Paris is baking through another scorching summer, and clients sweating their way from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées will thank you for one thing above all: a reservation in the shade.
Two five-star hotels have answered the heatwave with seasonal pop-up terraces that turn cocktail hour into the coolest part of the day — literally. We recently visited both and have all the details you need.
Le Jardin at Cheval Blanc Paris
Cheval Blanc Paris, the epitome of the new wave of luxury hotels in the city, has prepared a Garden of Eden on its rooftop. After being whisked in a private elevator to the seventh floor, we were welcomed by a stylish server dressed in red seersucker trousers and a crisp white shirt, who escorted us through an enchanted garden filled with sculpted shrubs, geraniums, pink rose bushes in bloom, and red-toned hydrangeas to our table. Seated on a watermelon-red banquette, with a taxi-yellow wicker chair for my companion, summer was already in season. Looking out from the terrace, there was a jaw-dropping, 180-degree view of the Seine, the chimney-topped tin roofs, and the mighty Eiffel Tower.
Chef William Béquin prepares Provençal cuisine with a dynamic presentation. A classic tomato tart is reincarnated as a crispy taco cup topped with slivered, multicolored tomatoes. French toast is transformed into a sophisticated, savory starter topped with ribbons of Iberian ham and mushroom sorbet, accompanied by shards of Parmesan, and served in a red Staub pot.
Perusing the dessert menu, it was all about sundaes. Expecting a Dairy Queen-style cup dripping with hot fudge, we were delightfully surprised when our sophisticated sundae — the work of pastry chef Maxime Frédéric — arrived in an elegant, long-stemmed crystal glass filled with humongous raspberries, vanilla Chantilly cream, and pistachio ice cream.
Advisor Intel: Le Jardin books up fast, and its wraparound bar operates on the same principle as the tables. Advisors can reserve clients a bar stool, with their drink order placed in advance, so there is no waiting when they step off the elevator.
Le Jardin de Cheval Blanc Paris
8 Quai du Louvre, 75001
Open Wednesday to Saturday until mid-September 2026
Cira at Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel
A calm, cool escape onto a Mediterranean terrace, conveniently located on the Champs-Élysées, is the perfect place to reset after a hectic day touring the city. Cira, inside the Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel, has a terrace dressed in banquettes piled with soft-colored, tasseled pillows; wrought-iron chairs with cherry-red striped cushions; luscious exotic plants and flowers; and white canvas umbrellas.
From a people-pleasing, French Riviera-style menu, we started with a refreshing salad of watermelon, feta cheese, and paper-thin slices of cucumber, plus an Italian summer favorite, vitello tonnato, with thin slices of chilled veal in a tuna and caper sauce.
The freshness of the perfectly cooked whole sea bream from the grill didn’t need anything beyond the mint and pea puree and the hearty portion of olive oil mashed potatoes it was served with. A slow-cooked lamb shoulder with roasted chickpeas and herbs swimming in its juices was the highlight of our dinner. For dessert, a hollowed-out frozen lemon topped with tart lemon sorbet and mint leaves was a light finish to a substantially satisfying meal.
Cira has partnered with prestigious olive oil producer Lucangeli and serves the oil with house-baked bread. Bottles of the various oils are for sale — an easy, packable souvenir to point clients toward.
70 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008
Open Monday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. (last service 9:30 p.m.) and Sunday from 5 p.m.
Advisor Intel: Both terraces fold their umbrellas when the season ends, so clients traveling this summer should book now — The best seats in Paris right now are the ones with a breeze.
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