Balcon Paris : Julien Sebbag's rooftop bistro perched on the Galeries Lafayette roof - reviews & photos

There are restaurants you come for the dish first. And then those where the view already slides onto the menu. Perched atop the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, Balcon Paris, the new rooftop by Julien Sebbag, clearly belongs to the second category. Here, the panorama stretches across the capital’s rooftops with, on one side, the Eiffel Tower and the Palais Garnier, and on the other, the Sacré-Cœur.

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After five years at the helm of Créatures, the chef shifts register. Exit the small sharing plates, and welcome a more classic bistrot parisien plus classique, with starter, main course and dessert. The cooking remains true to its DNA: simple, generous and well executed, without trying to overdo the presentation. On the short menu, as on the weekly board — whose program will stay unchanged until the fall — the bistro’s grande classiques get a gentle refresh: eggs mayonnaise with black garlic, heirloom tomato salad, burrata and elderflower vinaigrette, macaroni with truffle and parmesan, flank steak with pepper sauce, or a chocolate-pistachio profiterole.

On the plate, most promises are kept. The heirloom tomatoes are especially flavorful, while the warm goat cheese salad with pears and walnuts arrives plated with real finesse. The goat cheese tartines can feel a touch heavy for a summer salad, but the sweet-salty balance works well. The coquillettes come in a generous portion, and the cocktails are as polished as they are stylish. What remains is a more nuanced take on value for money. Some dishes give the sense that they’re more about the view than about what’s on the plate. The eggs mayonnaise, though well executed, are priced to sit among Paris’s more storied references. The same goes for the tomato salad: playful and generous, but fairly simple in composition for the price.

Desserts also play with hot and cold. The profiterole remains indulgent, though the choux pastry is a touch dry. The apricot crumble, however, leans more toward a clafoutis and lacks crunch. In the height of summer, a fresher and more fruit-forward option would have been welcome as well. Certes, a few ice creams are on the menu, but at €11 for two scoops, you really have to want to cool off. Not a deal-breaker, but at that price point the plate is naturally under close scrutiny.

• To be read
• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France, July 20–26, 2026.

The service, for its part, deserves a mention. The staff are attentive, friendly, and present without ever being overbearing. To fully enjoy the panorama, it's best to book to secure a table on the terrace. Without a reservation, you can still drop by just for a coffee or a cocktail; in that case, aim for off-peak hours between services, as the best spots don't stay free for long. With its 140 covers on the terrace, Balcon Paris offers generous outdoor space, but its popularity can quickly fill the landscape.

Throughout the day, the place shifts its mood. You can sip a coffee in the morning, lunch in the sun, or linger through the golden hour. And when the sun slides behind the rooftops, the rooftop changes its light and the atmosphere takes on a whole new flavor. A great spot for a business lunch, a special occasion, or simply to treat yourself to one of Paris's finest panoramas... as long as you have the budget to match.

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This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.