Are There Any Restaurants In The Eiffel Tower?

Paris certainly has no shortage of bistros, brasseries, and cafés — in fact, the challenge for most tourists is deciding . One surprising option that you might not consider is the Eiffel Tower, which has been home to restaurants since its opening in 1889. Gustave Eiffel, the French civil engineer (and namesake) who helped build the Iron Lady, designed the tower not only to show off France's technological skills, but also to be a hub of culture and leisure, which included dining establishments.

The tower was created specifically for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, and, when it debuted, featured four small restaurants on the first level, each serving a different cuisine. These early restaurants were nothing like the Michelin-starred ones to come later. The four wooden pavilions were all on the first floor and could each hold 500 people, necessary for all the visitors who were clamoring to experience the world's tallest structure at the time.



As the Tower's popularity grew, its first floor was completely remodeled for the International Exhibition in 1937. In the 1980s, it underwent another transformation to become two gourmet restaurants: "La Belle France" and "Le Parisien." After a few more reinventions (including a hot air balloon-themed brasserie), the first floor was renovated yet again into today's Madame Brasserie, which opened in 2022.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, the Tower's venture into fine dining has been going on since 1983, with the opening of the high-end Jules Verne. The Eiffel Tower has everything from fine dining to macarons and champagne Jules Verne, named after the French novelist, is the fanciest and most famous restaurant in the Tower. It's located on the second floor, with panoramic views of The City of Light.

The Michelin-starred restaurant truly kicked off the transition of the Tower into a destination for gourmet dining. Over the years, Jules Verne has been helmed by some of France's most prestigious chefs, including Frédéric Anton and Alain Ducasse (who apparently also makes ). A dress code is strictly enforced (pack that suit jacket!), and diners get to enjoy their own private elevator, reserved strictly for the restaurant's patrons.

However, if you don't feel like dropping several hundred euros on dinner, you can hit the snack buffets located on the esplanade, first, and second floors. Because it's Paris, there are also two separate bars: one serving macarons, the other serving champagne. The macarons are made by renowned pâtissier Pierre Hermé and feature flavors like dark chocolate raspberry and bergamot cream with Parisian honey.

Of course, these macarons are best paired with sparkling wine, so you might as well make your way to the very top floor for a glass at the . At a height of over 900 feet, you'll get a pretty spectacular view from the summit, along with your bubbles buzz. Just like the city itself, the Eiffel Tower's restaurants have evolved from modest fairground eateries to world-class dining destinations.

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