Paris Restaurants with Eiffel Tower Views: Where to Eat

Eating dinner while enjoying a view of the Eiffel Tower sounds like a simple, easy goal - until you start looking at the options.

You can choose a restaurant almost directly across the Seine with a close-up view, dine high above Paris in a rooftop restaurant, watch the Tower appear and disappear as you glide along the river on a dinner cruise, or even eat inside the Eiffel Tower itself.

But each experience is different, and the best choice depends on what matters most to you: the food, the view, your budget, whether you're traveling with children, and how much you care about getting a particular table.

One important distinction: restaurants inside the Eiffel Tower give you wonderful views of Paris from the Tower plus you'll get fascinating close-ups of whatever section of the Tower's steel framework is within your line of vision. But what you'll obviously miss is a view of the whole Tower itself.

If that iconic view of the Eiffel Tower silhouetted against the Paris skyline is what you want to see, a restaurant or cruise facing the monument will be the better choice.

In the Sunday edition of my free Paris Discoveries Newsletter, I answer reader questions about Paris travel, and readers frequently ask where they can enjoy a memorable meal with Eiffel Tower views, which restaurants work well for families, and how far ahead they should reserve.

This article, part of the Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive, brings together those real reader questions and my answers based on my own dining experiences in Paris.

You'll find restaurant suggestions at several price points, alternatives to dining inside the Tower, and practical advice about reservations and choosing the right view.

I've lightly edited, expanded, and updated my original answers, and added photos and related resources where useful.

Top photo: Eiffel Tower, seen from a Seine River dinner cruise, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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!

Where to Find a Kid-Friendly Restaurant with Eiffel Tower Views

I am traveling with my husband and 11 year old son to Paris in November and December, and I was wondering if you can help me find a good restaurant or cafe with a nice view of the Eiffel Tower.

I saw Girafe but my son won't eat this kind of food… any suggestions please?

Susan's Answer:

I totally understand... my daughters wouldn't have eaten the food (Girafe describes it as "the essence of marine cuisine," with the seafood prepared in styles ranging from "classic" to "exotic") at age 11 either, and assuming they were hungry, they wouldn't have cared about the views.

I recommend Margaux (10 Avenue de New York, across the river from the Eiffel Tower near the Pont de l'Alma bridge). The menu focuses on traditional French cuisine. Much of it (eggs mayo, escargots, croque-monsieur, a pasta dish, beef bourguignon, chicken) is kid-friendly, while other dishes will appeal to adults who want to try something more adventurous, such as tête de veau (calf's head). Not only is the house-made food quite good, but it's also reasonably priced, especially considering the location.

Margaux's menu includes a pasta dish with a creamy mushroom sauce but if your son doesn't like the sound of that (one of my daughters loathed mushrooms as a kid and teen), you can always ask them if they can make a dish of plain pasta with butter for your son if he doesn't see anything else that he likes on the menu. In my experience, most Parisian bistros, cafes, and brasseries are usually happy to do this for kids, as long as they have uncooked pasta available on their kitchen shelves. This was one of my own foolproof "traveling with kids" hacks with my daughters at certain ages.

You can book reservations for Margaux online on their website, and they also provide a phone number if you prefer to call.

What Are Some Memorable Alternatives to Madame Brasserie with Eiffel Tower Views?

Harold's Question:

We will be visiting Paris for the 1st time in June of 2026.

We are considering having dinner at Madame Brasserie, primarily because of its unique location in the Eiffel Tower. We recognize the restaurant is quite pricey and the on-line reviews are not all positive.

We are seeking a memorable dining experience. Is there an alternate restaurant we should consider for a unique dining experience??

Susan's Answer:

Hi Harold,

You're right about the less-than-stellar reviews, as well as the expense.

The other thing to consider about the Eiffel Tower's dining experiences there is that although the Tower does sparkle around you for five minutes at the beginning of each hour after darkness falls, you don't get a view of the Tower itself - just a small section of its painted steel frame.

Plus, if you opt for an early dinner that ends before the sky turns dark, which doesn't happen until as late as 10pm in June, you will leave before the sparkles happen.

So here are several other options that you could consider:

Book One of the Popular Seine River Dinner Cruises

In June, the sun doesn't set until around 10pm, but the late dinner cruises that start around 8:30pm let you see the Eiffel Tower sparkle once the sky is fully dark.

My two favorites are Bateaux Parisiens (departs from Left Bank) and Bateaux Mouches (departs from Right Bank); both include musical entertainment (typically, live singers, and on one recent cruise that I was on, an excellent violinist) during the dinner portion of the cruise, along with several "services" or "packages" which determine seating options and the number of courses and type of wine you get.

In my experience, the best views are from the private tables next to a window, with the absolute best (and the most expensive seats) being those in the front area next to a window - but the other seating is fine too.

At this time, only Bateaux Mouches's most expensive standard dinner package includes priority seating by a window, whereas Bateaux Parisiens offers two "services" with window seating, including one at the front and the other toward the back. If you decide to book, read the descriptions carefully as they may change.

Although Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches are also two of the most expensive cruises, in my opinion they also have the best food and wine - and the cost for the pricier packages and "services" with window seating runs about the same as dinner by a window at Madame Brasserie.

Enjoy Dinner at a Restaurant on Land with a View of the Tower

My favorite is Margaux, which has delicious bistro-style French classics at a very reasonable price point and is almost directly across the river with straight-on views. Book well ahead, and request a table with a view.

Other restaurants (although at significantly higher price points) with direct views include Les Ombres on the rooftop of the Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly) in the 7th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower, and across the Seine in the 16th arr, L'Oiseau Blanc on a rooftop terrace at the Peninsula Hotel and Girafe at Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine at Trocadéro, also in the 16th. All require reservations well in advance of your date.

Savor a Drink at a Rooftop Bar with an Eiffel Tower View

One of my favorites is the rooftop bar at Terrass Hotel in Montmartre, which has been recently renovated and now embodies a French vision of a western theme, complete with a number of artfully-displayed cactus plants as inspired by a brand of whiskey.

A rooftop restaurant across the hall offers additional excellent views - I haven't had the chance to have dinner there yet, but I've heard from others that the food is good. The best views are from the tables by the windows, so reserve one of those.

Otherwise, after a drink at the bar, head to your restaurant of choice. If you want to eat nearby, wander up Rue des Abbesses and you'll find lots of small bistros and cafes.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Reservations at Restaurants with Eiffel Tower Views?

Susan's Question:

If I want to eat at restaurants with views of the Eiffel Tower such as Cafe de l'Homme and Cafe Girafe, should I book a day ahead?

My Recommendation:

Many restaurants now provide online booking on their websites so making reservations is much more common and much easier than it used to be back when you had to either call or stop by in person, which means the most popular places fill up sooner.

Start checking availability about a month ahead, including dates a week or so before your own. If those earlier dates are beginning to be marked "complet," meaning that they're full, that's a good signal to reserve for your own preferred time/date.

Booking requirements vary by restaurant, so be sure to check the small print to understand their terms.

Cafe de l'Homme, for example, puts an authorization hold/guarantee on your credit card in case of a late cancellation/no-show (and even requires deposits or prepayment for larger groups). Some special experiences require deposits or prepayment, so check the current terms before you book.

Update: One more thing to note for anyone planning a family visit to Paris: Café de l'Homme currently restricts dinner to guests who are 15+ years old, although there is no minimum age for lunch.

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:

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

Want to get more questions and answers about Paris travel, or ask your own question?

Sign up for Paris Discoveries and you'll get Paris travel planning tips and the newsletter's Q&A edition delivered straight to your inbox each week.

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!