Imagine watching the sun set over the city of Paris, with a glass of wine or cocktail in hand, from the vantage point of a rooftop bar. Paris, a city well known for its cuisine, famous landmarks, and culture, also offers quite a few elevated bars and restaurants where you can have a drink or dinner with an exquisite view.
Whether you want to sip on a cocktail or enjoy dinner with a view of the city skyline, you have quite a few rooftop bars in Paris to choose from.
In this guide, we cover the top spots and provide practical information, so you know which ones to include in your itinerary.
Things to Know about the Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Paris
Ideally, Make Your Reservation in Advance
Some rooftop bars take reservations and some rooftop bars are first come, first serve. We suggest making a reservation in advance for each of these rooftop bars, unless otherwise noted. Several of these are extremely popular spots and book up in advance.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit a Rooftop Bar in Paris?
When we did this in September 2023, on average we paid €13 to €20 for a cocktail. Appetizers/small plates ranged from €10 to €30, depending on the place and what was on the menu.
The cocktails at the rooftop bars are expensive, much more so than if you were going to get a cocktail at a restaurant elsewhere in the city.
We give the link to each rooftop bar and from here you can check the menus and pricing.
Hours of Operation
We recommend checking the official website for hours of operation. The links are included for each rooftop bar in this article.
Dress Code
Smart casual clothing is recommended.
Note: Many of these rooftop bars are located on top of hotels. You do not have to be a guest of these hotels in order to visit these rooftop bars in Paris.
The Rooftop Bars Close from Fall through Spring
Most of the rooftop bars are only open in peak season, roughly from May to October. If you will be visiting Paris outside of the summer months, I recommend checking the official websites to get their dates of operation.
Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris: On a Map
Here is a map labeling the rooftop bars and restaurants in Paris.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each bar or restaurant. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris
Below is information about the rooftop bars in Paris. We also provide links to the official website so you can check hours.
Sequoia Rooftop Bar
Where: Kimpton St. Honore Paris Hotel
Metro: Opera
Website: sequoiabar.com
Just a few steps from Palais Garnier, sitting on top of the Kimpton St. Honore Paris Hotel, is a rooftop terrace with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower and Palais Garnier.
Sequoia Rooftop
Sequoia Rooftop serves appetizers such as beetroot hummus, guacamole, sushi, and more. They also have a great selection of wine and cocktails. There is a minimum spending limit of €40 per person, which is easy to reach with an appetizer and a cocktail.
This was one of our favorite rooftop bars in Paris, because the view is incredible, we loved the healthy selection of appetizers, and this rooftop bar has a more laid-back atmosphere than several others on this list.
Le Jardin du Raphael
Where: Raphael Hotel
Metro: Kléber
Website: raphael-hotel.com
This upscale bar and restaurant sits on top of the Raphael Hotel, a 5-star hotel that is located one block from the Arc de Triomphe. Because of its prime setting, this rooftop terrace offers 360° views of Paris. Enjoy the views of the Eiffel Tower, the top of the Arc de Triomphe, and the Sacre Coeur.
Le Jardin du Raphael offers one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower, but what makes this rooftop setting even more appealing is its gardenlike setting.
Le Jardin du Raphael
For a cocktail at the bar, no reservation is necessary. However, if you plan to have dinner here, then make a reservation in advance.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Le Jardin du Raphael will be closed from July 15 through August 15, 2024, during the Olympics.
L’Oiseau Blanc
Where: The Peninsula
Metro: Kléber
Website: peninsula.com
From start to finish, this was the most upscale dining experience we had in Paris.
L’Oiseau Blanc is a 2-star Michelin restaurant that sits on the top floor of the opulent Peninsula hotel.
With its close proximity to the Eiffel Tower and its wall of windows, L’Oiseau Blanc offers one of the best views you can get from a restaurant in Paris. To dine here in the evening, watching the sunset over Paris and lights twinkle on the Eiffel Tower, is an unforgettable experience.
The service is impeccable, as it should be at a 2-star Michelin restaurant. Tim and I had the tasting menu, dining on black truffle carpaccio, turbot, scallops, and butternut tagliatelle. It was an extraordinary culinary journey paired with wine.
This is the priciest restaurant on this list but worth it for foodies and those who want the experience of a top notch dining experience in Paris, complete with an incredible view of the city.
The restaurant gets its name L’Oiseau Blanc (The White Bird) for a French biplane that attempted to make the first transatlantic flight between Paris and New York City. It disappeared during its journey and is considered to be one of the great mysteries of aviation. A replica of the plane is located next to the restaurant and you can learn more about the history of the event before or after dinner.
Make your reservation at least several weeks in advance.
Langosteria
Where: Cheval Blanc
Metro: Pont Neuf
Website: langosteria.com
Located on the 7th floor of the Cheval Blanc hotel, overlooking Pont Neuf and the Seine River, is a fantastic, upscale Italian restaurant. The views from the restaurant are some of the best in Paris, as you can see Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and much of the city skyline.
The view from Langosteria
Sunset view from Langosteria
We had a wonderful experience here, dining on food that reminded us of our trips to Italy. You can order a la carte or order their tasting menu. Langosteria primarily serves fresh oysters and seafood, with caviar, raw fish, pasta dishes with shrimp and lobster, and grilled fish on the menu.
Langosteria also has locations in Milan, London, and a few other cities in Europe.
In the same hotel is Plénitude, a 3-star Michelin restaurant. To dine here, make a reservation at least several months in advance of your trip to Paris.
Café Messika
Where: Printemps Haussman Femme – 7th floor
Metro: Havre-Caumartin and Saint Lazare
Website: messika.com
This rooftop bar and restaurant sits on top of the Printemps Women’s shopping mall.
The rooftop is covered with astroturf and then furnished with a bar, tables, chairs, and umbrellas. From this terrace, you get a view of the Palais Garnier and the Eiffel Tower, in the distance.
View from Cafe Messika
Other rooftop bars and restaurants on this list offer better views (such as Le Jardin du Raphael and Sequoia Rooftop Bar), but if you have plans to go shopping in Printemps and are looking for a place to have a snack or cocktail, it’s worth riding the elevator up to “7th Heaven” and enjoy the elevated view of Paris. Or, visit Perruche, mentioned next.
Perruche Restaurant
Where: Printemps Haussman Homme 9th floor
Metro: Havre-Caumartin and Saint Lazare
Website: perruche-restaurant.com
This gardenlike oasis sits on top the men’s Printemps Haussman shopping mall. Have drinks at the bar or lunch or dinner at the restaurant.
If you plan to drink or dine here, make a reservation in advance because it is one of the busiest rooftop restaurants we visited in Paris.
The view from Perruche restaurant
Printemps Gourmet
Where: Printemps Haussman Homme 8th floor
Metro: Havre-Caumartin and Saint Lazare
The view from Printemps Gourmet
This food hall is located in the men’s Printemps Haussman shopping mall, one level below Perruche Restaurant. You can order food from the various stalls selling a wide variety of cuisines and dine indoors or sit outside and order off of the table service menu. We did this and the food and service were rather mediocre but we really liked the view from this spot.
It is not worth going out of your way to visit Printemps Gourmet and only worthwhile if you will be in the area.
Créatures
Where: Galeries Lafayette Haussman
Metro: Chaussee (first e accent) d’Antin-La Fayette
Website: creatures-paris.com
Located on top of Galeries Lafayette is a wide rooftop terrace and a restaurant. If you want to come up for the view, and a photo of the Je t’aime Paris sign, it’s free to do.
Sitting on the corner of the rooftop is Créatures, an outdoor restaurant with a view of Palais Garnier.
Rooftop of Galeries Lafayette
Les Ombres
Where: Musée du quai Branly
Metro: Alma-Marceau or Pont de l’Alma (RER)
Website: lesombres-restaurant.com
Les Ombres gets our vote for best view of the Eiffel Tower from a restaurant.
This panoramic terrace sits on top of Musée du quai Branly, just a few steps from the Seine and a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower.
The restaurant is enclosed in glass giving every table a prime view of the Eiffel Tower. There are also a few tables that sit outside. Our visit was in September, during a heat wave, and with temperatures hitting 36°C/97°F, everyone was seated inside.
Les Ombres is a fine dining restaurant that serves French haute cuisine. We had lunch, choosing three dishes off of the menu. The food was phenomenal and all around this was a perfect experience, with the view of the Eiffel Tower being the highlight. I imagine that dinner here would be very memorable, to watch the sunset and then the lights sparkling on the Eiffel Tower.
Make a reservation in advance.
Bar Sur le Toit, Hotel Rochechouart
Where: Hotel Rochechouart
Metro: Pigalle
Website: en.orsohotels.com
Sitting near Montmarte, this historic Art Deco hotel is home to a restaurant and a rooftop bar. We visited both of them and had a wonderful experience.
Tim and I started off with dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, dining on roasted turbot and seared scallops and the largest artichoke I’ve ever seen. This restaurant is located on the ground floor of the hotel, so don’t expect a view here.
After dinner, we rode the elevator to the top floor of Hotel Rochechouart. This small rooftop terrace offers a stunning view of the Sacre Coeur and over the city of Paris. It has a casual vibe and the cocktails are fantastic.
Bar Sur le Toit
Rooftop at Canopy by Hilton
Where: Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadéro
Metro: Trocadéro
Website: Hilton.com
Located in the Trocadéro neighborhood, this rooftop bar offers a nice view of the Eiffel Tower. It has a laid-back vibe, the food is decent, and the service was great during our visit.
To get here, it is a 5-minute walk from Trocadéro Square and a 20-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower (or take the metro to Trocadéro). If you visited Trocadero Square for sunset views of the Eiffel Tower and are looking for a nearby spot to visit for drinks or snacks with a view, it’s worth the short walk to get here.
Georges
Where: The Pompidou Centre
Metro: Rambuteau
Website: restaurantgeorgesparis.com
Georges is a restaurant that frequently gets listed as a great spot to dine with a view of Paris. This upscale restaurant is located on the top floor of Centre Pompidou. The restaurant is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows and you get a nice view of the Eiffel Tower and city skyline.
Georges
The view from Georges
However, we didn’t have a great experience, and judging by other reviews, we aren’t the only ones.
The website states that guests should dress “elegantly.” I wore a dress and Tim wore a suit but once here, we were seated among those in shorts and skimpy tank tops. The food is expensive and overpriced for what you get. The service was very slow and the wait staff were somewhat arrogant.
I’d give this restaurant a pass. You can get the same view for free if you ride the series of elevators to the top floor of the Pompidou Centre.
Madame Brasserie
Where: First floor of the Eiffel Tower
Metro: Trocadéro, Champ de Mars, or Ecole Militaire
Website: restaurants-toureiffel.com
Madame Brasserie is an upscale restaurant located on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. From this restaurant, you have a view of the Trocadéro. For the best experience, request a window seat, so you can get an unobstructed view of the Seine River and Trocadéro.
Madame Brasserie
We had lunch here and really enjoyed the experience. We chose three dishes off of the menu, creating a 3-course lunch. The service is fast and friendly and the food is very good.
I recommend making a reservation in advance because it is a popular experience on the Eiffel Tower. Your restaurant reservation gives you access to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. If you want to go higher, you will also need to purchase an Eiffel Tower ticket. Plan your visit with our Eiffel Tower Guide.
LE JULES VERNE. Le Jules Verne is a Michelin-starred restaurant located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. The views of Paris are amazing from this spot, especially at sunset. We hoped to dine here but could not get a reservation. Based on our experience, make your reservation at least several months in advance of your visit to Paris.
Frame Brasserie
Where: Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel
Metro: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel
Website: framebrasserie.fr
This chic and trendy restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel hotel, just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower.
The views of the Eiffel Tower from this restaurant are nice, even though it is located at ground level. I’ve added this restaurant to this list because we thought the food and service were great and this is a very nice place to have lunch or dinner if you will be in the area. For the best view of the Eiffel Tower, request an outside seat.
If you are looking for a hotel to stay in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower, the Pullman is one of our top picks.
A Few More Notable Bars to Visit
Below are a few cocktail bars in Paris. Some are historic spots to visit and some make a great place to get an aperitif or late afternoon cocktail.
Bar Hemingway
Tucked away in the Ritz Hotel (it feels like you are walking a maze of corridors and hallways to get here), is a tiny bar named after one of its most famous patrons, Ernest Hemingway. Dine on mini hot dogs and sliders and order a cocktail off of the long, creative menu. Tim had the Picasso martini (vodka with a frozen cube of vermouth) and I had the Red Nichols Manhattan. The dress code is casual but men must wear long pants to enter the Ritz.
Bar Hemingway
Sliders and mini hot dogs at Bar Hemingway
Harry’s New York Bar
Established in 1911, this is the oldest cocktail bar in Europe. In 1920, the Bloody Mary was invented here, which they still serve today. Among other classics are the French 75, the sidecar, boulevardier, and more. The bar is adorned with US college pennants, British royal seals, and a board of currencies from around the world.
Harry’s New York Bar
The Little Red Door
Step inside a cocktail wonderland. This innovative cocktail bar is located in the Marais district and has made the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars nine times since 2012.
Les Ambassadeurs
Les Ambassadeurs is one of the most elegant and opulent bars in Paris. Located on the ground level of Hotel de Crillon, this cocktail bar serves creative cocktails and delicious appetizers (we loved the black truffle and comté cheese croques). If you can’t decide which cocktail to order, then simply roll the 16 sided die and let fate decide.
The dress code is smart casual. Reservations are not accepted.
Les Ambassadeurs
Small plates at Les Ambassadeurs
Le Bar Kléber
Bar Kléber is another upscale bar in Paris. It is located on the ground floor of The Peninsula. This cocktail bar also serves creative cocktails in a sophisticated setting. It’s a great place to have an aperitif before dining upstairs at L’Oiseau Blanc.
Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris: Our Recommendations
If you want to dine with a view, our top picks are L’Oiseau Blanc (2-star Michelin restaurant with panoramic views of Paris), Les Ombres (cheaper than L’Oiseau Blanc and has a better view of the Eiffel Tower), and Langosteria (Italian restaurant with views of the Seine, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower).
For drinks with a view, we recommend Sequoia Rooftop (great drinks, healthy food options, great view of the Eiffel Tower), Le Jardin du Raphael (rooftop terrace with a gardenlike setting and beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower), and the rooftop bar on Hotel Rochechouart (laid back rooftop bar with nice view of the Sacre Coeur).
Dining in Paris
Don’t miss our article 10 Foods to Eat in Paris and Where to Get Them, our food guide to Paris and another list of recommended restaurants, from cheap eats to historic cafes to fine dining restaurants.
If you have any questions about the rooftop bars and restaurants in Paris, or if you would like to write in with your experiences or recommendations, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to France
PARIS: Start with our article How to Plan a Trip to Paris. In our article Best Things to Do in Paris we cover the top places to visit in Paris. Plan your time in the city with our 2 Day Paris Itinerary and 3 Day Paris Itinerary. We also have a Paris Hotel Guide, a guide to the best rooftop bars and restaurants in Paris, how to visit Paris with kids, and advice for visiting Paris at Easter.
MUST-SEE SIGHTS IN PARIS: Don’t miss our guides to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Versailles, which cover important things to know as you plan your visit.
EUROPEAN ITINERARIES WITH PARIS: If you want to visit Paris plus one to two other European cities, you have several great options. A 10 day trip to London and Paris makes a great trip if it is your first visit to Europe (or if you just want to visit two great cities). With 10 days, you can also visit Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam or London, Amsterdam, and Paris.
ALSACE WINE REGION: Learn how to plan your visit in our 3 Day Alsace Wine Region itinerary. We also have guides to the towns on the Alsace Wine Route and how to spend one perfect day in Colmar.
Read all of our articles about France in our France Travel Guide.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Leave a Reply