In Paris, the skyline isn’t just a backdrop-it’s a stage. While tourists flock to the Eiffel Tower for sunset views, locals know the real magic happens above the rooftops, where bars have stopped serving just cocktails and started serving experiences. Forget the same old gin and tonics with a view. The latest wave of rooftop bars in Paris isn’t about height-it’s about theme. These aren’t just places to drink. They’re immersive worlds, tucked between Haussmann buildings, that turn a Friday night into something unforgettable.
From Secret Gardens to Parisian Cinemas
At Le Perchoir a popular Parisian rooftop bar chain known for its eclectic decor and urban garden vibes, you don’t just climb stairs-you enter a story. Their Marais location isn’t just a bar with plants. It’s a living greenhouse fused with vintage French cinema posters, where the playlist shifts from Serge Gainsbourg to Daft Punk as dusk falls. The cocktails? Named after classic French films. Try the Amélie, a mix of pear liqueur, gin, and rosemary syrup, served in a glass rimmed with pink salt. It’s not just a drink. It’s a nod to Montmartre’s whimsy. Then there’s Le Ciel de Paris a rooftop bar at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse hotel with a 360-degree view and a retro-futuristic theme. This one feels like a 1970s French sci-fi movie set. Think chrome stools, mirrored ceilings, and a bar shaped like a spaceship. The staff wear mod-inspired uniforms, and the signature drink, La Nuit Parisienne, comes with dry ice that mimics fog over the Seine. It’s kitsch, yes-but it’s *French* kitsch. The kind you’d find in a Jean-Pierre Jeunet film.Themed Nights That Feel Like Parisian Traditions
Parisians don’t do gimmicks. But they do love ritual. That’s why rooftop bars here don’t just have themes-they have schedules that feel like local customs. At Le Bar à Bulles a rooftop bar in the 11th arrondissement known for its champagne-focused menu and weekly bubble-themed events, every Thursday is Champagne & Croissants. Yes, you read that right. At 6 p.m., they bring out warm, buttery croissants fresh from a boulangerie in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, paired with grower champagnes you won’t find in supermarkets. It’s not a brunch. It’s a Sunday ritual moved to Thursday. Locals come in suits after work, still carrying their office bags, and sit on velvet couches under string lights, sipping Veuve Clicquot with their breakfast pastry. On the other side of the city, in the 18th, Le Perchoir Montmartre a rooftop bar perched above Montmartre with a bohemian, artist-inspired theme and live acoustic sets turns Friday nights into open-mic poetry slams. Not just any poetry-French slam poetry. The mic is open to anyone, but the crowd expects depth. You’ll hear verses about metro delays, the smell of fresh baguettes at dawn, or the quiet grief of losing a favorite boulangerie to a chain. The drinks? Simple. Wine. Seltzer. A single shot of calvados if you’re brave. No frills. Just words, and the echo of the city below.
Where the View Is Secondary to the Vibe
Most rooftop bars in Paris promise a view of the Eiffel Tower. But the best ones? They make you forget you’re even looking for it. Take La Terrasse a hidden rooftop bar above a bookstore in the 6th arrondissement with a literary theme and curated reading nooks. It’s tucked above Shakespeare and Company’s annex. No sign. Just a discreet brass bell. Inside, every table has a stack of French novels-Sartre, Colette, Camus. The cocktail menu is divided into literary eras: Les Années Folles (1920s absinthe cocktails), Le Nouveau Roman (minimalist, bitter drinks), and Le Postmoderne (wild experiments with lavender and black sesame). The view? A patch of rooftops and a single chimney stack. But you don’t come for the skyline. You come because you’re tired of loud music and want to read Baudelaire while sipping a drink named after his poem Le Vin des Amants. And then there’s Le Toit des Arts a rooftop bar above a private art gallery in the Marais, featuring rotating contemporary French exhibitions. Here, the bar is designed like a gallery lounge. The cocktails are named after artists: the Monet (a lavender-infused gin fizz), the Duchamp (a drink served in a glass shaped like a urinal-yes, really). The art changes every month. Last spring, it was a collection of surrealist postcards from the 1930s. You drink a Magritte while staring at a painting of a pipe with the caption: Ceci n’est pas un rooftop bar. It’s self-aware. It’s French. And it’s exactly why Parisians keep coming back.How to Find These Places Without Getting Lost
Finding these spots isn’t about Google Maps. It’s about knowing the rhythm of the city. Most don’t have signs. Some require reservations weeks ahead. Others are walk-in only after 9 p.m. Here’s how to navigate:- Check Le Fooding’s monthly guide-it’s the French equivalent of Eater, but with more attitude and fewer ads.
- Follow @rooftopparis on Instagram. It’s run by a local who only posts unfiltered shots of hidden rooftops at golden hour.
- Ask the bartender at Le Comptoir du Relais in Saint-Germain. They know every secret spot within a 10-block radius.
- Visit during La Nuit Blanche (early October). Some rooftops open for free all night, with live jazz and pop-up art installations.
Seasonal Shifts: When Rooftops Become Something Else
Paris doesn’t do year-round rooftop bars. The season is short. From late April to mid-October, the city opens its arms to the sky. But even then, the themes change with the weather. In May, Le Perchoir a popular Parisian rooftop bar chain known for its eclectic decor and urban garden vibes turns into a floral market. Vases of peonies from Provence line the tables. You can buy a bouquet with your cocktail. In July, Le Ciel de Paris a rooftop bar at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse hotel with a 360-degree view and a retro-futuristic theme hosts Soirées Cinéma-outdoor screenings of French classics like Amélie and Les Enfants du Paradis. You sit on beanbags, wrapped in wool blankets, sipping mulled wine. By September, many rooftops turn into wine bars. The focus shifts from cocktails to natural wines from the Loire Valley and Beaujolais. Le Bar à Bulles a rooftop bar in the 11th arrondissement known for its champagne-focused menu and weekly bubble-themed events replaces its champagne flights with Les Vins du Terroir, tasting six small pours from independent growers. No bubbles. Just earth, fruit, and time.Why This Matters in Paris
Paris isn’t just a city of cafés and patisseries. It’s a city that turns every corner into a story. Rooftop bars with themes aren’t a trend-they’re an evolution of French hospitality. They respect tradition while refusing to be stuck in it. They’re where the old meets the odd, where a glass of wine becomes a conversation starter, and where the view is just the beginning. You don’t come to a Parisian rooftop bar to be seen. You come to feel something. To remember why you love this city-not for its monuments, but for the quiet, weird, beautiful ways it surprises you when you least expect it.Are rooftop bars in Paris expensive?
Prices vary. Popular spots like Le Perchoir charge €18-€22 for cocktails, but you can find hidden gems like Le Bar à Bulles where a glass of natural wine starts at €10. Some places, like Le Toit des Arts, don’t charge cover fees-just pay for what you drink. Avoid tourist traps near the Eiffel Tower; they charge €30+ for the same drink you’ll get for €15 in Montmartre.
Do I need a reservation for rooftop bars in Paris?
For the big names-Le Perchoir, Le Ciel de Paris, Le Toit des Arts-yes, especially on weekends. Book at least 3-5 days ahead via their websites or Resy. Smaller, hidden spots like Le Bar à Bulles or La Terrasse are walk-in only after 9 p.m., but arrive early. Lines form fast once the sun sets.
What’s the dress code for rooftop bars in Paris?
Parisians dress for mood, not rules. Smart casual is safe: tailored jeans, a linen shirt, or a simple dress. No sneakers, no shorts, no baseball caps. At Le Ciel de Paris, they’ve been known to turn away people in flip-flops. At Le Bar à Bulles, a blazer isn’t required-but a scarf is always appreciated, even in summer.
Are rooftop bars open in winter?
Most close between late October and April. But a few, like Le Ciel de Paris, install heated terraces and stay open with blankets and hot mulled wine. Le Perchoir sometimes hosts indoor cocktail nights with live music in their basement lounge during colder months. Always check their Instagram before heading out.
Which rooftop bar has the best view of the Eiffel Tower?
Le Perchoir Montmartre and Le Ciel de Paris offer the clearest unobstructed views. But if you want to see the tower sparkle at 1 a.m., head to Le Bar à Bulles. They dim the lights exactly at 1 a.m. on weekends and play the tower’s chimes through hidden speakers. It’s not the view-it’s the moment.
Next time you’re looking for something different in Paris, skip the crowded terraces by the Seine. Head up. Look for the bell. The view might be quiet, but the experience? It’s everything the city was made for.
