Dinner at the Eiffel Tower is one of those bucket-list experiences that sparks a lot of questions before it actually happens. Is it worth the price? How do you book? And what exactly is included?

The Eiffel Tower has two restaurants inside its structure, each with a very different vibe. This guide breaks down both, the average prices, how reservations work, and a more budget-friendly alternative for those who want the experience without breaking the bank.

The Two Restaurants at the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower houses two dining spots on different floors, each with completely distinct target audiences, prices, and experiences.

58 Tour Eiffel — 1st Floor

The restaurant on the 1st floor — called 58 Tour Eiffel (the number comes from its altitude: 58 meters) — is the more affordable option of the two. The menu follows the line of a contemporary French brasserie: dishes like rack of lamb, fish, and classic desserts in a relaxed setting with views of the Trocadéro Gardens and the Champ-de-Mars.

Lunch, which is more budget-friendly, usually starts at around €50 to €80 per person. Dinner runs between €80 and €120 per person, depending on the menu chosen — prices don’t include drinks. Besides the restaurant, the 1st floor also has a bar and a snack area, more casual options for those who want to go up and grab a drink with a view without having a full meal.

Reservations are made through the official Eiffel Tower website, and you can usually snag a table 2 to 4 weeks in advance during the low season. In the summer, especially between June and September, it’s best to book at least 6 weeks ahead.

Le Jules Verne — 2nd Floor

Le Jules Verne is the Eiffel Tower’s fine dining restaurant, with a private elevator from the south pillar of the structure. Led by chef Frédéric Anton — three Michelin stars at his flagship restaurant in Paris — the space offers high-end French cuisine with a view from 115 meters up.

Lunch menus start around €120 to €180 per person (2 to 3-course menu without drinks). Dinner, which is more elaborate, starts at around €190 to €320 per person for tasting menus. The wine list is extensive and can quickly bump up the total bill. Check current prices on the official website before booking, as they can vary.

What sets Jules Verne apart isn’t just the food — it’s the service. The experience begins at the private entrance on the south pillar, where an exclusive elevator takes guests straight to the 2nd floor, bypassing the tourist lines. Upstairs, the dining room is designed to maximize the view: practically every table offers a perspective of Paris stretching from Sacré-Cœur to the horizon of the Bois de Boulogne.

Reservations must be made directly on the Jules Verne website. During peak season, tables for June, July, and August book up 2 to 3 months in advance. Lunch usually has more availability than dinner — and it’s cheaper while offering the same quality of service.

Is the Eiffel Tower Ticket Included with Dinner?

It depends on the restaurant:

At 58 Tour Eiffel (1st floor): your restaurant reservation includes access to the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower, so you don’t need to buy a separate ticket for that level. If you want to go up to the 2nd floor or the top after lunch/dinner, you’ll need to purchase an additional ticket.

At Le Jules Verne (2nd floor): access through the restaurant’s private entrance is included in the price of the meal. The private elevator takes you straight to the restaurant floor, with no need for an extra ticket for the 2nd floor.

In both cases, if you want to go up to the top (Summit) after your meal, that’s not included and requires a separate ticket purchased independently.

Is Dinner at the Eiffel Tower Worth It?

It depends on what you value. If you’re going to Paris once in a lifetime and want an experience that combines French gastronomy with one of the most spectacular views in the world, then yes — Jules Verne, in particular, is an experience unto itself. The service is impeccable, the food is world-class, and the private entrance eliminates everything annoying about visiting the Eiffel Tower (lines, crowds, noise).

For those looking for a more accessible experience but still want to eat inside the Tower, 58 Tour Eiffel delivers: the food is good, the view is beautiful, and the cost is reasonable by the standards of a restaurant inside a tourist monument.

For those on a tight budget who just want “the experience,” there’s a more affordable alternative — described in the next section.

Alternative: Champagne at the Top of the Eiffel Tower

If a full dinner doesn’t fit the budget but you still want something special inside the Tower, there’s a more affordable alternative: the bar at the top (Summit). With a regular ticket to the top, you can access a small bar where you can order a glass of champagne for around €15 to €20, at 300 meters high.

It’s a different experience from dinner, but it pairs perfectly with sunset: you go up to the top at dusk, soak in the view, order a champagne when the sky turns orange, and stay to watch the lights of Paris come on. It costs much less than dinner, and the view from the top is even better than from the 2nd floor.

How to Book Dinner at the Eiffel Tower

For 58 Tour Eiffel: visit the official Eiffel Tower restaurants website, choose your date, time, and number of guests. Payment is made at the time of booking with a card. Check the cancellation policy (usually free up to 48 hours before).

For Le Jules Verne: the restaurant’s official website (jules-verne-paris.com) is the booking channel. You can also reserve by phone. For dinners on special dates (New Year’s Eve, July 14th, Valentine’s Day), demand is incredibly high — in these cases, even months of advance notice might not be enough.

Tip: if you can’t find availability online, it’s worth checking for last-minute cancellations. Jules Verne often has some tables open up from cancellations 1 to 2 weeks in advance, especially for weekday lunches.

Practical Tips for Dining at the Eiffel Tower

Always book in advance. There’s no reliable walk-in option for either restaurant, especially for dinner. Jules Verne operates on advance reservations and rarely has tables available without one. 58 Tour Eiffel might have last-minute cancellations, but don’t count on it.

Choose the right time. To enjoy both the daytime view and the evening lights, book dinner to start between 7:30 PM and 8 PM in the summer (when the sun sets after 9 PM) or between 6:30 PM and 7 PM in the winter. That way, you see the city in natural light and then watch the city lights come on.

Confirm your reservation 24 hours before. Especially at Jules Verne, confirming by email or phone the day before is considered good etiquette and avoids surprises with any last-minute changes from the restaurant.

Arrive on time. The private entrance to Jules Verne (south pillar) isn’t easy to find if you’re running late and stressed. Give yourself at least 15 minutes of buffer time to find the entrance and go through security.

Avoid Fridays, Saturdays, and special dates for your first dinner. If you’ve never been to the monument and are dining for the first time, choose a Tuesday or Wednesday — there’s less activity around the tower, the private entrance at Jules Verne has shorter lines, and the atmosphere is more relaxed.

What to Eat Around the Eiffel Tower (Budget-Friendly Alternatives)

If the tower’s restaurants are out of budget, the surrounding 7th arrondissement has excellent options that deliver quality French cuisine without the premium price tag of being inside a monument.

On Rue Saint-Dominique — just a few blocks from the Tower — you’ll find traditional bistros with lunch menus between €15 and €30. Around the Champ de Mars, crêperies and bakeries let you put together a quality picnic with a view of the monument for under €15 per person. For more elaborate dinners without the cost of being inside the Tower, the neighborhood has Michelin-starred restaurants at much lower price points than Jules Verne.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the dress code for the Eiffel Tower restaurants?

58 Tour Eiffel has no formal dress code — casual wear is fine. Jules Verne requires elegance: no shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops. Smart casual (pants, shirt, dress) is the minimum expected, and a suit or cocktail dress is welcome.

Can I bring kids to dinner?

At 58 Tour Eiffel, yes — children are welcome and the atmosphere is more relaxed. At Jules Verne, the vibe is fine dining; very young children might not be comfortable (and neither might other guests). Check the restaurant’s policy on children when booking.

Does dinner include the view? Do all tables have windows?

At Jules Verne, the vast majority of tables have a view of Paris — but some are set further back from the windows. When booking, you can request a table with a view (window), though it’s not guaranteed. Arriving early in the evening (before dark) gives you better visibility.

How long does dinner last?

At Jules Verne, a full tasting menu dinner takes about 2.5 to 3 hours on average. At 58 Tour Eiffel, a typical dinner lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours. Plan around this if you want to catch the Tower’s light show afterward.

Do I need a ticket in addition to my dinner reservation?

No, not for the floor where your restaurant is — access is included with your reservation. But if you want to go up to the Summit (top) after your meal, you’ll need to buy a separate additional ticket.

What’s dinner like on July 14th (Bastille Day)?

Bastille Day dinner is one of the most sought-after experiences in Paris — the Eiffel Tower launches fireworks just after midnight, and those in the restaurants have a prime view. Tables for this day open months in advance and sell out quickly. If this is your goal, start checking availability at least 3 to 4 months ahead.