I just made reservations at Altitude 95 (for my son's birthday lunch) and thought I'd share my experience in case anyone else is booking. When you call, you will get an automated message (spoken in French only, and WAY to quickly for me to comprehend that fast). I just pressed "1" and spoke my poor French to the receptionist until we got to "Parlez-vous l'anglais ?" (yes, I know I need to brush up on making reservations in French). I found out that they actually have two seatings for lunch-1st at 12:30pm and the 2nd at 2pm (I hadn't found this information on RSs or even on the Altitude website. You need to arrive at the welcome desk between the North and East legs at least 15 min. before your seating. I know people have posted that they have been rude, but I found her to be very pleasant. I actually had to call her twice as I didn't know there were two seatings for lunch and we needed to look at the itin. and decide. Only problem I had is that she asked me for the reservation number which she didn't give me one the first time I called, so make sure you ask for one. Oh, and you can request a Trocadero view, but they are not guaranteed. Bon Appetit!
Posted by
OP
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
There's a different phone number for Jules Verne, but I'm sure it's essentially the same (except they recommend 3 mo. in advance for J.V.; I booked A. 95 3 1/2 weeks out for lunch, need at least a month for dinner in busy times they say). Both restaurants are able to be booked online, but I found it unusable for us as you have to select which level of fixed price menu you want as you book (I'm keeping this a surprise and some may want to order a la carte, not the fixed menu) and they don't have an option to book for a child's menu online, which we have (when I talked to her she definately wanted to know-5 Adults, one child). Website is the Tour Eiffel site under Practical Info.-Restaurants: www.tour-eiffel.fr
Posted by
Durham, NC, USA
335 posts
Nancy, thanks for the great info on Altitude 95. I had assumed it would be overly expensive but the formula midi options look very doable. I'll be in Paris for a week in early June with a small group of friends and will mention this as an option for folks to do. Did you also get info on how we get up to the restaurant (other than waiting in those LONG lines)? Is there a special entrance for restaurant folks? Thanks again.
Posted by
OP
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
Holly- You go to the special Welcome booth where you must by the lift ticket to the 1st floor (mentioned earlier) and they'll give you a special pass and direct you to one of the elevators. You go to the head of the line and get to cut those long lines to get on the next elevator up. The time you save (especially in peak season) is worth paying a little more for lunch (2 course menu-30, 3 course-36 euros, but there are a la carte items for less beginning at Plat-18 euros. See their online Menu). You can continue on up the Eiffel after lunch if you purchase tickets (don't have to go back down). The only thing I'm not certain of, is we know we want to go to the 2nd floor at least (maybe the top) and I'm not sure if the Welcome Booth will sell us those or just to the first floor, so we'll ask when we get there (but as RSs says, you can buy them on ea. floor to continue up).
Posted by
Anaheim, CA, USA
1455 posts
Is there a discount for the lift ticket since we are eating too??
Posted by
OP
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
My understanding is there is no discount on the lift ticket to the first level to go to the restaurant, but walking past the line to the elevator...priceless :-)
Posted by
Seattle
40 posts
Hi Nancy,
Thank you so much for posting your experience. We will be in Paris for a week in June with our three kids and wanted to have dinner our last evening in Altitude 95. I had attempted to book through their website but got the message that the date I wanted couldn't be processed, so I was wondering what do try next, and whether an advance reservation was really necessary. Based on your advice, I will try the old fashioned method of calling directly. Merci et Bon Voyage!
Posted by
Anaheim, CA, USA
1455 posts
Rosemary, i emailed my Parisian friend, and he said that its very popular (and yes, we all know that to be true! LOL)... so if you can't get the dinner date you want, try lunch. It may not be as romantic but the plus side is that its less expensive.
When I told my friend that the pre fixed lunch is 36 euros, he laughed and said that's cheap for Altitude 95.. which I promptly emailed back, laughed, and said "why not? its only money?".. LOL
Thanks again, Nancy for posting!