Eiffel Tower Madame Brasserie 3-Course Lunch Paris

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was built in just over two years for the 1889 World's Fair, marking the centenary of the French Revolution. At 330 metres it was the tallest structure in the world for four decades, and its 18,000 iron parts held by rivets were designed to stand for only twenty years. Its usefulness for radio transmission saved it, and it is now the most famous monument in France.

Eiffel Tower tickets often sell out weeks ahead in high season, and the security queues at the base can be long. Booking lunch at the first-floor restaurant solves both: your lift ticket and fast-track security are included. To get there, take metro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim, line 9 to Trocadéro or the RER C to Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel.

The first floor and its views

The first floor stands 57 metres above the ground and was renovated to make it lighter and more open. Its highlight is a section of transparent glass floor where you can look straight down to the esplanade below, and panels around the deck tell the story of the tower's construction and its many renovations.

From the windows of the restaurant and the outer gallery you see the Seine and the Trocadéro on one side and the long green lawns of the Champ de Mars leading to the École Militaire on the other. The height is perfect for photos: high enough for a panorama, close enough to pick out the monuments. Please note that the lift to the second floor and the summit is not included.

Lunch at Madame Brasserie

Madame Brasserie is the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, with a bright, contemporary interior of curved wood and glass designed to follow the shape of the iron structure. The cuisine is seasonal and French, based on local produce from the Paris region, with a menu of starter, main course and dessert that changes through the year.

The default Brasserie menu is served without drinks in the Coeur Brasserie area, the heart of the restaurant, at a table assigned in advance. Lunch starts at 13:30 and lasts about an hour and a half, so it is a relaxed meal rather than a quick stop. Children aged 4 to 11 have their own menu with a starter, main course, dessert and one soft drink.

Around the tower: Champ de Mars and the Trocadéro

After lunch, the area around the tower is perfect for an afternoon. The Champ de Mars, the long park stretching from the tower to the École Militaire, is ideal for a rest on the lawns, while across the Pont d'Iéna the Trocadéro gardens and the terraces of the Palais de Chaillot offer the classic view of the tower with fountains in front.

The river cruises leave from the quay at the foot of the tower, so you can combine lunch with a Seine cruise in the same afternoon. Is lunch at the Eiffel Tower worth it? For many travellers it is the most memorable meal of their trip: a calm table, a French menu and the city spread out below, with no ticket queue to worry about.