We are planning a trip to Paris in mid-November and looking for a restaurant with a view of the city (and delicious) for our "grand finale" evening before returning home. What can you tell us about Les Jules Vernes, Altitude 95, Le Ciel de Paris...or perhaps make another suggestion?

360 Cafe at the Montparnasse tower will offer fantastic views but it's not exactly a 'grand finale' in terms of food.

I'd suggest you get a drink at this cafe at the start of your trip as the whole of Paris will be laid out before your eyes like a feast.

http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/uk/

Possibly a bit left-field (as it doesn't have a high vantage point over the city) but Kong
(www. kong.fr) at 1 Rue Pont Neuf has an amazing view out over the Seine from a pretty spectacular dining room.

As it's Starck you'll either love it or hate it, but the food is good and it'll definitely be memorable.

Here is one more:

http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/

And this, with a nice view but not an actual city view:

http://www.lesautduloup.com/

We just had dinner at Les Ombres last week and loved it. The tasting menu was delicious and it will be hard to top the view. The Eiffel Tower is right next door and when it begins to twinkle, on the hour, it is magical.

For a less expensive dinner than Les Ombres but with a fine view of Tour Eiffel, I can recommend Chez Francis. The location is very near the Bateau Mouches and a Siene cruise with late dinner at Chez Francis may be a nice way to end your trip.
http://www.chezfrancis-restaurant.com/

As far as Jules Verne. I last ate there in April 2007 after it was taken over by Ducasse (but before the renovation). I was traveling with my daughter with a focus on food (she's a trained chef). We did lunch. I had the prixe fixe and she ordered a la carte. The food, service, ambiance were excellent. The tab came to EUR400+ ! If we both had ordered prix fixe and skipped the wine, the tab would have been about EUR150 at that time.

If you're looking for a view over Paris, maybe a drink at Le Ciel de Paris at the top of Tour Montparnasse. I've never eaten at the restaurant (nor ever seen it mentioned on message boards) so I can't speak to the food.
http://www.cieldeparis.com/

Jay_G's link works better this way www.kong.fr

I like at least drinks at one of the Montparnasse Tower rooms -- but maybe I'd have lunch there and then go up on the roof for even better views.

We ate a Jules Verne for lunch in June 2010. Three people -- 2 adults and 1 child. Bottle of wine and 2 glasses of champagne for the adults and everyone had the fixed price lunch. Tab was about 450 Euro. It was excellent throughout. Reserve 3 months out and request table by the window facing the Seine for best seating.

Food not up to that level by any means but alot of fun because of the chance to see all the sites (including the Eiffel Tower as it lit up) was Le Calife Seine dinner cruise. You can book one month out. We had a front table by the windows so we had an unobstructed view of all the sites.

Thanks for the help janisj, I guess it was the brackets messing things up.

We have eaten at Jules Verne and Maison Blanche. Both have great views. The view over Paris fro Jules Verne as the sun goes down and the lights come up on Paris below is about as romantic as it gets! Both of us thought the food was just as good as the view. We will definitely go back. While the view from Maison Blanche was not quite as spectacular as the one from Jules Verne, it was beautiful and the food was excellent. Both are very expensive, so plan accordingly.

There is a temporary restaurant on top of the Palais de Tokyo called Nomiya. You can only book one month ahead of time on the internet ~ dinner is 100 euros per person and includes champagne, wine, 7 courses, mineral water and coffee. Oh, and the view ~ the Eiffel Tower is directly across the Seine and the restaurant is covered in glass walls floor to ceiling.

Here's some pictures from our dinner last month:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...4&id=780402322

You can also check the website daily looking for cancellations ~ that's how I booked our dinner and also our lunch in May.

Jo

BTW, we also ate at Jules Verne in 2007 for our 25th anniversary and had a wonderful, memorable lunch.

Jo

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and reports. I am researching your ideas. Jules Verne is definitely not in our budget. Chez Francis looks perfect for our first night in Paris, we are planning to ride Bateau Mouche.

I may have misnamed the restaurant on the first level of the Eiffel Tower - it's 58 Tour Eiffel (not Altitude 95). Has anyone had a dining experience to share at this establishment?

And for lunch that day, if the weather permits, Pompidou Centre has a nice rooftop restaurant. I do not know if it is open for dinner.

I checked online. Mixed reviews re food and service but unanimous about the view.

Bdgirls, my mother and I had dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel in March 2010. I did not enjoy the process of getting up to the restaurant. We were only permitted to go up a few minutes before the start of dinner, so it was a crush of people racing each other to the restaurant.

Once seated, though, we enjoyed everything. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding (and since I'm a waitress, I have very high standards for service). Best of all, though, we were seated near a window facing the Seine, at sunset. It was not a cheap experience, but I don't regret it for a second.

Thanks, Hoyabooyah
Was everyone in a rush because it's first come, first to the window seats? I was successful in making a reservation thru their link. Perhaps I should have made a special note requesting a window with view of the Seine?

Bdgirls, I think everyone was in a rush because they THOUGHT it would help them get a better seat, but reservations seemed to be pre-assigned to specific tables. I imagine it can't hurt to make a request for a nicer table.

I also like the view of the tower from Chez Francis, it's a good alternative.

I don't imagine there isn't anyone who doesn't want a table with a view at that Eiffel tower restaurant, I can't imagine someone would say they don't. You don't eat there for any other reason.

Another Option is "Georges" at the top of the Pompidou. While not inexpensive it is a better price than Jules Verne. It is a Phillipe Stark style design, very modern and a bit pretentious, but the food is good and the view is grand. Reservations are required. As for a table by the glass.

http://www.centrepompidou.fr/pompido...ssionM=3.8&L=2