Enjoy the Seine riverbanks in Paris
Every year, as soon as the weather is good the Seine is like a magnet in the capital for summer living. You can choose whether to sunbathe at midday, or enjoy a drink under the lanterns at midnight.
Parc Rives de Seine
The Parc Rives de Seine is one of the places not to miss. Extending from the Pont des Arts to the Eiffel Tower – on the left bank – and from Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor at Bastille – on the right bank – this riverside promenade is THE place to be in summer.
At Port des Invalides, the sleek barge Flow invites you to enjoy its rooftop terrace, as well as its quayside terrace, open from April to October, where you can have lunch, dinner or just a drink, sitting on a sun lounger by the water.
A few steps from here, the barge Rosa Bonheur sur Seine, the little sister of the famous Rosa Bonheur cafe cafe bar at the Park Buttes-Chaumont welcomes you all summer long for a drink, asnack or a meal.
Fluctuart, a museum of urban art, housed on a barge, offers not only a spot of culture but also a lovely terrace to have a delicious snack.
For wild evenings, head to the deck of the Concorde Atlantique boat which has a restaurant A l’Ouest by La Démesure sur Seine and whose sister establishment is situated on a boat in the 12th arrondissement, at Port de la Rapée.
Those eager to continue their stroll along the Seine stop off for a quick bite at one of the food trucks that appeals: at Mozza & CO, Cantine California or Food Breizh.
The right bank has its share of good spots for eating by the waterside – notably Scilicet, the Maquereaux, the Marcounet, the Nautes – while enjoying sumptuous views of the finest Parisian monumentson quaysides accessible only to non-motorized modes of transport.
Also, worth noting, the Seine riverbanks are mostly accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Find out more about our accessible wheelchair-user facilities on the banks of the Seine.
Other places on the waterside in Paris
Moored over at the Quai d’ Austerlitz, the Off Paris Seine is the first floating hotel / bar in the capital. It offers an unusual way to experience summer in Paris as you sip a drink or savour a few tapas whilst enjoying the large terrace and its turquoise swimming strip.
Also on the Quai d'Austerlitz, the Cité de la Mode et du Design, with its fluorescent green facade, signed Jakob et MacFarlane, does not go unnoticed on the Quai d'Austerlitz. This space dedicated to the avant-garde has numerous ‘hybrid’ places that are both an outdoor bar, restaurant and club, in summertime. Installed on the rooftop of the ‘Cité’, the Café Oz Rooftop is a restaurant and lounge bar where you can breakfast, dine and have a drink on the terrace with a breathtaking view on the Seine. Wanderlust boasts one of the largest terraces in the capital with a surface area of 1,600 m²!
Opposite Cité de la Mode et du Design on Port de la Rapée are many spots, including the Café Barge, a restaurant bar with dancing, and for going out and having something to eat followed by a wild night on the dance floor, the Démesure sur Seine or the Barapapa.
With its concert hall and cultural programme, and next to the swimming pool Joséphine Baker, the Petit Bain floating barge below the Bibliothèque National de France - François-Mitterrand is a popular place. It also has a terrace with bathtubs full of aquatic plants plus a bar - restaurant. A delightful spot to enjoy a quick lunch, relax, and enjoy the view of the Seine! What’s more, there are many waterside spots on the quaysides between Bercy and Tolbiac.
La Javelle is true guinguette in style. With multicoloured lightbulbs, large wooden tables and a dance floor, the place has a relaxed atmosphere in the daytime and a festive vibe at night. Several food trucks on site offer world food snacks. You only have to walk for a few minutes to reach Bercy Village.
A great transport tip for getting along the Seine quickly and crossing from one side of the river to the other in complete freedom for 24 or 48 hours, think about opting for Batobus, a river shuttle service!
Batobus
9 stop-overs on the Seine
And why not have lunch or dinner on the water? See the list of our partners in our article Lunch and dinner cruises on the Seine.
The quaysides of Parisian canals – Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Martin – also have many appealing spots where you can eat by the waterside. See the best places on the route of our walk from the Canal Saint-Martin to La Villette and don’t miss any of the top spots on a walk along the Canal de l’Ourcq and in the surrounding area.
