Best Rooftop Bars in Paris and Gardens and Swimming Pools
Make the most of Paris this summer with the hottest rooftop bars, gardens and swimming pools.
The museums and palaces of Paris are available all year round. You can stroll the Champs-Elysées while the snow falls around you, and linger on the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by crisp, autumn air. But if you're visiting Paris this summer, make the most of its rooftop bars, gardens and swimming pools while you can. And make friends with the locals who head to these top spots to soak up the sunshine.
Le Perchoir
On a residential street in Menilmontant, there's an unmarked door with a velvet rope behind it. Slip through a hidden door. Take the elevator seven floors ups and discover that all your effort was worth it. Le Perchoir, a quintessential Parisian rooftop bar, offers 360-degree views from its expansive space. This rooftop bar has a killer cocktail list with breathtaking views over the skyline. Take a seat at its communal picnic tables or sink back and sigh on its comfy sofas. Just remember to get there early as it opens at 6 pm on weekdays.
Cafe de l'Homme
The award for the very best view of the Eiffel Tower could well go to Café de l'Homme. Encapsulating Parisian chic, this stylish and trendy French restaurant and rooftop bar can be found in Palais de Chaillot. You'll see views over the famous tower, gardens and the Champ de Mars from a new, awe-inspiring vantage point as you climb the stairs leading up from the Trocadéro Gardens. This is a popular spot - remember to make reservations.
Terasse de l'hotel Raphael
Perruche
Le Georges
Once you've had your fill of modern art at the Pompidou Centre, take the escalator to the top to Le Georges. This sixth floor rooftop restaurant offers a trendy french-fusion menu and a canny awareness of impressive interior decor. Another popular spot, make sure you make reservations, especially if you want to take a seat outside.
Jardin des Tuileries
It's not every day that you get to picnic in a UNESCO World Heritage site, let alone stroll amid Rodin and Maillol statues. Before the French Revolution, this park used to be the site of the Royal Palace but now separates the Louvre from Place de la Concorde. This beautifully manicured Parisian garden is the pride and joy of architect Andre Le Notre, and is the perfect place to enjoy your book while sipping a cold drink from the cafés around the park. It's on the tourist trail too: the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe are nearby. Enjoy this wonderful Garden in Paris to get a taste of nature in the bustling city centre.
Jardin des Plantes
This 75-acre botanical garden in Paris is a floral swirl of roses, geraniums, peonies and more. With a petting zoo, maze and lawns perfect for sprawling in, it's a peaceful city break for those who need a break from busy tourist sites. A highlight of the 5th Arrondissement: add it to your list when you visit the Latin Quarter.
Champs des Mars
A tribute to Mars, the Roman God of war, the name draws on the lawns' history as a former drilling and marching ground, used by the French military. But don't worry, its aesthetic today is distinctly un-warlike. To get to the Eiffel Tower, you'll probably have to come through this gigantic grassy lawn which is always packed with people. But if you can't beat them, join them - settle down here and take in Paris' most famous landmark from just metres away from the beauty of its gardens, grass lawns, and picnic areas.
Piscine Josephine Baker
Neuilly
This swimming centre, located in Paris et sa Banlieue, is as close as Paris gets to a water park, with three different indoor sites. Learn to swim or splash around in the smaller pools or set your sights on Olympic glory in the training pool. Two solariums and one ‘beach’ will also give you and little ones the opportunity for play. It also offers a spa, hammams, saunas and UV cabins.
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