In Paris, you’re never far from a famous landmark. Outdoor cafes have long doubled as viewpoints for the city’s illustrious architecture, but increasingly, there’s a new type of vantage point from which visitors can admire the French capital: rooftop bars. Quite a few of the most coveted Paris rooftop bars occupy prime real estate atop historic buildings. Others are a short walk from iconic monuments. These are the Paris rooftop bars to visit on your next trip to the French capital, whether you’re craving an apertif, a digestif, or a night above the town.
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Le Perchoir
Le Perchoir has six locations around Paris. Its most popular rooftop bar crowns the BVH department store in the buzzy Le Marais neighborhood, just 10 minutes from Notre Dame if you walk across the Seine. The decor mimics the look of a classic Parisian bistro while the modest food menu has global influences, with offerings like three different types of banh mi. Beer, wine, bubbles, and non-alcoholic beverages are all available, but it’s the cocktail menu at Le Perchoir that really sings — especially its fruity and refreshing summertime drinks.
Where: 33 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris
Le Bar à Bulles
Le Bar à Bulles is a semi-secret bar atop La Machine du Mouline Rouge, a three-floor venue and nightclub in the Pigalle district near Montmartre. It’s quieter and cozier than its downstairs neighbor, in part because it’s accessed via a relatively hidden alleyway. Drinks aside, the tapas-style snacks are reason enough to visit Le Bar à Bulles, which also opens its terrace to brunchers every Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 AM.
Where: 4 Cité Véron, 75018 Paris
Perruche
Perruche is the cherry on top of the Printemps Haussmann department store. The spendy restaurant and cocktail bar transports visitors to the South of France with Provencal cuisine and a sunny seating area — both literally and figuratively with its vine-laced overhang and bright yellow pillowcases accenting the white tablecloths. Even if you’re just dropping by for a drink, snacks like goat cheese, cured meats, and veggies with pesto and aioli are on offer at the bar.
Where: 2 Rue du Havre 9ème étage, 75009 Paris
National on the Top
The rooftop of the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers has two dreamy drinkeries: a casual yet stylish lounge called National on the Top and a trendy terrace bar called Herbarium. Both make excellent cocktails — think classic at National on the Top versus creative at Herbarium. The biggest difference is the ambiance. Open until 2 AM, Herbarium has more of a late night vibe while National on the Top feels more like a happy hour spot, even if it’s open until midnight.
Where: 243 Rue Saint-Martin, 75003 Paris
Cafe Oz Rooftop
Cafe Oz is no ordinary Paris rooftop bar. It’s a whole experience, whether you’re there to cheer on your local soccer team, mingle with the post-work crowd, catch some live music, or attend one of the bar’s regular themed events. The bar is open every day until at least 2 AM. From Thursday to Sunday, last call is not until 5 AM.
Where: Cité de la Mode et du Design, 34 Quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris
Laho Rooftop
After a long day of sightseeing, Laho is one of the Paris rooftop bars you’ll want to find around sunset. It’s cool and casual with garden-style digs and a panoramic view of the city from its nearly 200-foot-high perch near the Gare de Lyon railway station — plus the generous charcuterie boards are a perfect pre-dinner indulgence. Stick around after sundown and you may see a DJ spinning a live set in the background. And if that inspires you to keep your evening going, Laho is just a five-minute walk from late night Cafe Oz, across the Seine.
Where: 5-9 Rue Van Gogh, 75012 Paris
Mama Shelter Paris East Rooftop
Mama Shelter is a name you might know if you’re familiar with design hotels. The brand has locations all over Europe, including three properties in Paris. A stone’s throw from the Père Lachaise Cemetery, the Paris East location is topped with a funky rooftop bar that attracts a younger crowd. The shooters menu, cocktails by the pitcher options, and ping pong table, help to explain why. Mama Shelter also hosts both brunch and live music on Sundays if you prefer mellower outings.
109 Rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris
Créatures Paris
Créatures brings the essence of the Mediterranean to the heart of Paris, specifically to the rooftop of the historic Galeries Lafayette Paris Hausmann department store. It’s both a bar and a restaurant with an entirely vegetarian menu. Guests are served beneath a charming pergola that makes it feel like you’re dining in the French Riviera, surrounded by decor that was largely sourced from flea markets to give it a rustic, vintage-looking aesthetic. Morning visitors are also welcome at the Créatures Bakery starting at 10 AM.
Where: 25 Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, 75009 Paris
Sequoia Rooftop Bar
Elegant is the word the Kimpton St. Honoré hotel uses to describe its rooftop bar. It’s a fitting descriptor, particularly given the bar’s front-row view of the Palais Garnier opera house. The rooftop is open every day from noon to midnight, transitioning from a lunch spot to a cocktail lounge as the sun goes down. Classic cocktails like Aperol spritzes are crafted especially well here, but it’ll be tempting to splurge on a bottle of bubbly once you see the wine list.
Where: 27-29 Bd des Capucines, 75002 Paris
Terrass Rooftop Bar
This popular Paris rooftop bar is located on the seventh floor of the Terrass Hotel in Montmartre. It has two cocktail lists one leans toward classic cocktaisl, although you’re more likely to see a tarragon tonic than a Moscow mule on the menu. In fact, the drinks celebrate the whims of head bartender Benjamin Neyrat and his team — and you’ll also find wine, Champagne, beer, cider, spritzes, and a long list of spirits and liqueurs. If you get snacky, the bar has a kitchen that’s open from late afternoon until 11 PM with snacks ranging from mackerel ceviche to crispy duck rolls.
Where: 12 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris
Skybar Paris
If height is what you’re after, Skybar is as tall as Paris rooftop bars come. Sitting 377 feet in the air, it’s roughly a third as tall as the Eiffel Tower — and just so happens to have a killer view of the monument, especially if you reserve a spot in the VIP Corner. From Thursday to Sunday, Skybar invites DJs to spin as guests sip their seasonally inspired signature cocktails.
Where: Pullman Hotel, 19 rue du Commandant René Mouchotte, 75014 Paris