Le Jules Verne: Your Insider’s Guide to Dining 125 Meters Above Paris
There’s eating with a view, and then there’s eating inside the Eiffel Tower at a two-Michelin-star restaurant 125 meters above ground. Le Jules Verne isn’t just dinner with a side of Paris—it’s the kind of meal where the location and the food compete for your attention, and somehow, both win.
Since Chef Frédéric Anton took over in 2019 (after a rather dramatic departure by Alain Ducasse), Le Jules Verne earned its second Michelin star in 2024. Anton, who also helms the three-starred Le Pré Catelan, has turned this landmark restaurant into a serious culinary destination—not just a place tourists go for the views.
The Honest Reality
Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, you need to book months in advance. And yes, you’re partly paying for the location. But if you’re going to splurge on one memorable meal in Paris, this delivers. The food is exceptional, the service is seamless, and eating inside one of the world’s most famous monuments is pretty cool.
Location & How to Get There
Address: Tour Eiffel – 2nd Floor, Avenue Gustave Eiffel, 75007 Paris
Metro: Bir-Hakeim (Line 6), Trocadéro (Lines 6, 9), or École Militaire (Line 8)
Entry Point: South Pillar (Pilier Sud) of the Eiffel Tower – look for the dedicated Le Jules Verne entrance
Skip the tourist lines completely. Le Jules Verne has its own private entrance at the South Pillar with a dedicated security line. Once inside, you’ll take a private elevator with windows on both sides—only six passengers per ride. The elevator displays your altitude as you rise through the iron structure. It’s a pretty atmospheric start to the meal.
If you’re driving, there’s valet parking at the corner of Avenue Octave Gérard and Avenue Charles Floquet, near the southern pillar.
The Menu: What You Need to Know
Le Jules Verne only serves tasting menus (no à la carte at dinner). At lunch Monday-Friday, there’s an à la carte option for €180.
Lunch:
- À La Carte Menu: €180 (Monday-Friday only, excluding holidays)
- 5-Course Tasting Menu: €295
- 7-Course Tasting Menu: €330
Dinner:
- 5-Course Tasting Menu: €295
- 7-Course Tasting Menu: €330
Hours:
- Lunch: 12pm – 1:30pm
- Dinner: 7pm – 9pm
- Closed for dinner on July 14th (Bastille Day)
Wine pairings are available but priced separately on-site. Expect €25-30+ per glass, or bottles starting around €100. The sommelier team is excellent—tell them your budget, and they’ll guide you to something good without judgment.
What to Expect on the Plate
Anton’s cooking draws inspiration from the Eiffel Tower’s architecture—structured, precise, and graphic. He worked under Joël Robuchon for seven years, and it shows in the dazzling flavor combinations. Dishes change seasonally but highlight premium French ingredients: crab, langoustines, foie gras, turbot, veal, and chocolate.
Recent standouts include:
- Scallop soufflé with Dieppoise sauce and Oscietra caviar
- Crab served two ways (cold with tarragon, apple, and lemon emulsion)
- Caramelized calf sweetbread with hazelnut butter sabayon
- Saint-Nectaire cheese with girolle mushrooms, puffed buckwheat, and Comté
- Langoustine ravioli in tarragon sauce
- Williams pear poached in hawthorn honey with bergamot pear soup
The presentations are gorgeous—white plates on bare tables, so nothing distracts from the food or the view. You’ll also get several amuse-bouches and extras throughout the meal (the 7-course menu ends up more like 12 courses with all the additions).
Dress Code: They’re Serious About This
Required for men: Suit jacket (mandatory). Dress pants. No jeans, shorts, sneakers, or sportswear.
For women: Dresses, skirts, or tailored trousers with a nice top. Avoid anything casual.
This is Paris, and this is one of the city’s most iconic restaurants. Dress like it matters. They will turn you away if you show up in shorts and a T-shirt.
The View Situation
Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of Paris through the tower’s iron structure. The best tables are by the windows (obviously), with views over the Seine, Trocadéro, Les Invalides, Montmartre, and La Défense.
Pro tip: The Quai Branly side has the most spectacular Paris views. Request a window table when booking—seating is allocated based on when you book, so book early (90 days in advance when reservations open). There’s no guarantee you’ll get a window seat, but asking early significantly improves your odds.
After your meal, restaurant guests get access to the viewing deck on the second floor, so you can step outside and take photos from the tower itself.
Booking: Do This Immediately
Reservations open 90 days in advance and fill up fast. Book online at lejulesverne-paris.com or call +33(0)1 72 76 16 61.
When you book, you’ll pay a partial prepayment. If you cancel more than 48 hours before your reservation, you get it back. Cancel less than 48 hours out, and it’s non-refundable.
For groups of 9+, contact the restaurant directly at reservation.jv@lejulesverne-paris.com.
Special occasions: You can order a birthday cake (delivered to your table with candles) if you request it at least 72 hours in advance.
Timing: Lunch vs. Dinner
Both experiences are excellent, but here’s what to consider:
Lunch:
- Better value (à la carte option available Monday-Friday)
- Clearer daytime views of Paris
- Less formal atmosphere
- Usually easier to get reservations
Dinner:
- More romantic (Paris lights up, tower sparkles)
- More formal and special-occasion vibe
- Tasting menu only
- Higher total cost with wine
If budget is a concern, go for lunch and order à la carte. If you want the full experience and cost isn’t an issue, dinner is magic.
What It Actually Costs
For two people with a 5-course tasting menu, expect €600-800+ with wine (or €1,000+ if you go for the 7-course menu with proper wine pairings). À la carte lunch for two with wine will run around €500.
This is a splurge meal. If you’re watching your budget, Le Jules Verne probably isn’t your spot.
Insider Tips
Arrive 30 minutes early. You need to go through Eiffel Tower security even with a restaurant reservation. Give yourself time.
Request the window seat when booking. Just ask. Early bookings get priority.
Tell the sommelier your budget. They’re helpful and won’t push you toward expensive bottles.
The à la carte lunch is the value play. If you want the Le Jules Verne experience without spending €600+ for two, book lunch Monday-Friday and order à la carte.
Skip it if views are your only reason. If you just want to see Paris from the Eiffel Tower, buy regular tower tickets for €35. The food here is excellent—don’t book unless you care about the meal.
Swap dishes if you’re flexible. Some diners we spoke to reported the staff allowing dish swaps between the 5- and 7-course menus. Worth asking if there’s something specific you want to try.
The Verdict
Le Jules Verne is worth it if you want the full package—excellent food, impeccable service, and the bragging rights of dining inside the Eiffel Tower at a two-Michelin-star restaurant. The experience is polished, the cooking is genuinely impressive, and the views are unbeatable.
Is it the best restaurant in Paris? No. But it might be the most memorable. And sometimes, that’s worth more.
Le Jules Verne
Tour Eiffel – 2nd Floor, 75007 Paris
+33 1 83 77 34 34
lejulesverne-paris.com
Metro: Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, or École Militaire
Lunch: 12pm – 1:30pm (à la carte Monday-Friday, €180; tasting menus €295/€330)
Dinner: 7pm – 9pm (tasting menus only, €295/€330)
Reservations: Required 90 days in advance
Dress Code: Jacket mandatory for men, elegant attire for all
Michelin Stars: 2 (as of 2025)
