I love Leipzig very much. I come here for its rich culture, vibrant nightlife that challenges Berlin, and an accessible, affordable variety of food scene. From the bohemian Karl-Heine-Straße to the hip KarLi (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße) in Südvorstadt and the historic Markt square, I have compiled a list of my favorite spots — Georgian khachapuri stuffed with melted cheese in an old factory complex, a vegan Vietnamese classic at KarLi, delicious Moroccan tagines in Plagwitz, and a classic student-friendly place located in an old castle in the city center. Here is my guide to the best affordable eats in Leipzig.

1. Salon Casablanca

Address: Karl-Heine-Straße 47, 04229 Leipzig

Today is a perfect day for a hearty soup, and this is the place – a Moroccan restaurant called Salon Casablanca. I love coming here to try their tagines and soups, with great-priced meals, many vegetarian options, good portion sizes, and refreshing mint tea.

Mixed plate of Halloumi and Falafel at Salon Casablanca - amazing!

2. Beard Brothers and Sisters

Address: Karl-Heine-Straße 69, 04229 Leipzig

The next stop is Beard Brothers and Sisters, a vintage bar serving the most delicious hot dogs and drinks. I have always wanted to come here thanks to the positive reviews from my friends in the past, and I was happily not disappointed. They have great hot dogs, perfect bread, a good range of sauces and toppings, and in the evenings, local musicians perform on the small balcony above the bar. The fun doesn’t stop here.

Our next stop is Westwerk, an old factory complex that has become the heart of the local creative scene. Along with workshops for artists and musicians, there are many affordable places to eat here.

3. Kleiner Kaukasus

Address: Karl-Heine-Straße 93b, 04229 Leipzig

I tried Georgian cuisine for the first time at Kleiner Kaukasus and I loved it. The owner, Malkhazi, prepared the Khachapuri in front of us – hot, soft flatbreads filled with melted cheese and topped with delicious beets and cream. This was a melt-in-your-mouth kind of dish.

4. Bamboo’s Streetfood

Address: Karl-Heine-Straße 87, 04229 Leipzig

In the later days of our trip, we also visited the nearby Vietnamese restaurant Bamboo’s Streetfood; here you can taste Pho along with other specialties served on plastic plates. It’s not the best pho, but still a solid 8 out of 10 option for Asian flavors.

5. Naumann’s Gaststube

Address: Karl-Heine-Straße 32, 04229 Leipzig

I can't forget to mention Naumann’s Gaststube. This place, part of Felsenkeller, is worth visiting to see the magnificent interiors of the old neo-baroque building dating back to 1890. Naumann’s Gaststube offers honest, working-class meals, and I highly recommend their schnitzels.

6. Brothers Café & Bakery

Eisenbahnstraße 85, 04315 Leipzig

Located on the hip Eisenbahnstraße, The Brothers Café & Bakery is a popular spot in the neighborhood thanks to its rich mix of Turkish, Arab, and Italian influences. A great brunch place, it also offers sandwiches, pastries, really good Pide, Manakish, Lahmacun, and burgers.

7. Spizz

Address: Markt 9, 04109 Leipzig

Leipzig Markt Square

If it's a beautiful sunny day in Leipzig, I highly recommend getting a drink at Spizz in the historic ‘Markt’ square. Spizz, a popular jazz and live music venue, has an affordable food menu that offers everything from local Thuringer bratwurst and fries to pasta dishes and sandwiches. Enjoy the view while sipping on local Wernesgrüner beer.

Cafe Madrid

8. Café Madrid

Address: Klostergasse 3-5, 04109 Leipzig

Another place I love to visit in Leipzig is Café Madrid (Klostergasse 3-5), a tapas bar very close to St. Thomas Church. I stopped by to watch the Champions League semi-final match. Free wifi was another important reason for my visit. If you’re visiting and looking for a nice place to watch football, I recommend this spot. The food is also very good. I ordered olives, green and black olives, followed by Patatas Bravas with Salsa and Andalusian-style lamb (Cordero al estilo Andaluz) along with a 0.5l Paulener Pils. Café Madrid isn’t the cheapest place in the city, but with its nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and free wifi, it was perfect for me.

9. Café Maître and Pâtisserie

Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 62, 04275 Leipzig

I’m continuing my journey to the best pastry shop in the city; Maitre, located at Karl-Liebknecht Street 62, has been satisfying the sweet tooth of locals since 1904. Here you can buy the best French baguettes in the city, satisfy your sweet cravings with excellent meringues, candies, cakes, or chocolates (packaging designed by local illustrator Phillip Janta). The coffee is excellent. The cakes are great too.

10. Moritzbastei

Address: Kurt-Masur-Platz 1, 04109 Leipzig

Moritzbastei (Universitätsstraße 9), located in the university campus in the city center, offers a bit of everything. Here you can drink beer in the sun, dance as much as you want in the evenings, listen to a variety of music from blues to samba or dark wave, attend concerts, or watch live football and movies for free (only in German).

The food here is affordable, offering generous portions that cater to every budget. From delicious salads starting at just €3.30, the tasty Solyanka soup with sour cream and baguette (Small portion €3.90/Large portion €6.90), to Hummus baguette for €4.90, or if you’re looking for something more filling, you can try dishes from their special menu starting at €9.80. Or you can get something from their pasta dishes made with wild garlic pesto, roasted hazelnuts, carrot chips, and Parmesan for €10.80.

11. Ān Chay Vegan Diner

Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 1, 04107 Leipzig

“Ān Chay” means “vegan food” in Vietnamese, and among the highlights on the menu at this small place on popular KarLi (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße) are Vegan Duck, Pho, and summer rolls which are also great.

12. Mintastique

Address: Str. des 17. Juni 11, 04107 Leipzig

No cupcakes were harmed in this photo shoot.

Unfortunately, due to the amount of coffee and cake I consumed while traveling in Germany for a month, I didn’t get the chance to try them. However, if you’re visiting Leipzig, stop by the popular ‘mama made’ Mintastique (Zentrum Sud, Straße des 17. Juni 11, 04107) where you can taste the best cupcakes in the city. The price is around €4, but if it tastes as good as it looks…

Check out my guide to affordable meals in Berlin.