Europe’s best foodie deals

Street food might have been banned in Bangkok, but it is alive and well in these European hotspots.

‘‘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 United Kingdom 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 leaves this laneway, quietly tucked beside Tower Bridge relatively unknown. The term market is only loosely applied, there are no fresh vege stalls, 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. 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 within 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 euros (NZ$3-4.60) a pop.

Salzburg: Hellbrunn Christmas market