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Paris—Galeries Lafayette or Printemps for views?

We are heading to the Gustav Moreau museum when it opens at 10:00 in the morning. Then back down to the Opera area, seeing the Opera Garnier and possibly zipping up to the top floors of one of these department stores for the views. …. Which is better? It’s really just a look-see , as we are going to the Jacquemart-Andre museum in the afternoon and having lunch first in their cafe, then the museum.

Posted by
4000 posts

Both are good. I like the view from the terrace of Galeries Lafayette because I like how close the Palais Garnier is as you look out and I love walking around the atrium in the store. Here is the GL View and here is the Printemps view Both great, right? Neither one is objectively better than the other IMO. It's just which one you like better. The Printemps view is a bit more open because you do not have the opera house in the immediate foreground. I have a friend who swears Printemps is better for that reason and also he prefers their eating options.

Posted by
7309 posts

The eating options at Printemps are indeed surprisingly good, you pay a little extra for the view, but it's not that bad and it's quite memorable if you can get a table outside. I am not talking about the top-floor Perruche restaurant, which is expensive, but about the food court-like area one floor below.

Posted by
1393 posts

The food court at the Galeries Lafayette has some great dessert items. I sometimes like to go up just for a simple breakfast.

Posted by
12 posts

I'd choose Galleries Lafayette for the reasons already given. There is quite a bit of construction going on across the street from Printemps that, for me, does spoil the view somewhat.

Posted by
208 posts

Thank you all for your replies! I think with current construction we may shoot for Layfayette but Printemps does tempt with reasonable food options , so who knows, we might try that on another day!