The home of the 2024 Olympic Games, Paris, the City of Light, is renowned not only for its rich history and culture but also for its exquisite culinary delights. There is a reason why French food is recognised as one of the best worldwide, and for those seeking an unforgettable dining experience with a stunning view, the city extends a myriad of restaurants that fuse outstanding French cuisine with breathtaking vistas. Here are five of the best Parisian restaurants where you can savour the city’s charm in all of its glory from unique vantage points.
Le Jules Verne
An iconic spot for exceptional cuisine, Le Jules Verne is perched on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and offers an unparalleled dining experience with the most panoramic views of Paris. The prestigious two-Michelin star restaurant is helmed by Chef Frédéric Anton and his team, serving up contemporary French cuisine that is creative, refined, and crafted from the finest seasonable ingredients. Every meal at Le Jules Verne is a memorable affair as you are treated to incredible sights of the city’s landmarks while pleasuring your taste buds.
La Tour d’Argent
With a heritage dating back to 1582, La Tour d’Argent is a Parisian institution that offers both a taste of culinary excellence and outstanding sightlines of the Seine and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. It is the place to be for traditional French cuisine, with one of its signature dishes being the pressed duck which is prepared using a unique centuries-old method. The 400-year-old household restaurant has one Michelin star to its name and boasts an opulent dining room where Chef Yannick Franques and his team deliver their perfectly choreographed service.
Le Ciel de Paris
Located on the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower, Le Ciel de Paris affords one of the highest viewpoints in the city and on a clear day, the visibility of Paris and beyond extends up to 40 kilometres. Experience French traditional cooking, delicately refined through a modern interpretation by Chef Christophe Marchais, all while soaking in Paris as a wide screen with evolving views according to the time, light and climate, as imagined by designer and interior architect Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance.
Kong
Kong stands out not just for its ostentatious design but also for its impeccable views of the Seine and the Pont Neuf. This trendy restaurant, designed by Philippe Starck, is on the fifth floor of the Haussmann building and each window offers a varying view that is just as impressive. Kong specialises in fusion food, blending French culinary excellence with Japanese exoticism. Each bite is an explorative adventure, a journey between the two clashing cultures.
Les Ombres
Imagine dining in a place where the Eiffel Tower casts its lace shadows on tabletops, and where the interior is illuminated by the nighttime from the mythical monument’s sparkling lights. That is exactly what you will experience when feasting at Les Ombres. Nestled on the rooftop of Musée du Quai Branly, the restaurant’s name aptly translates to “The Shadows” to reflect the play of light and shadows created by the Eiffel Tower, and has a menu that focuses on contemporary French cuisine with an emphasis on fresh and local produce.
