The trick to finding the best food deals in Europe
"But isn't London just so expensive?!" This question comes up a lot. The short answer is: "Yes, yes it is – most in demand places are." Continental Europe is not much cheaper than the UK for eating out as a tourist. Set menus, plat du jours and Airbnb kitchens can go someway to reduce the holiday food bill, but what really helps is the European love affair with markets and fresh produce. Add to this the street food truck trend and you've got yourself a recipe for savings. Here are some of the must-visit marketplaces.
London: Maltby Street Market
Everyone floods the most well-known Borough Market, near London Bridge or Notting Hill's tourist-tat favourite Portobello Road Market at the weekend, which leave this laneway, quietly tucked beside Tower Bridge relatively unknown. The term market is only loosely applied, there are no fresh vege stall, dairy stands or gourmet butchers to speak of – instead Ropewalk is home to some of the best street food stands in the British capital.
Seek out: Not remotely British, but the Mozambican burger and chicken wing stand is worth splashing out on. BYO bib.
Copenhagen: Paper Market
Paper Island (or Papiroen, locally) is a budget friendly isle of food trucks in a sea of expense in this Scandi capital. Fittingly, it is on the other side of the main canal from the picturesque tourist trap of Nyhavn. The walk (or boat ride) is worth it, as Papiroen offers more than just street food caravans – bands and DJs turn this into a nighttime hangout as well.
Seek out: Get the Danish fix with an open sandwich from Hand Made
Paris: Bastille Market
The Bastille markets on a Sunday is a bit of an institution in the French capital and offers a mixed bag for travellers – from bric-a-brac to brie and baguettes – you will likely want to buy something from every second stall. All the ingredients for a classic French picnic are here, to be had at the nearby canal or a short walk away by Notre Dame Cathedral on the Seine. The emphasis is on fresh, raw produce rather than rows of street food vendors, hence why locals love it.
Seek out: Any stand selling the prune and custard flan, the Pan Breton.
Bordeaux: Marche des Capucins
If you've found yourself in Bordeaux, chances are you're a foodie anyway, but make sure Marche des Capucins is on your itinerary. All the delicious and cheap 'eries' are here – patisserie, boulangerie, fromagerie – but what really grabbed my attention was the local weekend brunch tradition of oysters and local white wines...at 10am. When in Rome.
Seek out: Half a dozen with a local Sav.
Madrid: Mercardo San Miguel
The crowds head for the El Rastro flea market, but for cheap-but-delicious pastries, fruits, tapas, wines and desserts head to this covered market just around the corner from the city's main square Plaza Major. My travel buddies devoured crisp-but-creamy meringues in a matter of seconds and the seafood tapas, cheeses and characters serving them make for great photos – if your tastebuds can wait that long.
Seek out: This is tapas town, so hop from stall to stall and sample a little something from each for €2-3 a pop.
Salzburg: Hellbrunn Christmas Market
Set amongst some set pieces of The Sound of Music, this Austrian city turns it on in December with Christmas markets to rival the best in Europe's much-larger cities. While sitting down for the famous schnitzels in the capital Vienna can be surprisingly expensive, Austria's second city keeps the festive spirit high and the prices low (and the temperatures even lower). Live advent calendars, reindeer sleigh rides and gluhwein (mulled wine) add to the spirit.
Seek out: Kasespatzle, venison sausages, dumplings, anything with cinnamon.
Written by Josh Martin. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.