price, with food that's just as high quality. This way, you'll get the Michelin-starred dining experience on a budget that you can afford and you'll get to experience the most sophisticated food that Paris has to offer.