Head-to-Head
Le Jules Verne vs Tour d'Argent
Le Jules Verne for the view; Tour d'Argent for the room that history built.
The Verdict
Le Jules Verne for the view; Tour d'Argent for the room that history built.
Le Jules Verne is the second-floor restaurant of the Eiffel Tower, Frédéric Anton's three-Michelin-star kitchen with the most iconic dining-room view in the world. The cooking is contemporary French at the highest level; the room is the dining experience of Paris.
Tour d'Argent is the 16th-arrondissement classical-French room overlooking Notre-Dame, holding one Michelin star with the longest continuous fine-dining operation in Paris (since 1582). The signature pressed duck, canard à la presse, has been served from the same press, with a numbered duck for every table since 1890. The wine cellar holds 320,000 bottles, one of the deepest cellars on earth.
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| Once-in-a-lifetime visit to Paris | Le Jules VerneThe view is the night; the experience is unduplicable. |
| Wine collector | Tour d'Argent320,000-bottle cellar; one of the world's great wine experiences. |
| Romantic anniversary | Le Jules VerneThe view, the elevation, the night, the room is the poem. |
| Classical-French traditionalist | Tour d'ArgentThe pressed duck and the room's history are the entire point. |
| Proposal | Le Jules VerneThe room is built for once-in-a-lifetime moments. |
Price Comparison
Le Jules Verne tasting menu runs €260 ($285); the lunch menu €150 ($165). Tour d'Argent tasting €240 ($260); the famous pressed duck supplement +€95 ($105) on top of the standard menu.
How to Book
Le Jules Verne: 90 days ahead via the restaurant site; primary slots fill within hours. Tour d'Argent: 30 to 60 days; more available than Le Jules Verne for fly-in tourists.