Traveling, especially internationally, can be expensive. After shelling out for long-haul flights, hotel or other accommodations, and attractions or activities, there often may not be much left over for dining out, arguably an essential part of the travel experience. Luckily, European travel expert Rick Steves has plenty of really good tips when it comes to dining well while on vacation in Europe, including more than a dozen smart budget food tips for hungry travelers (such as filling up on lunch specials, opting for take-out, and avoiding tourist traps). One unlikely place that Steves likes to visit for cheap eats while in Europe is the department store cafeteria.
As Steves writes in Europe’s Cheap Eats, “All over Europe, towering department stores offer great cafeteria lunches — often with rooftop views for no extra charge (such as at the Galeria Kaufhof in Frankfurt).” Other such cafeterias that offer views and sometimes a terrace include the one on the top floor of the Cortes Ingles at Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona, the La Cantine Du Bazaar cafeteria inside Le BHV Marais department store in Paris, the Manora restaurant on the top floor of the Manor department stores in Lucerne, the Coop restaurant of the Coop City department store in Zurich, and the Migros cafeterias in the Migros supermarkets in Switzerland.
Read more: 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Dining In Italy
Self-service with sky-high views at a bargain price
People grabbing food in cafeteria – Beekeepx/Getty Images
These department store cafeterias may not be fancy, but they serve up an assortment of hot and cold foods at a reasonable price (especially in pricier locales such as Switzerland). They tend to be self-serve and can offer buffets, and depending on the cafeteria (and day), salad and side buffets can be charged by weight or by the size of the plate. In the latter case, do as Rick Steves advises on Europe’s Cheap Eats and “grab the small (cheap) plate and stack it like the locals do — high.”
Other budget-friendly cafeteria meal options that Steves recommends include those found in some of the larger museums (such as the Vatican Museums and the Louvre Museum) and universities, which happens to be Steves’ favorite place to find cheap food and good conversation in Europe, though the views in these cases may be somewhat lacking. For dining on the cheap with a view, grabbing picnic provisions from a local market to enjoy outdoors at a scenic park, lively square, or along the waterfront is a great way to stretch a budget when dining across Europe, according to Steves.
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Read the original article on Tasting Table.