Eiffel Tower Area

I had the same issue the last time we visited Paris! I'm a coffee/dessert person rather than a beer person, though. I walked around a bit, then a block or so away from the Eiffel Tower, found a Salon de Thé / Patisserie at the northeast corner of rue de Monttessuy and Avenue de la Bourdonnais. Don't remember the name, and I don't remember much about what they offered except that I had coffee and macarons, and I watched Parisiens stop in to pick up after-dinner desserts. Nice place to sit for a while, though. And looking at the spot on Google Maps street view, it looks like there's a bar with a lot of seating outside just across the street.

You can learn more about touring the Eiffel Tower at this site: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/pratique/acces/page/horaires.html We were there in June and the lines were really long. I stayed down below while my husband and daughter went up. They said that there were lines at the elevator to go up to the very top (long wait) and then there was a line to come down to the middle elevator and then another line to come down to the bottom. The stairs were closed. They probably were there for 4 hours or more. I hope the crowds are not as large for your visit!

I'd take a beer (or 3) TO the Eiffel Tower! There are MANY benches around, and you could easily meet up with the rest of the group at 'your' bench...Now, perhaps you have a 'thing' with 'big, tall' things; ask my husband about me and BIG, GIANT (heavy, suffocating) flags LOL!

There are several cafes around the Place de Ecole Militaire which is at the far end of the Champ de Mars (the tower is at the other end} . There's also a metro station right there. It'd be a good place to regroup.

I also have a big problem with heights, but made it to the 2nd level with no problem. Took the elevator up, and the stairs down. Once on the 2nd level, it is enclosed to the point where you really don't feel uneasy. Trust me, it's worth doing !

If you have any interest in naval warfare, I recommend the excellent naval museum (Musee de la Marine) at the Palais de Chaillot, just across the river from the Eiffel Tower. You can cross the Pont d'Iena and be there in about 15 minutes. There are also an ethnography museum and a museum of monuments that I've never visited. I've got nothing against a few beers, but if you find you're waiting a long time for your friends, this might be an interesting alternative.

I have a strong fear of heights to the point where I have never been on the roof of either of the houses that I have/do own. However, the first time I went to Paris and the Eiffel Tower, I decided that I really had to go up the tower. I entered the elevator and went to the back of the car and stared at the back wall. I got off at the 2nd deck and kept watching the interior of the tower while getting to the next elevator and repeated the same thing in that elevator. Upon reaching the top I kept my back against the inner wall and only looked way out so that I did not wet my pants. So glad I did that. Since that first time, I have returned to Paris again and again got to the top of the tower. I now have a large picture of the Eiffel Tower over my work station (at home) to commemorate my accomplishment. So, go for it.

Ditto Charlie - have that beer AFTER the Eiffel Tower! I wasn't that wild about going 'way up there' either LOL, but decided that I wasn't going to pass up THAT opportunity! I didn't go to the tippy top, though. That costs more, and that cuts into the beer/wine budget...Anyhoo, next thing I know I'm straining to see down over the railing - ME! Of course, it didn't hurt that The Three Tenors were performing below..... and I couldn't see them UNLESS I leaned out ((there's a joke there - "I leaned"...Eileen...sorry [hanging head in shame]))......And not at all to belittle your "heights thing", but you can't fall off of it...so I decided to just let go and enjoy the experience. Sometimes it's not easy, though, but it's always rewarding.

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. Charlie and Eileen, kudos for getting over your fears. A few years ago, I couldn't even walk out of the gift shop at the top of the Empire State Building! If I give it a try I'll re-post in a couple of weeks!!

But Chris, the Empire State Building ISN'T THE EIFFEL TOWER!!! ;-)........................Good Luck, and DO report back!