The 15 Best Paris Terraces for Lingering Outdoors

Café terraces are an essential to life in Paris, whether it’s for a solo coffee in the morning or apéro among friends in the evening. Parisian terraces have evolved extensively in the past few years including an increasing number of rooftop bars and reimagined courtyard terraces. Here are our picks for the best terraces across the capital including our favorite new establishments for 2023.

New Terraces for 2023

Best Frenchie Ambiance: La Brasserie des Prés

After the success of Brasserie Bellanger and Brasserie Dubillot, La Nouvelle Garde Groupe is back with its latest neo-brasserie. Tucked away down the quiet Cour de Commerce-Saint-André the hip eatery is flanked by a long terrace facing the picturesque cobbled lane. Here, you can enjoy their reasonably priced menu of French classics like oeuf mimosa, pâté en croûte and saucisse purée–all made with excellent quality ingredients sourced directly from producers.

The interiors are also delightful, and a soon-to-open secret bar is hidden on the top floor. If you’re simply passing by, you can also get an artisanal ice-cream to go from its glacier.

Best Cool Vibes & Music: Superflu

The labor of love of music-loving friends, this new hip bar and restaurant in the 18th district has a fabulous courtyard terrace. Start your evening in this verdant oasis, sharing a selection of creative small plates, great natural wines and craft cocktails. Before long, the living ambiance will draw you inside where you can groove to the beats of Paris’s most cutting-edge DJs, who spin from 10 to 2 pm Friday and Saturday evenings.

Best for a Romantic Meal: Bellefeuille

The regal Saint James Hotel in the 16th has unveiled an enchanting garden terrace for summer. This sublime verdant setting of Bellefeuille, or ‘beautiful leaf’ in French, is perfectly complemented by talented chef Julien Dumas’s succulent Michelin-starred creations, which beautifully highlight seasonal vegetables.

Best Views: Hotel Dames des Arts Rooftop

Located steps from Place Saint-Michel, this new boutique hotel has a rooftop terrace with sweeping views over the city. On one of its cozy sofa sitting areas, you can savor bespoke cocktails, eco-responsible cuisine and stupendous views over the city, including the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre.

Best Along the Seine: Sena

If you’re taking a stroll along the Right Bank’s Parc Rives de Seine, stop in at this new peniche houseboat dedicated to la Bella Italia. Overlooking elegant Île-Saint-Louis, you can sample inventive spritzes, pastas, pizzas and typical Italian aperitivo snacks.

Best Laid-Back Atmosphere: Living Kitchen

You’ll feel like you’re in a friend’s backyard at this relaxed rooftop perched atop the Zuko Apartment Hotel in the 17th arrondissement. Attracting a mix of travelers, remote workers and sunseekers, the huge terrace has lounge seating, swings and plenty of greenery. Come for drinks and stay for a meal of contemporary cuisine using fresh ingredients grown right on the rooftop garden.

Chicest Setting: La Chambre Bleue

Nestled in the courtyard of the posh new Maison Delano Paris is this stylish restaurant. Chef Dani García menu showcases Franco-Andalusian dishes with a seafood focus. Dishes include marinated tuna croquettes with tuna belly sashimi and smoked eel paella with nori. These are paired with craft cocktails from the hotel’s swank bar.

Most Whimsical: Bar Sur Le Toit

Enter a magical Garden of Eden by journeying to the rooftop bar of the new Fantaisie Hotel. Situated in the Faubourg Montmartre area, the whole venue evokes gardens, through floral decor, plants throughout and its rooftop. Here you can have excellent cocktails as well as healthy cuisine which, of course, are made of garden ingredients.

Tried and True Classics

Best Historic Terrace – Les Deux Magots

The debate over which of the two legendary cafés of Saint-Germain is best could go on forever. Nevertheless, when it comes to the terrace, Les Deux Magot wins over Café de Flore. If you’re going to spend six euros on a coffee, at least it comes with a much larger terrace and a view of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres church.

Best Hip Terrace – Rosa Bonheur de la Porte Jaune

Eastern Paris is about to get hipper with the arrival of the latest Rosa Bonheur. The modern guinguette spirit of its other three locations will be replicated at this new location, found on an island in the Bois de Vincennes and boasting a vast outdoor terrace.

Best Quintessentially Parisian Terrace – Le Nemours

Overlooking the alluring Place Colette, this effortlessly chic café, with a long terrace with chairs facing outwards, is the archetypal Parisian café experience and is perfect for sitting back and watching Paris pass you by.

Best Hidden Terrace – Café A

This cool terrace is located within the courtyard of a 17^th-century convent near the Canal Saint-Martin. Although it’s a tranquil oasis within the city, the ambiance is fun and festive, especially on weekends.

Best Terrace on the Seine – Maison Maison

Paris has really been upping its game with its river-side terraces, and while the ones in the 13^th and on Les Berges are great, it’s hard to beat the views and central location of this laidback venue with views of the Pont Neuf, Pont des Arts, and Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Best Under-the-Radar Terrace – Café de l’Odéon

Although it’s only a few paces from the Luxembourg Gardens, the large terrace of the Odéon Theatre remains for those in the know. Not only does it get a lot of sunshine, but you also have the pretty backdrop of the historic theater and very little traffic noise.

Greenest Terrace – Jardin21

Nestled within a vast vegetable garden in the Parc de la Villette is this eco-forward café. It serves local artisanal beverages and food made from ingredients from its very own garden, the ideal break after a stroll along the Canal de l’Ourcq.

Addresses:

La Brasserie des Prés, Cours de Commerce-Saint-André, 75006

Superflu, 227 bis Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris

Bellefeuille, 5, place du Chancelier-Adenauer, 75016

Hotel Dames des Arts Rooftop, 4 Rue Danton 75006

Sena, Port de l’Hôtel de Ville, 75004

Living Kitchen, Zoku Paris, 48 Av. de la Porte de Clichy, 75017

La Chambre Bleue, Maison Delano Paris, 4 Rue d’Anjou, 75008

Bar Sur Le Toit, La Fantaisie Hôtel, 24 Rue Cadet 75009

Les Deux Magots, 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris

Rosa Bonheur de la Porte Jaune, Avenue de Nogent, 75012 Paris

Le Nemours, 2 place Colette, 75001 Paris

Café A, 148 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010 Paris

Maison Maison, access via stairs below 16 Quai du Louvre, 75001 Paris

Café de l’Odéon, Place de l’Odéon, 75006 Paris

Jardin21, 12/A Rue Ella Fitzgerald, 75019 Paris

Related Links

• Beat the heat or lap up some exercise on your stay in Paris at a hotel with a pool!
• It’s a top shopping destination but did you know that one of the best rooftop terraces in town along with a host of other things to do can be found at Galeries Lafayette?
• Check out The Best Terraces in Paris for an Apéro!

Written by Lily Heise. Looking to travel? Check out Plum Guide and our Marketplace for fabulous vacation rentals in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long or short term, or buy in France? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates or click here. Looking to bring France home to you or to learn online or in person? Check out our marketplace shop and experiences.