Paris: Favorite cheapo restaurants and cafes that remain open in August
We’ve made it again—it’s summertime in Paris! As you may already know, this means Paris has become somewhat of a ghost town. Now that August has hazily rolled over the City of Lights, all the locals have headed to their chateaux in Normandy or their hotels on the Mediterranean.
What’s left? All of the tourists, visiting Paris’s major destinations in hoards, and eating at restaurants targeted towards them specifically. This means that unfortunately, many of the hole-in-the-wall, local-frequented restaurants, bars and cafes that Cheapos love have closed up shop for the month. You might be disappointed to find that many of the best boulangeries and cheap bistrots in Paris have tacked a paper note on their doors—”fermé pour les vacances“.
So what’s a thrifty traveler to do, without begrudgingly paying the inflated prices of tourist hotspots? Don’t worry. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best spots that remain open in Paris during the month of August. Head to these spots to avoid disappointment and frustration!
On the Go: L’as du Fallafel
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: L’as du Fallafel is incredible. And, lucky for you, it’s open during August. No walk through the Marais is complete without a tasty, super cheap falafel sandwich.
32-34 Rue des Rosiers
4th arrondissement
+33 1 48 87 63 60
Metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1)
Classic French: Bistrot des Victoires
One of my personal favorites: an old-school French bistro with all the classic dishes, most hovering around €10. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the Paris of yesteryear without breaking the bank.
6 Rue la Vrillière
1st arrondissement
+33 1 42 61 43 78
Metro: Bourse or Sentier (Line 3)
Delicious Asian: Le Petit Cambodge
Sometimes you need to take a break from French food, and this is the perfect place to do so. Delectable Cambodian dishes are served up here for less than €20. A favorite of locals, there’s usually a long line at Le Petit Cambodge, so now’s your chance to secure a table quickly!
20 Rue Alibert
10th arrondissement
+33 1 42 45 80 88
Metro: Goncourt (Line 11)
Website
Wine Bar: Le Verre Volé
A classic Canal St. Martin joint with charming, eclectic decor, a great wine selection, and yummy plates. They are open only for dinner Monday-Thursday, with lunch and dinner service on the weekends from August 11th-24th.
67 Rue de Lancry
10th arrondissement
+33 1 48 03 17 34
Metro: Jacques Bonsergent (Line 5)
Website
Cocktail Bar: Le Mary Celeste
I have three words for you: one euro oysters. Yes, you read that correctly. Le Mary Celeste is a hip bar in the Marais with a great selection of cocktails and, yes, €1 oysters.
1 Rue Commines
3rd arrondissement
+33 9 80 72 98 83
Metro: Saint-Sébastien – Froissart (Line 8)
Website
Related: 5 summer drinks to try in Paris
Great Terrace: Les Mondes Bohèmes
If you’re willing to make the trek out to the 20th arrondissement, you’ll be delighted to find this gem of a terrace. Les Mondes Bohèmes is like a secret garden—a magical spot with twinkling lampion lights and dreamy decor. And get this—during happy hour, the cocktails are only €6 and the beers €3.
31 Rue des Vignoles
20th arrondissement
+33 1 43 48 69 38
Metro: Buzenval (Line 9)
Website
Boulangerie: Maison Kayser
Sometimes in Paris, the best thing to do for lunch is to just grab a baguette from the nearest boulangerie. Unfortunately, in August, you may find yourself wandering around in circles looking for one that’s open. You can count on Maison Kayser, a chain of pretty decent boulangeries that are scattered throughout Paris, and open for all of August.
14 Rue Monge
5th arrondissement
+33 1 44 07 17 81
Metro: Maubert–Mutualité (Line 10)
87 Rue Assas
6th arrondissement
33 1 43 54 92 31
Metro: Vavin (Line 4)
10 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie
6th arrondissement
+33 1 43 25 71 60
Metro: Odéon (Line 4, 1o)
… or just buy Poilâne bread at the supermarket
Save yourself the stress of hunting for a bakery, and just head to the nearest supermarket. As Bryan has already noted, Poilâne bread is amazingly delicious: They’re the massive slices of sourdough bread you’ll get with any tartine order in Paris. Luckily, you can find them in just about every big grocery store!
Fromagerie: Go to a Market
Good luck finding a gourmet cheese store that’s open in August. I’m sure it’s doable but, instead of all that hassle, I recommend you just find an open air food market (there are plenty), where you will surely be able to buy some delicious French cheese.
Good Coffee: Strada Cafe
Most of the gourmet coffee shops in Paris close up for holiday in August, so thank goodness Strada is upon to feed your craving for fancy coffee!
94 Rue du Temple
3rd arrondissement
+33 1 44 61 09 28
Metro: Rambuteau (Line 11)
Related: New Cafes serving up tasty drinks from talented baristas
Parisian Cafe: Café de la Paix
If you’ve been dreaming of sitting in on the terrace of a cafe in Paris, reading and taking it all in, don’t worry, you can do this even in August. Café de la Paix, a staple of Parisian café culture, is open for all of August.
5 Place de l’Opéra
9th arrondissement
+33 1 40 07 36 36
Metro: Opera (Lines 3, 7, 8)
Website
Thank you Caitlin, for compiling these. I am sharing this morning with my readers! Keep up the good work (would love to help you, but I am based Stateside 😉 — Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)