Five budget spots in central Antibes: lunch for under €10

In the old town of Antibes, among tourist restaurants with inflated prices, you can find excellent options for a budget lunch. We walked the narrow streets and the seafront to pick five establishments where you can eat well and not spend more than €10. From classic pizza to Lebanese falafel — everyone will find something to their taste.

Ponzo: Italian takeaway pizza

Address: 13 rue Thuret

A small pizzeria right in the centre, where a slice of takeaway pizza costs from €3. The menu includes pizza with pumpkin cream, speck and cherry tomatoes, and a special mention goes to the version with burrata, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, generously drizzled with olive oil. It’s also worth trying the focaccia — with mortadella, pistachios and cream cheese. Ponzo is open daily until 22:00, except Sundays, so you can pop in for a late snack between walks around the historic centre.

Les Délices Antibois: local bakery

Address: 49 rue de la République

This bakery offers regional specialties at very democratic prices: pan bagnat (the traditional tuna-and-veg sandwich) for €6.50, pissaladière for €2.70 and mini sandwiches with fillings for €0.70. The place is very popular with both tourists and locals, so there is often a queue by midday. Note: the bakery is closed on Wednesdays.

Chez Jozy: the legendary pan bagnat by the sea

Address: plage de la Salis, boulevard James-Wyllie

This is a cult spot that serves only one dish — the classic pan bagnat. It includes tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, olives, tuna and anchovies. Everything is prepared on site, and the bread is supplied by Les Délices Antibois. The place even received a feature in Le Monde as part of a series on France’s gastronomic kiosks.

Falafel: Lebanese cuisine by the market

Address: 1 rue Aubernon

A Lebanese restaurant that’s easy to spot by the long queue at lunchtime. Chicken shawarma costs €8.50, the vegetarian option is €8. If you add an oriental dessert for €2, you’ll be able to stay within €10. The venue is open until 22:00, convenient for a late dinner.

La Maizon du marché: fresh salads

Address: 7 rue Sade

A small deli next to the market that serves seasonal salads: niçoise, with melon and feta, or with tomatoes and watermelon. For €6.50 you can get a large salad bowl with the option to mix two kinds. A pissaladière is also offered for €3.50. There are tables on site, so you can eat in the shade to escape the heat.

How to plan your route

All five spots are in Antibes’ old town or just a couple of minutes from it: the Cours Masséna market is a few steps from Ponzo and Falafel, and Salis beach with Chez Jozy is already on the way to the Cap d’Antibes villas. We’ve put together a similar budget route for neighbouring Cannes before — see «Cannes on a budget». If you combine a couple of stops in one day, lunch will be noticeably cheaper than at the tourist restaurants on the seafront, without compromising on taste.

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Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels