These 10 Rooftop Bars in Paris will help you live the summer of your dreams
Last Updated on 1st July 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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What better way to gaze at the grand boulevards of Paris than from a bird’s eye point of view? In this article, we’ll detail all of the best rooftop bars in Paris
There’s nowhere in the world quite like Paris. With its Parisian rooftops, wide open boulevards and streetside cafés, it’s perhaps no surprise that the city has inspired, fascinated and even become a muse for some of the greatest artists and writers of all time.
Now, of course, we had permission to visit the rooftop in question. But if you want your own rooftop adventure, then there are plenty of rooftop bars in the city with a fantastic view (as well as other sites as outlined below)…
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Best rooftop bars in Paris
Café Richelieu (Café Angelina)
Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France
Located above the iconic Louvre Pyramid, sip on an espresso and enjoy one of the most famous courtyards in the world… There’s indoor and outdoor seating, meaning that it’s possible to enjoy a view over the Louvre Courtyard no matter what the weather!
Bar Le Perchoir
14 Rue Crespin du Gast, 75011 Paris, France
Hip, trendy and chic, Bar Le Perchoir is located in the middle of Le Marais, not far from Hôtel de Ville. The open-air bar is open on a daily basis and offers 360-degree views over the city. Pick up a glass of French wine here and admire the view with your friends.
L’Oiseau Blanc – Rooftop restaurant & La terrasse Kléber
19 Avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris, France
Not far from the Eiffel Tower and offering fantastic views over the city, there’s an indoor and outdoor area, making the rooftop restaurant and bar perfect for all weather situations.
Terrasse de l’hôtel Raphael
17 Avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris, France
Just next door to l’Oiseau Blanc, you’ll find the Raphael Hotel terrace. And with one of the best views over Paris, it should come as no surprise that food, and indeed drinks, here do not come cheap. With glasses of wine starting at over €15, this is not somewhere to come on a whim, but more of the kind of place to save for a special occasion…
If you can’t/ don’t want to visit a bar or hotel, then there are plenty of other options available to you. After all, some of the best Parisian Rooftop Terraces come in the form of shopping centres and museums. Here are some of my favourite terraces the city of love has to offer:
Galeries Lafayette
40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
This rooftop terrace sits atop of one of the city’s most famous department stores. Located in an easy to reach location, not far from the Louvre, it’s accessible via a set of escalators on the 6th floor of the building. It’s also worth noting that a trip to Galeries Lafayette can easily be combined with a visit to the nearby Printemps rooftop terrace. Although both rooftops are in similar locations, they offer completely different views over the city.
Georges Pompidou Centre
Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France
This art museum sits squarely in the middle of Le Marais and is home to plenty of modern masterpieces. Not only is it home to the likes of Picasso and Braques, but it is also the location of one of the best Parisian rooftops in the city. From here, you can garner a bird’s eye perspective of the Notre Dame Cathedral, among other iconic Parisian sites.
Notre Dame de Paris
6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
You often have to queue to visit the top of Notre Dame de Paris for a couple of hours, meaning that this trip is only worth it if you have plenty of time in Paris. Located at the very heart of Île de la Cité, Notre Dame sits on its own, separated from the rest of the city by the Seine. Wait in line to climb the tower, and you’ll come face to face with some of the site’s infamous gargoyles, and gigcantic bells.
Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France
Of all the Parisian rooftops on this list, the Arc de Triomphe offers my favourite view of the city. I’ve said it before, and no doubt I’ll say it again, but one of my all time favourite views over the city comes in the form of the Arc de Triomphe. And with views over the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs Élysées, it’s hard not to fall in love with the gorgeous view…
Thanks for the tip to not go up the Eiffel Tower, which led me to this article. Having 2 young kids, we decided not to queue for the top of Arc de Triomphe, and so took a stroll to visit both the Printemps rooftop terrace and Galeries Lafayette. We particularly loved sitting outside on the penultimate floor at Printemps for food and drinks while enjoying the amazing view!
Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m glad that you had a wonderful time in Paris 🙂
On my last Paris visit I noticed a number of buildings with walls that were made up of mixed building materials of a number of different types that seemed like they might be from a number of different time periods. Often several types could be in a very small space on a wall. I suppose I noticed this the most when walking along the Promenade Plantee and looking at walls on buildings along the way. I haven’t found much about this except for a few very general comments. I wondered about the historical background for this. Have you noticed?