Dine on 10 of Paris' Top Floating Péniches

Not only does this Peniche boast a brilliant location beneath the dramatic architecture of Notre Dame, and also a varied program of theatre that ranges from comedy to cabaret, it also serves mouth-watering food. A carpaccio of melon raveled in ham makes for a refreshing starter in these summer months, light enough to favor the filet de boeuf and homemade chips that might follow.

Located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, Maxim’s sur Seinefeels like a floating palace. Its two-tiered setting is glamorous, flaunting Art Nouveau décor to replicate the famous restaurant in the Rue Royale. In 1893, Irma de Montigny, an attractive courtesan, opened the door of a small bistro on this street, which quickly became the treasured place for a “gallant” rendezvous of the Belle Époque. You can expect a similar elegance in the food.

The wooden interiors of this restaurant are exotic, quirky, and atypical, teasing both curiosity and taste-buds with the smell wafting from the pizza oven. In a quiet corner of Paris, this boat enjoys retirement after a busy past-life sailing the many seas. The curiously exotic design extends to the events programs, showcasing electro-tropical DJ nights,thai-funk, electro-swing, ragga, kompas, tzigano-keupon, and more.

This is a perfect spot to watch a sunset, with the dying light glinting off the stunning gold of Pont Alexandre III and the Grand Palais made even more miraculous by the rippling water. This boat is teeming with life,offering a fabulous selection of tapas and wood-fired pizzas in a sleek, modern floating rendezvous hotspot.

This stylish wood-beam set-up boasts particularly delicious desserts, from vanilla macaroons to mille feuilles with strawberries and mascarpone. With its classy ambiance, you can count on an appetizing main course—the duck breast roasted with rosemary, apples shot with honey and apricot would be 26€ well-spent.

This authentic peniche built in 1925 offers tapas-styled delicacies like tacos and guacamole, dry sausage, and chorizo for the tender price of 6 €. Situated on the Quai de l’Hôtel de ville of the Seine, beneath Notre Dame, there may well be the sound of a two-piece jazz band as you sip your champagne, watching the boats go by. They often host parties and have an outside bar on the terrace open from May to October.

There’s never been a better time to dine on this peniche than right now. What with the summer festival—l’Eté du canal—in full swing, this boat is transformed into a real entertainment hub on the waterfront. The canal is bustling with fun, sport, and cultural activities like concerts, balls, water-based leisure activities, street-art, cruises, parties, and open air cinema…all on the water’s edge. But whatever time of year you decide to dine, you’re in for a unique experience—every month a region in the world is put in the spotlight with a changing program of events.

Moored at the Bassin de La Villette, this café pushes a concern for community support through their reasonably priced menu, with fair trade artisan crafted dishes. If that wasn’t enough, they also have an eclectic program of events when you’re not dining that ranges from pilates, a workshop upcycling used materials, parent and child gymnastics, theatre workshops, fitness trampoline, and comedy nights—sometimes for children and often with free entry.

Built in 1931, this barge is a cultural associative, running entertainment and activities like exhibitions, workshops, screenings, and facilitating culture in visual arts and live performances. There’s a cozy atmosphere as it encourages collective creation among the local residents. They also have a friendly space with a restaurant, terrace, and space in the hold for evening events, shows, and dance events, with a bar in each one. Grande Fantaisie is moored on Canal de l’Ourcq near Paris Bassin La Villette.

This is one of the largest peniches in Paris, boasting 450 meters squared across three floors and five separate spaces. It sits just below l’Assemblée Nationale and the musée d’Orsay, offering an incredible view over le Grand Palais, the Tuileries garden, le musée de l’Orangerie, and le Pont Alexandre III from its 150-meters-squared outside terrasse. There’s a buzzing vibe with the bright decoration used to host parties in the club downstairs.