Best Restaurants With a View in Paris.

(Content created for the British travel website wanderlustchloe.com)

From stunning views of the Eiffel Tower to rooftop vistas of the Seine, Notre Dame and the Parisian skyline, these are the best restaurants with a view in Paris: the food and romance capital of the world.  

Do you ever dream of Paris? I know I do. Paris is famous for its food. It is also the romance capital of the world. So when you add a selection of the most iconic buildings in Europe, you have a recipe for some of the world’s most spectacular dining experiences. 

Imagine an intimate meal at a rooftop eatery overlooking the City of Lights. How perfect would that be? With dining options ranging from Michelin-starred places such as the world-famous L’Oiseau Blanc to the spectacular 360°, 52nd-floor panorama at Ceil de Paris, this beautiful city offers lovers of food and romance the chance to add some spectacular views to their dining experience. 

So if, like me, you have ever dreamed of dining with your special someone while gazing at the Parisian skyline, this guide to the best restaurants with a view in Paris will help you to choose the perfect place. Bon appetite!         

L’Oiseau Blanc

Capturing the spirit of pioneer aviators Charles Nungesser and François Coli (the first pilots to attempt a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by aircraft), this Michelin-starred restaurant sits atop the Peninsula Paris Hotel like a cockpit in the sky.

On the menu are such gastronomic goodies as pigeon laqué and slow-cooked lamb shoulder. I recommend teaming these with a glass or two of buttery chardonnay for you and your co-pilot. You could easily while away an entire afternoon here, gazing out at the replica of the aviator’s aircraft, with the Eiffel Tower and the graceful domes of Sacre Coeur beyond.   

Les Ombres

Nicknamed The Iron Lady by Parisians, the Tour Eiffel (aka the Eiffel Tower) seems close enough to reach out and touch from this rooftop restaurant atop the Musée du Quai Branly. The graceful wickerwork furniture and bright linen are a perfect setting for a languid lunch while you gaze at the magnificent tower view.

On the menu are Mediterranean-inspired dishes created to include the freshest ingredients from Paris’ food markets. I suggest you try the field beetroot smoked with juniper berries and tartare sauce as a starter and go from there!  

Monsieur Bleu

If you’ve ever dreamed of dining on a terrace overlooking the Paris skyline this is the place to go. Described as “one of the most beautiful terraces in Paris”, the menu at Monsieur Bleu revives some classic French dishes with new twists. Try the roasted chicken with baby spinach, truffle juice and mashed potatoes as you look out through the big windows to the nearby Eiffel Tower.

If you’re looking for a place where you and your partner can have brunch during your romantic weekend in Paris, the convivial atmosphere of Monsieur Bleu is perfect. Sip a signature cocktail while you savour the hot pastries, all kinds of eggs, granola and (of course) French toast!  

Coco

This stylish new restaurant has a dream setting in this most dreamy of cities. Located in the heart of Paris’ theatre district (the Palais Garnier Opera House is right next door), this is a great spot for lovers of fine food, fine music and fine views to linger long over one of the superb dishes on the menu.

With everything from sole fillets and wild mushrooms to exotic fruits and traditional French bonbons, Coco’s swanky dining room — green velvet chairs and marble tables — opens onto views of the Opera House and the energetic boulevards where there’s always something going on. Come for brunch with your lover and stay all day. I did! 

Calife

If you can imagine yourself drifting slowly down the Seine through the heart of Paris, while skilled chefs prepare a sumptuous meal for you and your partner, I can highly recommend Calife. 

Savour a glass of red while you peruse the menu which includes Filet de Bar Grillé avec buerre blanc and Suprême de Poulet Juane as the sights of the city drift by. The Eiffel Tower view from the river is something different from the usual vantage points and Notre Dame from the waterline is spectacular in all weathers, day or night.  

Kong

This is one of the most fabulous restaurants in Paris. I love the futuristic theme of Kong, which blends French style and grace with Asian fusion food. The restaurant sits beneath a glass dome on the roof of a Haussmann building in the heart of Paris. Every direction brings a new vista of Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings, the river Seine and Pont Neuf.

Foodwise, the menu is stuffed with Asian deliciousness along with a smattering of traditional French cuisine dishes to keep things interesting. Try the Sashimi de daurade with vinaigrette wasabi and pickles de Granny Smith then move on to Angus beef fillet with black peppercorn sauce. I guarantee you’ll love Kong: the food, the view, the location…everything!  

Ceil de Paris

Literally the “ceiling of Paris”, this place has knockout views of the Eiffel Tower from its position on the 52nd floor of the Tour Maine-Montparnasse building. With such a stunning view outside the restaurant’s big windows, you’ll find it hard to drag your eyes away to address the menu…but you’ll be glad you did.

If you and your partner are early birds, breakfast includes hazelnut coffee and croissants, while lunch twists traditional French foods with the latest culinary trends. And then there is dinner. With meat, fish and vegetarian options on the menu ( my fave is the pumpkin risotto with “forgotten vegetables”), you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Victoria

Who doesn’t enjoy getting glammed up occasionally? I know I do! Decked out in scarlet and gold, Victoria is the perfect place to linger over a glass of red or three as you savour the extensive menu and gaze at the Arc de Triomphe just outside.  

So if you’re in Paris for a special occasion, put on your glad rags and sashay out into the Parisian night for a meal at Victoria followed by…who knows what!

Girafe

Los Angeles has Beverley Hills 90210; Wales has SA3. But 75016 Paris — also known as the 16th Arrondissement — is the coolest postcode in Paris and that’s where you’ll find Girafe. With a stunningly beautiful terrace providing an unimpeded view of the Eiffel Tower, this restaurant offers bold new versions of classic French dishes.

Sip a glass of Sauvignon blanc as you savour such delicacies as sole meunière or a beef fillet ènchalote. And after dinner, you can wander at will through the hippest neighbourhood in Paris.   

Le Jules Verne

The mythical setting of this restaurant will astound you! If you are looking for the best Paris restaurant with a view of the Eiffel Tower, this place is perfect…because it is inside the Eiffel Tower itself! Imagine dining with your partner beside a window framed by the steel girders of the tower: the view extending across Avenue Gustav Eiffel to the leafy expanse of the Jardin de la Tour Eiffel. It’s amazing!

And as if the setting wasn’t impressive enough, the menu at Le Jules Verne is even more spectacular. Lunch includes cod cooked with kalamata olive powder and stir-fried beef with polenta. Dinner includes a seven-course tasting menu so you don’t even have to go to the trouble of selecting a dish: just sit back with your wine and enjoy the view!  

Georges

This charming rooftop restaurant is an exquisite place for a long lunch or dreamy evening meal if you are in Paris for a special occasion or a romantic getaway. With an Eiffel Tower view that is second to none, Georges is a great place for a late brunch or a late-night drink after a long day of romantic adventures.

On the menu at Georges are such simple delights as Spanish sardines, oysters, and silver cod. And with the towers and turrets of Notre Dame cathedral just a biscuit toss away across the rooftops, this might just be the perfect spot for a foodie’s religious experience!  

6 New York

The big windows at 6 New York frame an iconic view of the majestic Eiffel Tower and the busy Champs Elysees. If you are here for lunch, I recommend that you sit out in the garden as you and your lucky lover tuck into déjeuner delicacies such as grilled Blanc de Seiche (white fish) with risotto, and linger over a Chocolat mousse afterwards.

Nights bring an entirely different aspect to 6 New York, with braised half-salt pork belly and lamb cooked à la plancha (seared on skewers) competing for your attention. And while you dine, the ever-changing palette of lights on the Eiffel Tower itself will captivate you.     

Edmond

Located in the spectacular Terrasse Hotel in Montmarte, Edmond overlooks the most prestigious parts of Paris, with the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower taking centre stage. 

Inspired by the flavours of South America, Asia and Italy, the food at Edmond takes the best French culinary techniques in new directions with dinner dishes such as Pickleweed Bouillabaisse and Guinea fowl fillet with sweet panca chilli sauce. Yummy! 

Breakfast is also served daily at Edmond so you and your lover can savour your coffee and croissants while gazing at the sun rising over the Paris skyline.

Conclusion

Paris restaurants are famous for their attention to detail, their superb food, and their exemplary service. From a simple snack of steak frites and a glass of red to the finest French cuisine high in the sky overlooking the city, Paris caters for all culinary tastes.

So if you are looking for some spectacular views to have as a backdrop to your special dinner, long lunch or romantic rendezvous, you can be sure that Paris can provide the sort of dreamy vistas you see in movies and glitzy TV shows.

I hope my guide to the best restaurants in Paris with a view will help you to find the perfect place for you and your special someone to sample some delicious French food.