Looking for a Parisian café with a view? Check out our top 10.
Paris just wouldn’t be Paris without those dreamy café terraces. Lazy lunches or weekend brunches, the parisian café is the place to be. But which one to choose when there are so many? What to consider in terms of café-choosing criteria? The quality of the coffee isn’t really a deal-breaker because all French cafés generally serve great coffee. How about the friendliness of the staff? Errr, this is Paris where the welcome is often coarser than a ristretto, so let’s not base our choice on that! How about a café with a view? Ah, quelle bonne idée! Whether on your own living your best parisian life or showing visiting family and friends around the city of love, read on to discover 10 parisian cafés with wonderful views of the city’s sights. From well-known chains to typical local cafés, you will find your very own parisian café with a view to tickle your French fancy!
For each parisian café with a view, I have indicated the proce of an expresso at the time of publishing. Along with the link to the menu, this should give you an idea of how pricey each one is.
Le Café Marly
Parisian café with a view of : La Pyramide du Louvre, Le Cour Carrée du Louvre, L’Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Les Jardins du Tuileries
Espresso: 5 euros (click for menu)
This café is in a very privileged spot : La Cour Carrée du Louvre, home to the famous glass “Pyramide”. If you find the right spot on the terrace, you’ll have a view of the modern glass pyramid juxtaposed with the beautiful architechure of the Palais du Louvre, parts of which date back to the 16th century. Tilt your had to the right and you might be able to see Arc de Triomph du Carrousel leading through to the Tuileries Gardens, perfect for a pre or post coffee stroll. You could also saunter down to the Seine from here for a walk along the banks, checking out the famous “Bouquinistes” as you go.
Rosa Bonheur sur Seine
Parisian café with a view of : Le Pont Alexandre III, Le Grand Palais, the Seine and the Eiffel Tower
Espresso: 2,70 euros (click for menu)
A true hotspot for Parisians and tourists alike, this is a great place from which to soak up that wonderful parisian atmosphere. You can saunter down here along the banks of the banks of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. It’s a delicious 20 minute walk. From this trendy boat café, you can take in views of the Alexandre III bridge, one of the most beautiful and ornate that Paris has to offer. You can also see the Grand Palais, an impressive glass structure built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. It can get very busy and noisy, especially in the evening but if you’re looking for a lively atmosphere, you won’t be dissappointed.
Shakespeare & Co.
37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
Parisian café with a view of : Notre Dame Cathedral
Espresso: 2,50 euros
Nestled on the banks of the Seine with a wonderful view of Notre Dame Cathedral, this parisian café with a view is worth a try. Shakespeare & Co Café is a hugely popular tourist spot, it can get very busy at times. Don’t miss a look around the historic and world-reknowned Shakespeare and Company bookshop.
Le Café du Trocadero
8 Place du Trocadero, 75116 Paris
Parisian café with a view of : The Eiffel Tower
Expresso price: 4,50 euros (full menu here)
That view of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero is the best in the city. There she is, framed in all of her splendour. The Trocadero Café is best placed for a view of the tower but to be honest, I’d be tempted to skip the view and head to Carette next door. The famous Carette hot chocolate is so thick and delicious, it’ll keep you coming back for more. Me and my mum love to go there when she’s in Paris. We’ve baptised it the “Chocadero” experience ! There’s another Carette at Place des Vosges offering the same choccy delicousness.
Chez Eugène
17 Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris
Parisian café with a view of : Sacré Cœur, Place du Tertre, la Tour du Montparnasse
Expresso : 3 euros (click here for the menu)
One of my favourite places in Paris is the Place du Tertre. After climbing the steps up to Sacré Coeur and turning around to discover that breathtaking view of Paris, time to discover the little streets that surround the famous basilica. When you happen upon the Place du Tertre, its artists (which once included Picasso himself!) and its cafés, you’ll fall in love with Paris all over again. From Chez Eugène, you can take in the splendour of the basilica, the happy hustle and bustle of the square and turn your head to the right to catch a glimpse of the Montparnasse Tower. Here’s a little video I took last time I was there:
Le Café Français
1-3 Place de la Bastille, 75004 Paris
Parisian café with a view of : La Place de la Bastille, l’Opéra de Bastille
Expresso : 2,70 euros (see menu here)
An up-market, brasserie-style café, this is a good choice if you’re looking for a less intimate setting. The café faces the vast Bastille square with it’s imposing Opera House as well as its famous July Column monument which commemorates the 1830 Revolution. From here, you can head into the Marais quarter with its numerous cafés, shops and the wonderful Carnavalet Museum which is dedicated to the history of Paris. It’s strongly advised to book tickets in advance. It’s worth mentioing that the Marais is one of the rare quarters in which the shops are allowed to trade on Sundays. So if you’re looking for some life on a Sunday, the Marais is the place to head to.
Starbucks Pigalle
Parisian café with a view of : Le Moulin Rouge
Expresso price : 2 euros (menu here)
Ok, so you’ve done the Paris cafés and they’re great but sometimes – you just want that familiar taste of your favourite Starbucks drink. If so, this Starbucks at Pigalle is a must! You can sip your skinny latte with a view of the legendary Moulin Rouge. It’s also ideally placed for discovering the lower Montmartre district. My suggestion is to head straight across Place Blanche to go up Rue Lepic then right down rue des Abesses. These streets just ooze the wonderful Montmartre lifestyle of unique, trendy restaurants and boutiques. You’ll even see the only working windmill in Paris!
Café de la Paix
5 Place de l’Opéra, 75009 Paris
Parisian café with a view of : Opéra Garnier
Expresso price : 6 euros (click here for the menu)
Yes, you read correctly – 6 euros for a tiny coffee! Well, it’s not the cheapest but it is probably the most iconic café in Paris. Going to the Café de la Paix is a day out in itself. The view on the Palais Garnier is breathtaking but it’s also worth sitting inside too to soak up that very particular atmosphere, so steeped in history. The café was built in 1862 during Haussmann’s renovation of Paris under Napolean III. Zola, Tchaikovsy, de Maupassant, Oscar Wilde, Hemingway were all amongst the café’s historic clientel. Once you’ve rubbed noses with these icons of the past at this very particular parisian café with a view, why not head down to the famous department stores on boulevard Haussmann for a spot of shopping.
Comptoir du Panthéon
Parisian café with a view of : Le Panthéon
Expresso price : 2,70 euros (menu here)
Not only does this café boast an impressive view of the Panthéon, it’s a great place to people watch on a lazy afternoon. Your only problem will be choosing which way to stroll after your coffee. You could go down rue Soufflot to the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg. You could go up to the Panthéon, around the back and down the wonderful rue Mouffetard with is numerous cafés and shops (open on Sundays!). If you’re an Emily in Paris fan, you can even go to the right of the Panthéon and see where the series is set at Place de l’Estrapade.
Les Deux Magots
6 Place Saint Germain des Près, 75006 Paris
Parisian café with a view of : L’Eglise Saint Germain des Près
Expresso price : 4,90 euros (full drinks menu here)
I have only been to this café a handful of times in my 15 years of Paris life but I can remember each visit like it was yesterday. It’s special and you can feel it. Maybe it’s the over-the-top waiter service, maybe it’s the extravagence of the menu, maybe it’s the view of the 1000-year-old Saint Germain church or maybe it’s th unique parisan chic that infuses life in the Saint Germain des Près quarter. Whatever it is, it’s magic. When you’ve paid the check (which was more expensive than you’d planned for because that extravagent menu will have you ordering all kinds of delights!), time to stroll around the charming streets of Saint Germain.
Whichever parisian café with a view you choose to sip your café in the beautiful city of Paris, I hope it will be a memorable experience for all of the right reasons – A la votre! Santé! Cheers!
Now that you’re an expert on parisan cafés with a view, check out this blogpost to become an expert on saying Bonjour!: 10 ways to say Bonjour like a local