Where to Eat in Paris When Visiting the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower – La Tour Eiffel – is one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, and definitely one you want to visit when in the City of Light. Not only is Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece a stunning beacon of light, it is also an engineering marvel that warrants a closer look. This could take a while so of course you’ll want some ideas on where to eat in Paris when visiting this architectural treasure.

Viewing the grand Iron Lady from ground level, you have the opportunity to appreciate the contrast of the delicate beauty of her filigreed arches against the obvious strength of her four massive pillars. And you also get to see the names of the French scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, 72 in total, that Eiffel had engraved on the tower in recognition of their contributions.

And if that isn’t enough to work up an appetite, the 674 step stair climb to the second floor certainly will. The physical exertion may take your breath away but so will the emerging bird’s eye view of Paris. From there, a ride in one of Eiffel’s unique elevators takes you to the top for a breathtaking 360 degree view of the city.
When you finally do descend back to earth, you will definitely be ready for a wonderful French meal. Fortunately, there are a number of great restaurants in the shadow of the tower to choose from. Here are three that I have had the pleasure of sampling.

L’Affriolé

I discovered L’Affriolé while I was searching for Chez l’Ami Jean which I had heard about on one of those wonderful food and travel shows. The first time I tried to eat there, they were closed for a Christmas break. And the second time, they were full. Fortunately, on that occurrence, the maître d’ was kind enough to recommend L’Affriolé, just a few doors down. And I am so happy he did.

The domain of Chef Thierry Verola and his wife Maria, this traditional French bistro has a friendly, chic ambience. And the food is delicious! I had the pleasure of enjoying their Suprême du Poulet avec artichaut, petits pois et carotte – Chicken Supreme with artichoke, peas and carrot. Moist, tender chicken breast with a scrumptious crispy skin was served atop a bed of vegetables and a cloud of flavourful foam. I finished my dîner – dinner – off with a wonderful, warm Crumble Rhubarbe et Banane avec guimauves – Rhubarb and Banana Crumble with Marshmallows – crowned with a tart scoop of frozen sorbet and a comforting cup of tea.

Note: I still haven’t had the opportunity to eat at Chez l’Ami Jean yet but it’s still on my list!

L’Affriolé  17 rue Malar, 75007 Paris

Café Constant

Café Constant is one of those picture-perfect French bistros. In fact, I discovered it through Pinterest. It is the inspiration of Chef Christian Constant, formerly of the Hôtel Ritz. To me, that alone makes this a great choice for where to eat in Paris. The fact that he creates traditional brasserie food with recipes inspired by his childhood is icing on the cake.

As with many French restaurants, what the market has to offer that day. My visit took place on a beautiful spring day in May, after my visit to the tower, so one of the selections was a European delicacy, Asperges blanches – White asparagus. Served chilled, with a lovely vinaigrette, it was a fresh start to my déjeuner – lunch. The pièce de résistance however, was the Poulet de Cornouailles au fois gras – Foie Gras Stuffed Cornish Hen. Served in a flavourful jus with tender vegetables, this delicious plate was so rich that I didn’t have room for dessert – a rare occurrence for me!

Café Constant  139, rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris

Les Cocottes Tour Eiffel

Located right next door to Café Constant, Les Cocottes Tour Eiffel is another of Chef Christian Constant’s establishments. The concept for this bustling eatery is based on the humble cocottes – the small, cast-iron casserole dishes that your meal is served on. The seasonal bistro cuisine is created with a modern and inventive touch. And because the dishes are small, it’s easy to try a couple.

I added to the pleasure of spending Christmas in Paris by enjoying a wonderful dîner here one Boxing Day. It was a perfect way to take the chill off of a damp, Parisian winter evening! It started with a lighter-than-air Raviolis au homard – Lobster Ravioli. From there I moved on to a sumptuous Pommes de terre caramélisées farcies aux pieds de porc – Caramelized Potatoes Stuffed with Pig’s Feet. The richness of the pork combined with those caramelized potatoes was heavenly. And I topped all of that off with a luscious Clafoutis aux pruneaux – Prune Clafoutis.

Les Cocottes Tour Eiffel 135 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris

Well, I hope this has given you a few ideas of where to eat in Paris when visiting the Eiffel Tower. The 7th arrondissement – district – in which the tower is located, is rich in excellent restaurants. For more great Parisian restaurant recommendations, read my post Where to Eat in Paris When Visiting Les Invalides.

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