Best Rooftop Bars in Paris

Paris's rooftop bar scene has flourished over the past decade as the city has embraced outdoor drinking culture, particularly in summer when the city's rooftops offer extraordinary views over Haussmann's uniform cityscape and the Eiffel Tower. Parisian rooftops are distinct from their counterparts in tower cities — the city's strict building height regulations mean views are over a relatively uniform horizon interrupted by the great monuments rather than surrounded by skyscrapers.

Perruche atop the Printemps department store on Boulevard Haussmann is one of the city's finest rooftop bars, with views stretching to the Sacré-Cœur and the Eiffel Tower. Le Terrass Hotel in Montmartre offers perhaps the finest Eiffel Tower views of any rooftop bar in Paris. The cocktail bar at the Pompidou Centre's top-floor restaurant is a sophisticated art-world gathering spot. The rooftop at Institut du Monde Arabe offers exceptional views over the Seine and Notre-Dame.