La Tour d’Argent

In Paris, France, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris is La Tour d'Argent. 19 Quai de la Tournelle is where you may find it. The Michelin Guide gives it a starless grade. The restaurant asserts that it was established in 1582 and that Henri IV frequented it, but it provides no proof of either of these or any other historical assertions. Before 1650, the Quai de la Tournelle, where the restaurant is located, was "a slope, often flooded and nearly always made inaccessible by muck."

The sixth-floor eating area offers breathtaking views of the Seine, Notre-Dame, and Paris rooftops. The restaurant was renovated in 1830 and added on to upstairs in 1936. The restaurant, which has a Michelin star and is renowned for its 400-page wine list and pressed duck, has hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin, and millions of other guests for meals.

Duck, especially pressed duck, is the specialty. The restaurant's own farm is where the ducks are grown. A postcard with the duck's serial number, which has topped one million, is given to diners who order the dish. Around 450,000 bottles with a 2009 value of 25 million euros (£22.5 million) are kept in the restaurant's 24-hour-secure wine cellar. Visitors can choose from 15,000 wines on a 400-page wine list. The Seine River and Notre Dame Cathedral are both magnificently visible from the dining area.

Location: 19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris, France

Phone: +33 1 43 54 23 31

Website: tourdargent.com