Where to get some height in Paris

Benoit Gaboriaud | 6/6/24, 4:00 PM

A veritable fashion phenomenon since the 2010s. Every spring, rooftops blossom on the rooftops of Paris, dramatically altering the urban landscape and offering irresistible, sometimes even vertiginous panoramas.

Luxurious, casual, festive, romantic, cinematic, musical... over the last ten years or so, rooftops have diversified and democratized inthe capital. Nowadays, you can find all kinds. With the return of fine weather, new ones are springing up, adding to an already vast offer:La Fantaisie last year, now the Hôtel Pilgrim. It's hard to choose! In addition to the now classic Raphael, Brach, The Peninsula, Terass, Molitor and Cheval Blanc hotels, five in particular caught our eye.

The best view of Paris

Many rooftops boast a 360° panoramic view, embracing the whole of monumental Paris, but the only one thatcan truly boast this is undoubtedly that of L'Hôtel Dame des Arts, located in the 6th arrondissement, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Named Le bar sur le toit, it lives up to its name. Indeed, it seems to have been laid down right on the illustrious rooftops of the City of Light. The Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Hôtel des Invalides and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica are all within easy reach. Magnified by the light of the setting sun, they form a veritable backdrop for a romantic film: cliché, but hard not to fall for! Signature cocktails and Mediterranean small plates to share take on a very special flavor.

Where to eat? Hôtel Dame des Arts, 4 rue Danton, 75006 Paris
www.damedesarts.com

Ludovic Balay

The most vertiginous

Nestled 120 meters above sea level atop Philippe Starck's TOO Hotel, itself located in one of the two new towers in Paris's 13th arrondissement designed by Jean Nouvel, theTOO TacTac Skybar is quite simply the result of the genius of two of France's greatest architects and designers. Offering a bird's-eye view, its vast terrace is a match for the project. On one side, Paris; on the other, the Parisring road, which at night gives rise to a play of light created by the incessant coming and going of car headlights. This fascinating spectacle creates a unique sensation of being in the heart of an American or Asian megalopolis. On festive evenings, cocktails are served tothe rhythms of guest DJs.

Where? TOO Hôtel, 65 Rue Bruneseau, 75013 Paris
www.toohotel.com

Jérôme Galland

The greenest

Like an oasis amid the zinc desert of Paris rooftops, the rooftop La Fantaisie echoes the tree-lined garden on the first floor, imagined as a tribute to the duo Jacques and Jean Cadet,master gardeners and owners of a plot of land on this very spot in the 16th century. There are no monumentson the horizon here. Theinterest lies in the lush vegetation scattered over the entire surface, resurrecting the Gardens of Babylon or Eden. Here, vines, olive trees, medlar trees, passionarias, fig trees, apple treesand cocktail enthusiasts can enjoy an inventive and subtle menu.

Where to find us Hôtel La Fantaisie, 24 Rue Cadet, 75009 Paris
en.lafantaisie.com

Jérôme Galland

Le petit nouveau

Perched in the heart of the Latin Quarter, atop a former car garage, the brand-new rooftop of the Hôtel Pilgrim,with its chic 70's decor, offers a roof-high panorama of the Pantheon, the Institut du Monde Arabe and the Iron Lady inthe distance. The menu features a vast selection of cocktails, perhaps too many, but it also stands out for its savoury and, above all, sweet snacks, such as the famous Tartelettes, from the eponymous patisserie founded by Parisian couple Suzuka and Arnaud.

Where to eat? Hôtel Pilgrim, 11 Rue de Poissy, 75005 Paris
www.hotelpilgrim.paris

The most exotic

Just a stone's throw from the Louvre, the Drawing Hôtel opens the doors of its roof terrace onto Havana, and with good reason: the Eminente rum brand has taken it over. With a decor in its image - wood, glass and marble - it wakes up and warms up the capital, distinguishing itself with a cocktail menu that is inevitably 100% Cuban, combining vegetal, woody, spicy and tropical flavors. On the plate, the Caribbean adventure continues: grilled gambas with chimichurri, mango and vanilla, chicken brochettes with spices and bitter orange reductions, or chickpea hummus with bananas flambéed inEminente. A guaranteed change of scenery!