Rooftop Restaurants in Paris: Sky-High Dining in the City of Light

From the sun-kissed terraces of grand dame hotels to leafy gardens hidden above the urban grid, rooftop restaurants in Paris reveal the city in a new light. These are the places where locals retire for long boozy lunches, visitors soak up the skyline with a glass of wine and everyone savours the art of living that defines the French capital.

Before diving in, it's worth noting that not all views are created equal! Rooftop vistas in Paris can either be river or urban, be soaked in the setting sun or shadow at golden hour. The relatively low-lying skyline of Paris means that inner-city rooftop views are relatively unhindered by high-rises. Make sure you ask when you book your table – especially if views of specific landmarks are important to your experience. Some restaurants, such as the famous Madame Brasserie at the Eiffel Tower, may charge a supplement for the best tables-with-a-view.

Perched atop the famous Printemps Haussmann department store, Perruche is an equally famous city oasis and, in its own right, is one of the best French restaurants in Paris. Provençal dishes are served in a lush Mediterranean setting, complete with lemon trees and yellow-and-white textiles. During spring and summer, you can perch on a stool for a cocktail – no reservations required.

• Printemps De L'Homme, 2 Rue du Havre 9ème étage, 75009 Paris
• Open daily for lunch and dinner

Atop the striking Jean Nouvel-designed Musée du Quai Branly, which houses Asian, African and Oceanic cultures, Les Ombres pairs elegant contemporary French cuisine with arguably the most up-close-and-personal view of the Eiffel Tower from a Paris rooftop restaurant. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls enclose a hanging garden (there's another one on the façade of the building) where a fashionable crowd gather to eat, celebrate and raise a glass of Champagne to the Iron Lady.

• 27 Quai Jacques Chirac, 75007 Paris
• Open daily for lunch and dinner

This cocktail bar-café on top of an old industrial building may not grace many bucket lists, but it's loved by locals for its chilled vibe. They come in droves for creative small plates, cocktails and views over northern Paris. Throw in a DJ and you have the ideal spot for long and lively evenings while gazing at the domed splendour of the Sacre-Cœur.

• 14 Rue Camille Crespin du Gast, 75011 Paris
• Open Wednesday to Saturday evenings only

In the quiet 16th arrondissement, the Molitor Hotel & Spa Paris MGallery Collection is, in fact, a conversion of an iconic Art Deco swimming pool and bathing club. The pool remains in the courtyard, and can be viewed, along with the treetops of the surrounding streets, from the hotel’s Paris rooftop restaurant. The vibe is smart but unpretentious, with DJ sets during the summer months and locals winding down the day over cocktails.

• 6 Av. de la Prte Molitor, 75016 Paris
• Open for lunch and dinner (spring and summer only)

Considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Paris, Gigi Paris offers fine Milanese cuisine in a polished setting a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower. The view across the Avenue Montaigne is magnificent, and much in demand. If you can’t score a table (book well ahead) head here after 7pm for a bellini cocktail at the bar.

• 15 Av. Montaigne, 75008 Paris
• Open daily for lunch and dinner

Parisian weekend breakfasts and brunches on a rooftop are the perfect way to start the day, whether croissants and café au lait as the city wakes up, or rosé and oysters as the rhythm picks up.

The more local, less touristy offering from the famous restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower, the Madame Brasserie Bar-Lounge serves coffee and croissants in the morning, snacks all day and cocktails at night. Not a rooftop exactly, but high enough for stunning Seine and city views from the city’s most famous landmark.

• Eiffel Tower, 1er, 75007 Paris
• Open for breakfast to dinner daily

Done a few achingly fashionable rooftop restaurants in Paris and ready for a change? Designed by the renowned studio Dion & Arles, the Mamma Shelter Paris West hotel is fun, funky and family-friendly. Treat the kids to great pizza, homemade soups and roast chicken at their lively 8th-floor rooftop restaurant with views over Paris's eclectic 15th arrondissement.

• 20 Av. de la Prte de la Plaine, 75015 Paris
• Open daily for lunch and dinner

This bright, airy restaurant is set in a plant-filled, enclosed rooftop overlooking the Tribunal de Paris and the Batignolles neighbourhood, The menu offers delectable shared and small plates from across the Mediterranean, including many vegetarian options, all served with a smile at communal tables. The weekend brunches, with delectable treats like brioche French toast, shakshuka and melt-in-the-mouth halloumi fries, are especially popular.

• 48 Av. de la Prte de Clichy Floor 8, 75017 Paris
• Open for breakfast to dinner daily

On top of the Galleries Lafayette department store, Créatures pairs a relaxed setting and far-reaching city views with vegetarian focaccias and dips. It's brilliant for a break while exploring the Haussmann quarter with the family or shopping.

• 25 Rue de la Chau. d'Antin, 75009 Paris
• Open daily in spring and summer

When the lights of Paris begin to twinkle and the day segues into apéritif hour, these rooftop and terrace bars are the place to be.

On the 16th floor of the chic So/Paris hotel, the bar of the Bonnie restaurant features mirrored walls, a black marble bar and long sofas and armchairs from which you can soak in sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower, the Panthéon and Notre-Dame over a cocktail. Mirrored ceilings reflect the Seine, making the experience totally immersive.

• 10 Rue Agrippa d'Aubigné, 75004 Paris, France
• Open daily 4pm-2am

What’s not to love about an outdoor terrace underneath the blades of the iconic Moulin Rouge? The Bar À Bulles is soaked in bohemian charm, and lets you experience this famous Paris landmark and the street scape of Montmartre in a unique way. Brunch is served on the weekends, but you'll need to book ahead.

• 4 Cité Véron, 75018 Paris
• Open Tuesday to Friday from 6pm, weekends from 11am

Rising above Gare de Lyon, Laho offers one of the most striking and panoramic elevated perspectives in eastern Paris. Specialising in honest cocktails and tasty bar snacks, it's popular with a hip urban crowd and is particularly magical at sunset, when the skyline shifts from warm gold to deep blue.

• 5-9 Rue Van Gogh, 75012 Paris
• Open daily in spring and summer
  

Full of character, this rooftop bar in Belleville, which forms part of an historic live music venue, has an artsy, neighbourhood feel. Expect DJs, an eclectic drinks list and views that stretch toward the northern hills of Paris.

• 19-21 Rue Boyer, 75020 Paris
• Open in the evenings only

Paris's rooftop restaurants are a testament to the city’s joie de vivre. Whether you’re chasing a glass of rosé at golden hour, leisurely brunches above the bustle or just a moment of serenity, these rooftop restaurants and bars offer a panoramic taste of Paris you’ll remember forever.
 

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