Dove posso comprare del cibo economico qui vicino?

Where can I buy cheap food nearby?

Pronunciation

e-co-NO-mi-co — five syllables, stress on the third.

When to use it

Ask hostel staff for budget eating recommendations. They know the best cheap options for budget travellers in the area.

What it means

'Economico' = economical/cheap. 'Del cibo' = some food (partitive article + noun). 'Qui vicino' = nearby here. Hostel staff in Italian cities are experts at budget food — they give this advice dozens of times per day.

Variations

Qual è la trattoria più economica qui vicino?

What is the cheapest trattoria nearby?

Ask for affordable local restaurants rather than tourist spots

C'è un mercato alimentare?

Is there a food market?

Italian covered markets ('mercati') offer cheap, fresh produce

Dove fanno il miglior kebab?

Where is the best kebab?

Kebab shops are the cheapest hot food in Italian cities — usually excellent quality

Mini Dialogue

— Dove posso comprare del cibo economico qui vicino? — Da Carlo fa il migliore kebab della zona, 4 euro. O c'è una pizzeria al taglio in Via Roma, a due euro al pezzo. — Perfetto! E per la colazione? — Il bar all'angolo fa caffè e cornetto a uno e cinquanta. Non cercare altro.

— Where can I buy cheap food nearby? — Carlo's has the best kebab in the area, 4 euros. Or there is a pizza by the slice place on Via Roma, 2 euros a slice. — Perfect! And for breakfast? — The bar on the corner does coffee and croissant for one fifty. Look no further.

Cultural Note

Budget eating in Italian cities: pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) at €1.50–3 per slice, panini at local bars for €2.50–4, kebab shops for €4–6 full meal, mercato alimentare for self-catering. Avoid sitting down in tourist restaurants near monuments — the same food costs three times as much.

← Previous

Avete la tessera dell'ostello?

Avete una mappa della città?

← All phrases: At the Hostel