Restaurants with a View in Paris: Rooftops & Skyline Favorites

Intro...

In the Sunday edition of my free Paris Discoveries Newsletter, I answer reader questions about Paris travel.  Recently, readers have asked whether it makes sense to move from one Parisian neighborhood and hotel to another when time permits.

This article is part of the Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive and brings together my answers based on my own experiences with staying in multiple neighborhoods on longer trips.  

You'll find advice about...

I've lightly edited, expanded, and updated my original answers, included a few practical tips for making the move from one hotel to another easier, and added photos to make this a more complete Paris travel resource. 

Top photo:  Paris skyline view from La Fondation's rooftop deck, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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Can You Recommend Some Paris Restaurants or Rooftops with Great Views

Marjorie Asked:

Any recommendations for restaurants with great views of Paris as well as good food?

And Kim Asked:

Do you have any recommendations for some great rooftops for drinks or meals with great views?

Susan's Answer: 

I'm going to answer both of your questions together because they're cover basically the same topics.

First, here are a few suggestions for where to eat with great views of Paris, including one where I'm eager to return to for a full meal rather than just coffee and chocolates:

For Eiffel Tower views and very good traditional French food with a few modern touches, I recommend Margaux, across the river. Prices are quite reasonable, considering the location. Request an Eiffel Tower view when you book. There are other more famous, and way more expensive places nearby - but I prefer the food and the warmer, more relaxed vibe here.  Plus, the check won't flatten your wallet.

For more distant and unobstructed Eiffel Tower views, the onsite 7th floor Edmund restaurant at Terrass Hotel in Montmartre is terrific. They offer a small bistro-style season-based menu, with a vegetarian option for each course. Here, also, prices are reasonable. They also serve breakfast and lunch. There's also a huge enclosed rooftop bar across the hall (on the other side of the elevators), with even better Eiffel Tower views, where you could stop for a drink before or after dinner. They also offer snacks, although if you're really hungry, the food in the restaurant is better.

I also love the seasonal 10th floor rooftop terrace bar at La Fondation hotel in the 17th arrondissement, which has views of the Eiffel Tower and also Sacre Coeur, plus lots of wonderful rooftop vistas.

Don't overlook the wonderful views of the Eiffel Tower and other historical attractions from the Seine River lunch and dinner cruises.  My favorite Seine River cruise line at the moment happens to be Bateaux Parisiens but the other cruise companies also provide excellent experiences - I've never been on one that I didn't thoroughly enjoy.

For views of Notre Dame Cathedral, my favorite rooftop is the 10th floor terrace at Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) near the Seine in the 5th arrondissement. You'll see a ticket counter when you enter because the Institute includes a museum and exhibition spaces (always, in my opinion, well-worth visiting) but you can go up to the 10th floor for free. Head toward the restaurant, and when you're almost there, veer left to get to the terrace. It's usually open throughout the day, but I usually try to time my visit to be there between 3pm-5pm when they serve delicious tea and North African pastries.  Keep in mind, though, that as long as the restoration work on Notre Dame's exterior continues, you'll also get a view of cranes.  But some day, they'll be gone.

The restaurant where I want to return for a meal for both the food and the views: Halle aux Grains, on the 3rd floor of the Pinault Collection (huge contemporary art exhibition space), located in a building called the Bourse de Commerce in the 1st arrondissement near Les Halles. During my most recent visit to Paris, my husband and I stopped by the restaurant for afternoon tea (although I had coffee instead, which was quite good), and not only loved what we tasted, but found the 3rd floor closeup views of the surrounding area - Saint Eustache Church, the undulating rooftop of the Les Halles shopping center, all the nearby rooftops - mesmerizing. There was a sort of weird metal grill across the windows which somehow made the views even more interesting. It's probably not the type of view you were thinking about when you asked your questions - but something to consider! 

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See More Questions & Answers about Where to Eat in Paris

Wondering about where to find more places to eat or types of cuisine for your Paris visit?  You'll find those Q&A archives here:

• Add 2 more links as food pages get finished
• Where to Eat in Paris: Restaurant Tips & Recommendations

Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive - See Q&As on all topics

Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication.  If you purchase through our links, PDG may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Merci for your support!

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