Mod Chic and Panoramic Views:

Georges Restaurant on the Centre Georges Pompidou's top floor is a favorite spot among the jetset, and for obvious reasons: it affords an unbeatable vantage of the whole city through large windows, features a trendy fusion-cuisine menu, and boasts a design that makes you think you've stepped onto the set of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Or perhaps you'll suddenly feel like you've stepped into an avant-garde art happening, circa 1968.

While the fare is just a head or two above mediocre, enjoying the views at Georges after a day exploring the Centre Pompidou's top-rate modern art collections is recommended. Make sure to reserve ahead as this restaurant is continually packed, especially for dinner and on clear nights. Specifically ask for a table outside or you may be disappointed; these tables obviously fill up the most quickly.

Location and Contact Information:

Address : Place Georges Pompidou, 4th arrondissement

To get to the restaurant: Take the escalators or elevator from the second floor of the Cenre Pompidou Forum (main hall). Reserve ahead for dinner: you may not be allowed up otherwise.
Metro: Rambuteau or Hotel de Ville (Line 11); Les Halles (Line 4)
RER: Chatelet-Les-Halles (Line A)
Bus: Lines 38, 21, 29, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96
Parking: Rue Beaubourg Underpass
Phone: 33 (0)144 78 47 99
Visit the website (in English]

Nearby Areas and Attractions:

• The Marais Neighborhood
• Hôtel de Ville (City Hall)
• Rue Montorgueil Neighborhood

• Ile de la Cite

Opening Hours and Reservations:

Open: Wednesday through Monday, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
For Reservations:

• Telephone: +33 (0)1 44 78 47 99
• Fax: +33 (0)1 48 87 81 25

Menu and Prices:

The Fare: The cuisine is classic French and fusion, with heavy Asian accents. Many of the dishes are reminiscent of Californian cuisine. There are plenty of options for vegetarians or otherwise-health-conscious eaters. Some typical menu items may include:

• Sole Meunière
• Duck with Caramel and Coconut
• Vegetarian Spring Rolls
• Tuna with Coriander

Prices: Expect to pay around 35-70 Euros per person (excluding wine).

The Setting:

Designed by Dominique Jacob and Brendan McFarlane, Georges is sprawling and minimalist, yet the design manages to come off as a tad whimsical. There are the stark white tables and chairs and single long-stem roses in vases on each table. The use of aluminum sheeting resembling the valves of a heart makes the space degrees intimate and warmer, despite the heavy use of metal and glass. The effect is slightly pretentious, but eye-catching.

Outside, a large terrace makes a summer mojito or caipirinha a must (bug-eyed designer sunglasses not required).

One last word of advice: the views are superior at night.