Le Jules Verne

Le Jules Verne in Paris has an extraordinary setting 400ft up the Eiffel Tower Credit: Alamy

The extraordinary setting 400ft (122 metres) up the Eiffel Tower (reached by the restaurant’s own lift, south pillar) takes the stuffiness out of grand-occasion dining with a suave decor by Patrick Jouin and nonchalant waiters who don’t bat an eyelid when you get up to take photos. Since being taken into the Ducasse empire, Le Jules Verne has improved its food to match the views, with a modern take on grand classics byexecutive chef Pascal Féraud, right down to a chocolate bolt dessert in homage to the 2.5 million bolts that hold the tower together. The wine list is 100% French with an emphasis on a new generation of growers, particularly from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Note dress is smart – not the shorts and T-shirts of usual Eiffel Tower visitors.

Address: Eiffel Tower, 75007 Contact: 0033 1 45 55 61 44; lejulesverne-paris.com Getting there: Metro Bir-Hakeim Opening times: daily, 12.15pm-1.30pm, 7pm-9.30pm Price: set-price menus from €105 for weekday lunch,€190-€230 for lunch or for dinner Payment type: credit cards accepted Cuisine: French Reservations: essential