The Best Rooftop Restaurants in Paris, France

With branches in Los Angeles, Prague, London and Paris, Mama Shelter is one of the coolest hotel chains around. Its east Parisian outpost comes complete with a rooftop restaurant that draws in the crowds. If you’re looking for a picturesque spot to sip on a cold Sangria de Mama (spiked with peach liqueur) and indulge in Neapolitan-style pizzas, look no further. The deckchairs, hammocks and ping-pong tables add to the popular whimsical vibe, so be sure to book in advance.

Dubbed as the best rooftops in Paris, Le Perchoir’s numerous locations around the city are the spots to see and be seen. The original outpost, simply called Le Perchoir, is inspired by the Parisian vintage style of its 11th arrondissement setting. You’ll be hard pushed to find a more fashionable place for date night or to dance the night away. Expect plenty of barbecued meats, hot dogs and fresh French cheeses, washed down with potent cocktails.

The Michelin-star L’Oiseau Blanc is the crown jewel of the Peninsula Paris, attracting guests with its superb cuisine, top-notch views and prime position, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe. The chef’s tasty tourteau crab comes highly recommended as a starter, while the fermented milk-poached Saint Pierre white fish is a great choice for mains. Fun fact: the restaurant is named after the plane that attempted to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1927 from Étretat in Normandy, and mysteriously vanished.

Offering the most magical views of the Parisian skyline from the heights of Montmartre, this bar-cum-restaurant sitting atop the elegant Terrass’’ Hotel in Paris’s 18th arrondissement is sure to impress. During the summer, take a pew outside on the terrace. Come winter, the floor-to-ceiling windows still allow you to admire the vista from inside. The menu comprises a modern take on traditional French dishes. You can’t go wrong with chef Eric Lurthy’s salmon gravlax and rack of lamb with fruit tagine.

Vegetarians flock to Créatures, the trendy restaurant plonked atop the stylish Galeries Lafayette department store. Here, grungy chef Julien Sebbag serves up creative plant-based fare. Not only does he ensure all his produce is sourced as locally as possible, he also implements a strict zero-waste policy, meaning a Créatures dining experience is 100 percent guilt-free. Sharing menus rotate based on the season, but expect dishes including baked focaccia layered with grilled veggies and creamy mozzarella, plus colourful salads combining Mediterranean flavours.

With views of the Eiffel Tower to one side and the Arc de Triomphe to the other, the five-star Hôtel Raphaël’s rooftop is perhaps the most luxurious in all of Paris. Part restaurant, part posh champagne bar and restaurant, the three-course menu may set you back a fair few euros, but you won’t find much finer fare anywhere else in the city. Chef Francisco Merino whips up French fine dining – including roasted wild prawn and scallops carpaccio with artichoke cream – like no other.

Les Ombres is perfect for dining in winter. The glass-enclosed rooftop on the fifth floor of the Musée du Quai Branly offers dramatic views of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and Sacré-Coeur. Its vistas are complemented by moreish cuisine, courtesy of chef Rui Martins. Tuck into dishes such as scorpion fish in bouillabaisse broth and slow-cooked pork shoulder with apricot and foie gras stuffing while enjoying a spot of people-watching – Les Ombres gathers some of the most painfully chic people in Paris.

Taking a stroll along the Champs Élysées? Be sure to stop off at La Maison Blanche. No matter how many times you’ve been to Paris, once you step onto the open-air terrace, you’ll be blown away by the blemish-free views of the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides and the Seine. On the menu? Perfectly cooked veal shank, salmon marinated with Granny Smith apples and mango with white chocolate mousse and cream cheese sorbet, all masterfully prepared by Michelin-star French chef Fabrice Giraud.

Terraces don’t come much bigger than the one perched on top of the Centre Pompidou. Gaze across the Unesco-listed Parisian rooftops from this restaurant on the roof of the contemporary arts centre, built in the 1970s. The eclectic menu of French, American and Asian dishes tastes just as good whether you dine outdoors or indoors. If you’re stopping by for dinner, don’t leave too early – live DJs kick off right after dessert.

Once a popular lido among the 16th arrondissement’s high society, this swish rooftop is now an achingly cool hangout, complete with a dazzling blue pool by architect and designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. Commanding 360-degree views of the green surroundings, Molitor feels like a true holiday spot, thanks to the upbeat lounge music and outdoor barbecue-style kitchens. Unfortunately, only hotel guests, club members or guests with a specific spa booking can take a dip in the pool, but don’t let that deter you from dining there.