5 five-stars terraces to book for sunny days

With this summer weather, Parisians dream of nothing but enjoying a royal lunch on a terrace. And in the shade, if possible! Mythical palace, confidential 5-star hotel, secret garden, or paved courtyard with a birdsong option: these five prestigious hotels unveil new terraces that have truly made us dream. Zoom in on the exceptional addresses to book for a lunch as elegant as it is delicious.

The terrace : we confess a slight obsession for Le Jardin, the hidden terrace of the Hôtel Sax Paris in a discreet corner of the 7e arrondissement. Picture this instead: a magnificent checkerboard floor, powder pink armchairs, and a sublime swimming pool at the back (reserved for hotel / spa guests): it feels like being in a Wes Anderson movie set…

On the menu : in the kitchen, chef Emile de France concocts beautiful seasonal dishes, resolutely fresh and colorful. Everything we love! Amberjack carpaccio with citrus (24 €), poached egg, asparagus, and peas (22 €), unilateral salmon and seasonal vegetables (32 €), Wagyu beef entrecote to share (74 €), club sandwich (32 €) and, for dessert, a lovely Menton lemon pavlova (14 €).

Le Jardin à l’Hôtel Sax, 5 avenue de Saxe, Paris 7e. Open every day from 10:30 am to 11:00 pm. 01 81 69 07 40.

The terrace : right on avenue Montaigne, the Plaza Athénée unveils La Terrasse Eden, a true gem, all in red and length, designed in collaboration with the extraordinary Hôtel Eden in Rome. Here, you savor a certain vision of the dolce vita with palace service, tablecloth-covered tables, and geranium-colored umbrellas… all with a view of the Eiffel Tower, if you please.

On the menu : Michelin-starred chef Salvatore Bianco rolls out time-tested favorites executed to perfection, starting with gamberoni, avocado, and bitter salad as antipasti (60 €), Roman-style artichokes (16 €), or divine zucchini flowers, yellow tomatoes, ricotta, and pecorino as a starter (34 €). Beautiful to share: the pizzetta Eden Margherita (28 €) before the sweetness of a Sicilian-style tuna tartare (48 €) or spaghetti caramella with tomato sauce (28 €) and veal polpette (42 €). Elegant, the desserts strut on the trays between the frozen tiramisù, the strawberry Rossini cup, or the plump vanilla maritozzi (18 €).

La Terrasse Eden au Plaza Athénée, 25 avenue Montaigne, Paris 8e. Open every day from 12:15 pm to 10:00 pm. 01 53 67 66 03.

The terrace : the sublime garden of the Shangri-La Paris unveils a brand-new concept in the spirit of a chic French bistro. Welcome to Maison Roland, our new favorite chic haunt to savor bourgeois dishes in a resolutely bucolic setting, facing the Eiffel Tower. It is hard to find anything more ideal than this terrace and this adorable tree-lined pergola where you can let the hours drift away while being pampered. The touch that makes all the difference? A bistro cuisine, certainly, but served on antique silver and second-hand chinaware, all presented by a particularly attentive service.

On the menu : having tasted almost the entire menu during a pleasant banquet, we first recommend the starters to share, such as the gazpacho to be pimped with stracciatella, croutons, and tomato confit (19 €), the curly salad with bacon bits and soft-boiled egg (19 €), and the country terrine with pistachio, foie gras, and pickles (21 €). It doesn't get any chicer than this: we continue with the lobster thermidor style (69 €), the sole à la grenobloise (67 €), a particularly melting beef hanger steak with pepper sauce (35 €), and a few small vegetarian stuffed vegetables (29 €). Wonders for dessert: the elegant floating island (18 €), the red fruit pavlova to share (28 €), and a wonderfully smooth caramel cream (15 €).

Maison Roland au Shangri-La Paris, 10 avenue d’Iéna, Paris 16e. Open Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Sunday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. 06 61 86 56 86. ©PamStudio 

The terrace : just a stone's throw from the Assemblée Nationale, the 5-star hotel J.K. Place Paris hides Casa Tua, a little gem of an Italian restaurant under an air-conditioned glass roof, but also offering two terrace spaces for a refined and worldly lunch away from prying eyes. We appreciated the beautiful personalized tableware signed Ginori 1735, the attentive and accommodating service, as well as the fashion books to leaf through between courses. Between political figures and tasteful tourists, the regulars never tire of it!

On the menu : exceptional vitello tonnato (34 €), gambero rosso as beautiful as a painting with its fruity touches – a specialty of Casa Tua (46 €) – and homemade pasta dishes prepared every morning, including anthology-worthy cacio e pepe for aficionados (36 €), linguine al polpo (38 €), or fusilloni al pomodoro (34 €), al dente please. Equally delicate, the fish of the day (for us, cod) is adorned with a beautiful carrot, orange, and saffron accompaniment (46 €) before the beauty of the sweet score: pavlova (16 €), tiramisu (16 €), profiteroles (16 €).

Casa Tua au JK Place Paris, 82 rue de Lille, Paris 7e. Open every day for lunch and dinner. 01 40 60 40 20.

The terrace : it is the best-kept secret of the Marais! Facing the place des Vosges, the entrance to the hotel Le Pavillon de la Reine is hidden under the arcades. This confidential 5-star hotel is getting a serious makeover with the arrival of chef Thibault Sombardier to take the reins of Anne, its mythical starred restaurant that has always advocated discreet luxury. Directly from a superb paved courtyard, you settle in to enjoy an excellent service with a gastronomic menu and a highly attentive staff.

On the menu : comfortable in a high-end repertoire, the chef rolls out a superb lunch menu at 89 € (starter, fish, meat, and dessert) which naturally arrives with its mandatory amuse-bouches and mignardises. The day of our visit: autumn fricassee, parsley sabayon and tomato juice, yellow poultry from the Landes, melted chard, romaine veil, and short jus… Dessert madness: a warm chocolate praline mousse and vanilla ice cream, from which we have not yet quite recovered. Obviously, the Terre-Mer (175 €) and Expression (210 €) menus provoke an even greater emotion, to be reserved for special occasions. A flawless performance!

Pavillon de la Reine, 28 place des Vosges, Paris 3e. Open every day from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. 01 40 29 19 19

 © Le photographe du dimanche

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