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Over the summer, we splurged on a meal in the Eiffel Tower just for the experience. Here’s how that worked…
You have several options for eating in the Eiffel Tower. We chose 58 Tour Eiffel, located on the 1st floor.
I made a reservation online about a month or so out from our visit. Availability was limited, with seatings on only one night of our trip; if you have your heart set on dinner at the Eiffel Tower, I would suggest reserving a table as early in your trip planning as possible. There are two seatings at 58 Tour Eiffel: service at 6:30 and service at 9:00. The whole experience lasts about 2 hours or so and the restaurant runs like clockwork. Since we were accompanied by our young daughter, we opted for the earlier seating. I selected the “Opera +” menu, which included a glass of Champagne, choice of starter, main course and dessert, coffee, mineral water, and wine.
Print out your confirmation email and take it with you. The restaurant actually sent several emails leading up to our visit, providing helpful information about the experience. When we entered the craziness of the square under the tower, we checked in at a booth between the north and pillars. They then sent us to a shorter wait line for those with reservations.
We took the lift up and checked in at the restaurant. We were immediately seated at a table in the corner. We did not have the river view, but as I told the waiter, I was perfectly happy to be sitting with a view of the structure itself. There apparently is a ticket you can get for premium seating; I had purchased the regular old 96.50E per adult seating.
I expected dinner to be so-so, being that the Tower was a tourist attraction. I was happy to be wrong: they served beautifully-presented fine cuisine. It wasn’t the best meal I ever had, but it certainly was good. We didn’t leave thinking, well, that was a waste of money. I’m not a foodie, so I can’t give you great details on the meal. I started with lobster bisque, chose roasted guinea fowl as my entrée, and wrapped it up with the Himilaya. Yum. Note to parents: this isn’t the case where you can rely on there being a “safe” choice for the kids. This is a gourmet meal with different flavors than what your child might be used to eating.
My husband enjoyed his lamb just fine.
A photographer walked the floor during dinner, then later returned to show us the photos on an iPad. This didn’t really bother me because I am a sucker for such photos. I’m allllll about remembering the stay. I’d say that 75% of our photos were well done. Service was good in general. It was fast, but we did not feel rushed. Our server was nice and professional, as was everyone we dealt with.
After dinner, we climbed up the stairs to the second floor. The views were magnificent. Sequoia could not stop looking up!
Dinner reservations include a lift ticket to the first floor, but not to the top of the tower. From the first floor, you can walk easily up to the second floor via the staircase (I say “easily”, but expect huffing and puffing). It is a much higher climb to the top! You of course can purchase a lift ticket to the top.
As the sun set, we enjoyed the tower lit up.
The bottom line? Worth it. Pricey, sure, but when else are you going to eat at the Eiffel Tower?
