◉ A drink on a terrace facing the Eiffel Tower

Cafés & terraces at the Trocadéro

Along the crescent of Place du Trocadéro, several historic brasseries line up their terraces facing the esplanade and the Eiffel Tower. Here are the best spots, their atmosphere, and how to get there. For a real table with a view, see our picks just next door.

A Parisian café terrace
A café terrace in Paris Photo: Marloes Hilckmann / Unsplash
The terraces of Place du Trocadéro, facing the Eiffel Tower
ViewTerraces on the esplanade side
Best forA coffee break & an aperitif
ReservationNot needed for a drink
MétroTrocadéro (6 · 9)

A drink at the foot of the Palais de Chaillot

Place du Trocadéro forms a grand crescent at the top of the Chaillot hill, in the 16th arrondissement. Its cafés and brasseries occupy the edge of the square, their terraces turned toward the Esplanade des Droits de l'Homme and, beyond the gardens, toward the Eiffel Tower. This is where you sit down to catch your breath between visits, enjoy a coffee in the sun, or have a drink at aperitif time.

The head-on view of the Iron Lady is best earned from the esplanade itself, perched above. From the terraces, the angle is more to the side, but the atmosphere of the square and the parade of passers-by are worth the stop on their own. Here are the spots that line the Trocadéro.

The cafés & terraces of the square

Want to book a table with a view? For a coffee or a drink, just take a seat on the terrace. Café Kléber accepts online reservations via TheFork ↗. For a sit-down meal facing the Eiffel Tower, see our restaurants with a view.

The best time for the terrace

In the morning
Coffee and a pastry in peace and quiet, before the tour buses arrive. The square can still breathe.
In the late afternoon
Aperitif time, when the warm light settles on the Eiffel Tower and the façades.
After dark
A last drink while the Eiffel Tower lights up and sparkles, just steps from the esplanade.

Getting there

Address
Place du Trocadéro-et-du-11-Novembre, 75116 Paris The cafés line the crescent, at the foot of the Palais de Chaillot, in the 16th. View on Google Maps ↗
Getting there
6 9
The Trocadéro station (lines 6 and 9), with an exit onto the square.
Directions
Good to know
The terraces are heated during the cooler months. At peak times and on weekends, expect a bit of a wait.

See and do just next door

Frequently asked questions

Which cafés have a terrace facing the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadéro?

Several brasseries line the square with terraces on the esplanade side: Carette, Café Kléber, Café du Trocadéro and Le Wilson. The head-on view of the Eiffel Tower is best earned from the esplanade, perched above the gardens.

What is the most famous café on Place du Trocadéro?

Carette, located at 4 Place du Trocadéro since 1927. This Art Deco tea room, renowned for its macarons and pastries, has a large terrace at the corner of Avenue Kléber.

Do you need to book a table on a café terrace at the Trocadéro?

For a coffee or a drink on the terrace, a reservation is generally not necessary. At peak times and on weekends, the wait can be long. For a sit-down lunch or dinner with a view, it is better to book ahead.

How do you get to the cafés on Place du Trocadéro?

Métro Trocadéro, lines 6 and 9, with the exit opening directly onto the square. The cafés line the crescent, in the 16th arrondissement, at the foot of the Palais de Chaillot.

A real table with a view, then the climb up

After a coffee on the terrace, settle in for a meal facing the Iron Lady or head up for a closer look. Explore our restaurants with a view and book your skip-the-line tickets.

Sources: the establishments' official websites (Carette, Café Kléber, Le Wilson, Café du Trocadéro, Le Malakoff), Yelp and Tripadvisor for the addresses (Place du Trocadéro, 75116 Paris).