Eiffel Tower and memorable restaurants
 

I have 2 quick questions about my upcoming trip to Paris with my daughter in November. She wants to know if it is really worth it to go to the summit of the Eiffel Tower. I have been there twice before and never went to the summit. Also, I was hoping to find a memorable restaurant for our last night in Paris. Great food, ambiance, etc. Any help would be appreciated!

IMO (just my 2¢) it isn't necessary to go up to even the first level. A much better view is had from the Montparnasse Tower - with he advantage that the Eiffel Tower is part of the view.

Probably should have added " . . . with he advantage that the Eiffel Tower is part of the view . . . and the Montparnasse Tower isn't' ;)

Ditto janisj.

Restaurants. Where are you staying??? In November (cold, rainy, dark), it makes no sense to take 3 metros or buses and spend 1 hour on them to go to a restaurant that someone you don't know recommends. Tell us where you are staying, how much you want to spend. Are you looking for a good steak, are you willing to spend 3 hours dining on a 6 course gourmet meal. I'm guessing that neither you or your daughter are real foodies. If so - go for the ambience and just order something simple. My wife & I are foodies - but we love old brasseries when we just want a fun meal. Our favorite eye-popper is Train Bleu.
https://www.le-train-bleu.com/en/
or Mollard
Home - Brasserie Mollard
Or if you are more of a foodie & staying in the St Germain de Pres area near Orsay
HOME ? Les Climats

Stu Dudley

I keep trying to reply to this thread but can't post. What is the problem?

We had lunch at Jules Verne IN the Eiffel Tower on our first visit. LOVED it.
Yes, it's pricey but you don't get any more memorable than that.
Friends visited with their daughters last year and it was the girls' favorite thing they did.

Only you can decide if it is worth it. YOu've even been there, you know what it is. I've never done it even though I've been to Paris almost annually for decades, sometimes staying long times. Because I have zero interest in going up tall towers to look at overhead views of cities. I don't find those views attractive. I mean I might do it if there were no fee or wait at all, I guess, but not if there were. I don't really enjoy views from tall buildings over rooftops, etc. And at night, you are just looking at lights anyway, There are numerous places you can see some views from high up easier or for free, anyway. For example, from the top of some dept stores. I have gone up Montparnasse Tower once as it was easier and more convenient as I stay in that quarter, and what's the difference if your goal is just to look at a view, anyway? There is also a view of the city from a bit afar from up near the Maison de l'Air in Parc de Belleville. I've read that museum is closed, but you can still go up there for the view if you want I presume. At least going to that park is something to do and not as touristy. This is some info on it although the museum itself is closed.

https://www.paris-walking-tours.com/...elleville.html

If the link below doesn't work, Google 'how many restaurants are in the Eiffel tower' and you will get a description of three:

https://www.headout.com/blog/eiffel-tower-restaurants/

Some years ago, DH and I took a Night Tour by bus. The tour ended with a choice of dinner at the Eiffel tower or Folies Bergere. We ate at the middle resto in the tower.

Not near Eiffel, but I heartily agree with Stu about Train Bleu.

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Le Train Bleu

Eiffel Tower
 

I leave next Monday for about a month. With masks, reservations, health passes, trip is a challenge. The weather is usually rainy and miserable. That said I was only planning on going to the 2nd level as it does not require a reservation and can buy the ticket on the spot which I felt was very advantageous with all the other constraints involved. Enjoy.

I did it on my FIRST visit - because my girlfriend wanted to. SO glad she did. It was an amazing meal and an amazing view!

"...to look at overhead views of cities. I don't find those views attractive."

OMG! Seriously?! LOL
ALL of Paris stretched out around you and that's an unattractive view?! Wow!

It's gorgeous. ALL of Paris stretched out around you. The view is past "attractive". It's spectacular! Absolutely amazing. It was so fabulous that we stopped on the way to the elevator and settled in at the lounge for a while longer to enjoy that amazing view.
Okay. Maybe I had just a tad too much to drink with the wine flights and needed some coffee. But a photo that was taken of me, holding the fold out map and pointing to landmarks shows pure joy on my face. A real highlight in all my travels.

Bonus = skip the line when you have reservations at Jules Verne. We chose an afternoon lunch so we could see everything. We decided that would be better for us than night.

Chuckling a bit, thinking of all the city clubs who have lovely restaurants in high "towers" in cities all over this country. The views are amazing, even mid-sized cities that I wasn't that excited about visiting. Who knew there were people who didn't like views?! :-)

I was looking for photos (not sharing mine here) and found this blog entry -
Dining in the Eiffel Tower: Le Jules Verne Restaurant - Amble & Pearl
Lunch there is pricey so I understand if that's not an option.
But views?! "Unattractive" views? Still can't wrap my head around that criticism.
Anyway, pretty photos there and some good comments, including service and lack of lines. I'm all for no lines.

I really enjoyed going up the tower at night when the lights "twinkle" on the hours. However, I think starting mid-November, the tower closes early.

I was there for Christmas a few years ago and the driver tried to time our arrival perfectly for the sparkly lights (on the hour). They started a bit late though (for that hour on that day. 11 pm on 12/25)

lparro, if you want a special experience I highly recommend the private driver in a vintage Citroen. Great way to see the night lights of Paris. 2 hour tour with a bottle of champagne waiting. If your daughter is too young, maybe an alternative. I did it for Christmas night and it was a magical experience - and fabulous photos of Paris landmarks at night.

I have been up the Eiffel multiple times with multiple people but probably not during my last 10 to 15 or so visits to Paris. First time I walked up to the second floor as I was down to my last $50 before flying home. Last time we ate lunch at the Jules Verne which was lovely. Nice to have the private elevator. The View is different from the Montparnasse tower. Experience is different too as the Eiffel is naked and old. My take is if you are going to the Eiffel do both floors. You never have to do it again if you don't want to.
I am not sure what to recommend for food. I am assuming you want to eat something French but there are many different varieties of French restaurants that serve different types of food. Budget? Train Bleu is excellent but not inexpensive. The PLM menu was a pretty good deal for about 65 Euros. A selection of three glasses of wine was about 25 Euros if I remember correctly. You could also have a fixed price menu for lunch at some Michelin star restaurants. Am not sure of availability or pricing due to COVID. Only ate at my daughters favorite Steak and frites restaurant and Train Bleu this summer as we were only briefly in Paris before heading south.

- Grand Vefour
- Restaurant Guy Savoy
are two grand ones to start with -- if you don't wish to spring for dinner, do lunch
- Laduree (for tea and macarons)
- Polidor (if you want historic)

Up front - I'm not an expert on fine dining in Paris. I'm happy with my little favorite bistro. I did go to a restaurant highly recommended on this board and it was very good.

Have you shared the age of your daughter? I think that may matter. I would choose a restaurant that I'm fairly sure that will be there on a return visit. That's one of my favorite things about returning to Paris.

My ex's parents always ate at Taillevent. I probably never will (and that's okay).
https://letaillevent.com/en/

A jewel box of a dining room is at Angelina's. You could go for a meal or go for their famous hot chocolate and/or desserts.
https://www.angelina-paris.fr/fr/la-carte-sal%C3%A9e

One of my favorites is the tea room/ cafe at the house museum Jacquemart Andre
https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.c...cquemart-andre
When my taxi couldn't move due to the Yellow Vest protests I had him turn around to head there.

My favorite is a simple little bistro near two very famous ones -
Famous one -
Step into the worldof Les Deux Magots !
Another famous one -
https://cafedeflore.fr/menu/?lang=en
Mine -
https://bistro-paris.com/bistro/le-bonaparte
I don't know who made this video but I agree -
Laduree is a few steps away.

My wife and I went to the top in the late afternoon on our last visit. We had reservations and bypassed the long lines to the elevator. We splurged on a glasses of champagne. Watching the sunset and the lights come on in the city was magical. Definitely worth it to us. I'm not sure the weather will be in your favor in November.

I returned to Paris in July. Never went up the tower previously because we didn't want to spend time waiting in lines, reserving ahead not knowing if weather was favorable, etc. We finally decided this might be the right time to do it. No reservations, zero lines. We were on the elevator within 5 minutes of purchasing our tickets at the booth. It was spectacular at sunset. Not sure if it it busier now.

Eiffel Tower and memorable restaurants
 

HMy daughter is 43 and we are definitely foodies. We are looking for a memorable restaurant for our last night in Paris before we leave for Alsace. Willing to pay $$$ And we will be celebrating her birthday too

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