11 Amazing Rooftop Bars in Paris

As much as I like hanging out on café terraces in Paris, when the weather starts getting nice, rooftop bars are extra tempting. When I first moved to Paris 20 years ago, there were absolutely NO rooftops, so it’s been super exciting to see them popping up around the city in the last few years. There’s something for all styles and budgets, including places with STUNNING views of the Eiffel Tower. I hope you can find the vibe for you on this list of the best rooftop bars in Paris.

A little word of caution before you check out any of these places, some rooftop bars are only open mid-spring to early fall, and others only in the evenings. I’ve included some rough guidelines for the season, but you might want to just have a quick look at the bar’s website to make sure it’s open before going.

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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)

This is an image of an outdoor terrace with lots of wooden seating and cushions, plus greenery.

Image Courtesy of Le Perchoir Ménilmontant

Le Perchoir Ménilmontant

Meaning “the perch” in French, this hip hangout was one of the first rooftop bars in the city, but that’s not why it’s high on my list of the best rooftop bars in Paris. Located in the 11th district, not far from Belleville, the bar has a relaxed setting with friendly seating areas, affordable drinks, and lovely views up towards Montmartre. Included on Day 5 of Paris Itineraries, it’s the perfect place to end your wandering in Paris’s non-touristy east end.

Le Perchoir Ménilmontant | 11th arrondissement | Open year-round | WA

This is an image of a rooftop full of people sitting on different tables with a view of Paris's skyline and the sunset.

Image Courtesy of Terrass Hotel via Facebook

Terrass Hotel Rooftop

If you’re looking for sweeping views of all of Paris, then this rooftop’s for you. Sitting on top of a stylish hotel on the edge of Montmartre, this rooftop bar is a bit of a secret despite being a short stroll from the tourist masses hovering around Sacré-Coeur. A secret from tourists, but not from Parisians, so the trick is to come during the week before 5 pm so you can get a good seat. If you swap around the neighborhoods on Day 3 of our Paris Itineraries, you could end here following our great walking route around the area. It’s a little on the pricey side, but the dreamy views are worth the few euros extra drinks cost here.

Terrass Hotel Rooftop | 18th arrondissement | Open year-round | WA

This is an image of a rather swanky rooftop bar with cream furniture and the city in the distance with shades, couches and tables.

Image Courtesy of Hotel des Arts

Le Rooftop – Hotel des Arts

There aren’t many rooftop bars on the Left Bank of Paris, but this is definitely one of the best. It’s situated in a recently renovated boutique hotel that borders the 5th and 6th districts and is open to non-guests of the hotel. It’s a short walk from Notre Dame, so if you’re visiting the cathedral in the late afternoon, or other parts of the Latin Quarter, this could be a good place to finish off your day. It has nice areas with sofas and other cozy seats where you can sip great cocktails, and soak up gorgeous views of the area, with the Eiffel Tower peeking up over the rooftop in the distance.

Le Rooftop – Hotel des Arts | 6th Arrondissement | Seasonal mid-spring to early fall | WA

This is an image of a nice rooftop bat with cushioned seating, a boho-looking bar and fun fairy lights draped around.

Image Courtesy of Generator Hostel

Khayma

I really like the area around the Canal St-Martin, which has tons of fun local hangouts that are generally pretty affordable, including the rooftop bar of the hip Generator hostel. So if you’re on a budget, you can still soak up rooftop vibes without breaking the bank by coming here. The crowd is a bit younger and edgier, with some international guests staying at the hostel thrown into the mix. Make some friends at the bar, then head out to explore the other lively bars around the canal.

Khayma | 10th Arrondissement

This is an image of a bunch of people gathered around the table drinking, there's a glass balcony around the rooftop and a nice view of Paris.

Image Courtesy of Creatures Paris

Créatures – Galeries Lafayette

Although there’s a free viewing deck on top of the Galeries Lafayette department store, if you’d like some tasty food and drinks before or after shopping or while doing our walking route of Day 1 of our Paris Itineraries, grab a table at the store’s rooftop restaurant. You can just get a drink, but around mealtimes you’ll be expected to order some food. A heads up that the menu is 100% vegetarian, but a very creative one that I think would even win over the biggest carnivores.

Créatures-Galeries Lafayette | 9th Arrondissement | Seasonal mid-spring to early fall | WA

This is an image of a garden rooftop terrace with with heaps of pots, and greenery.

Image Courtesy of Maggie

Maggie

This is another of my top picks on my list of the best rooftop bars in Paris. It sits atop the cool Hotel Rochechouart, an Art Deco hotel at the base of Montmartre and the beginning of the cool South Pigalle area. It has amazing cocktails, fantastic small plates, AND spectacular views of Sacré Coeur. I suggest you try to come early, before 6 pm, because it’s another rooftop that’s very popular with Parisians.

Maggie | 9th Arrondissement | Seasonal mid-spring to early fall | WA

This is an image of a dark terrace with people sitting down drinking and chatting.

Image Courtesy of Bar à Bulles

Bar à Bulles

This rooftop bar has the most unique view of any of the others. Nope, this isn’t of the Eiffel Tower, but instead of the Moulin Rouge — and smack dab up close. Most people who come to see this world-famous cabaret have no idea that there’s a bar hidden behind the windmill. You have to work a little to find it, but let me help you out.

Take the tiny lane to the left of the windmill, called la Cité Véron, and a little way down on the right is a staircase. Take this, and after you get past the security check, you’ll first reach a relaxed garden area. On the right is the door to the inside part. This area is nice, but turn to the right and follow the red arrow to reach the rooftop behind the windmill. This special area closes at 10 pm, so don’t come too late and be sure to check the opening hours on its website because they tend to change every now and then.

Bar à Bulles | 18th Arrondissement | Open year-round | WA

This is an image of a lovely deck full of boho furniture and mood lighting. The sky is also very blue and looks out on the Paris skyline.

Image Courtesy of Le Bellevilloise

La Bellevilloise Rooftop

I LOVE this local hangout in the artsy Belleville area and go year-round, but when the weather gets nice, it also has a FABULOUS rooftop. It’s a no-fuss, good-value place which also has some really wonderful views of the city. I’d say it’s a great option if you’re looking for a fun night out away from typical tourist hotspots, plus the main room downstairs often has concerts and other events.

La Bellevilloise Rooftop | 20th Arrondissement | Seasonal mid-spring to early fall | WA

This is an image of an outdoor balcony with a bunch of greenery and lots of orange tables.

Image Courtesy of Kinu-Gawa

Kinu-gawa

Every spring, a few new rooftop bars open up in Paris, and there’s been a lot of buzz around this chic new arrival on the Left Bank. It’s on top of the Hotel Sax, which is only a few streets away from the Eiffel Tower, so it has some pretty spectacular close-up views of it — which are especially magical when it’s twinkling at night. This proximity does come at a steep price, but if you’d like to nibble on dainty Japanese food and sip top-notch cocktails surrounded by beautiful Parisians, then this could be worth the splurge.

Kinugawa | 7th Arrondissement | Open year-round

This is an image of a man on the DJ decks at a rooftop bar with plenty of people around dancing and chatting.

Image Courtesy of Wanderlust via Instagram

Wanderlust

Most rooftops in Paris are more for food or drinks, but this is one of the few that’s an actual club. Popular with a younger Parisian crowd, the HUGE place is on top of the funky green Les Docks building in the 13th district. It doesn’t get hopping until around 1 am, so if you’re thinking of heading here, do NOT plan on doing any major sightseeing early the next morning. You might actually still be dancing as the sites start opening up.

Wanderlust | 13th Arrondissement | Seasonal mid-spring to early fall

This is an image of a nice outdoor terraced area with cushions and chairs around. There is also a view of the surrounding buildings and sites.

Image Courtesy of Rooftop National

Rooftop Nationale

If you’re looking for a nice rooftop in central Paris that’s on the posh side, try the rooftop bar of the Hotel National des Arts et Métiers. The modern boutique hotel is situated in the Upper Marais, close to the border with the 2nd arrondissement, so it’s really convenient and a good spot to end a day in the Marais, like on Day 3 of our Paris Itineraries. While it doesn’t have the sweeping views over the whole city, like some of the other places on this list, it does have a very Parisian panorama of the rooftops of the area.

Rooftop National | 3rd Arrondissement | Seasonal mid-spring to early fall | WA

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