Plate With A View: Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris

THE PLATE

The world cuisine offered on the sixth floor of the Pompidou Centre sits perfectly with the futuristic and audacious building created by Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Gianfranco Franchini in 1977. Everything oozes sophistication, from the long, glass-topped tables and white banquettes to the symmetrically placed tall vases, each containing a single red rose.

If you don't want to buy a ticket for the gallery exhibitions, then go straight to the lift to the left of the main entrance, get off on the first floor, and take the outdoor glass-covered escalators to the sixth floor. You can get a table on the broad terrace (during warm weather) or in the space-age restaurant. Thai and Japanese influences mix seamlessly with European fare, with starters such as vegetarian California rolls, king crab with spiced avocado and baby leeks with flash-fried foie gras. Main courses include grilled prawns with Thai spices, roast lamb with tomato chutney, mandarin crispy duck and le tigre qui pleure (weeping tiger) - gently fried strips of beef fillet.

THE VIEW

As soon as you get off the escalator, take a moment to enjoy a view of Paris that reaches as far as Sacré-Coeur. While seated you can gaze at Notre Dame, the gilded Dome Church, the ubiquitous Tour Montparnasse and an intimate sight of those wonderfully evocative Parisian rooftops.

THE BILL

Such elegance doesn't come cheap: starters are from €11 (£8) and main courses begin at €23 (£16).

But no one will look down on you if you just order a beautifully presented club sandwich, two of which with a bottle of water and coffees come to €40 (£28.50).

Reservations: 00 33 1 44 78 47 99. The restaurant is open until 2am daily, except Tuesdays.