Rooftop bars in Reims: the honest shortlist

The honest picture

Let's be straight: Reims is not a rooftop city. There is no skyline-bar district, and most of the celebrated 'terraces' are glorious ground-floor affairs on the Place Drouet-d'Erlon. What exists above street level is two hotel rooftops - both good, both worth knowing about, and that's the whole list. We'd rather tell you that than pad this page with bars that have a first-floor balcony.

The two that count

Holiday Inn Reims City Centre rooftop

46 Rue Buirette

The city's best-known rooftop: the panoramic Il Duomo restaurant and its adjacent rooftop bar sit on the 7th floor with direct cathedral views. Champagne at sunset with the towers in frame is the single best-value view in Reims. Non-residents can book the restaurant; call ahead about bar access.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Rives de Vesle

Rives de Vesle

A newer ninth-floor rooftop with near-360Â° views over the city and the cathedral. Further from the centre but the highest open-air viewpoint in town.

The ground-level alternative

What Reims lacks in rooftops it makes up for in terraces. The Place Drouet-d'Erlon is one long pedestrian terrace from spring to autumn - pick any cafÃ©, order a glass, and people-watch the whole square. For the same golden-hour glow without the lift ride, the terraces along the Vesle near the Boulingrin quarter do the job.

Common questions

Does Reims have rooftop bars?

Two hotel rooftops: the Holiday Inn City Centre (46 Rue Buirette, cathedral views) and the Holiday Inn Express Rives de Vesle (9th floor, panoramic). That's genuinely the whole scene - plan terrace evenings on the Place Drouet-d'Erlon instead.

Can non-guests visit the Holiday Inn rooftop?

The Il Duomo rooftop restaurant takes outside bookings; bar access for non-residents varies - call +33 3 26 78 99 99 before heading up.

Rooftop bars in Reims