Restaurants can be memorable for a number of reasons: apart from the food there’s good service, a welcoming atmosphere and then there’s the view. Whether it’s fine dining or cheap and cheerful eats you’re after, having the chance to take in an awe-inspiring countryside, impressive cityscapes or breathtaking ocean vistas is a treat indeed. Here are our favorite restaurants in the US, that offer not only good food but great views as well. Check restaurant websites before visiting for COVID-19 updates.
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Vetri, Las Vegas, Nevada
With all of Las Vegas’ dazzling lights in the palm of your hand, there aren’t many places that combine excellent food and gorgeous views better than Vetri in Palms Casino Resort. Located on the 56th floor, the restaurant focuses on outstanding Italian dishes like saffron fusilli with lobster, grilled seafood misto and pistachio flan with chocolate gelato.
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Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, San Diego, California
With a functioning lighthouse on site that has since become one of San Diego’s most recognized landmarks, Tom Ham’s restaurant offers sweeping vistas of the Bay and the Coronado Bridge. Today, its seafood menu is all responsibly sourced and includes superb shellfish platters, grilled baby octopus and market fish.
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Perch, Los Angeles, California
This captivating French-inspired rooftop bistro usually offers views on downtown LA and the night stars in an eclectic boho setting on the 15th floor. Menu offerings include ahi tuna tartare, steak frites and orange cardamom crème brûlée, while a Penicillin or Hemingway On The Beach (just two of the creatively named cocktails on the menu) are favorite accompaniments while soaking up the atmosphere.
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elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort, Paradise Valley, Arizona
The award-winning Sanctuary Resort is the perfect place to experience the awe-inspiring Paradise Valley in comfort. The seasonal dishes on offer at elements is courtesy of Food Network star chef Beau MacMillan and sourced from organic and artisan producers, so expect exquisite American dishes with hints of Asian influences, like Korean BBQ beef cheek and shrimp sticky rice with hijiki aioli.
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Geoffrey’s, Malibu, California
With its Mediterranean feel and tremendous views of the Pacific, guests will feel life’s troubles fade away when they dine at this much-loved Malibu establishment. At Geoffrey’s every table is in sight of the ocean and the whales and dolphins that often pass by. The food is distinctly Californian in tone with plenty of seafood options, including ahi tuna tartar and grilled Pacific swordfish as well as a sophisticated weekend brunch.
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La Mar by Gastón Acurio, Miami, Florida
Acclaimed chef Gastón Acurio’s contemporary Peruvian cuisine has had rave reviews and so, too, has this chic restaurant within the Mandarin Oriental hotel, which overlooks Miami South Channel and the glittering Miami skyline. Diners are treated to Acurio’s signature ceviche dishes as well as speciality cocktails.
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Sierra Mar, Big Sur, California
Sierra Mar, the Post Ranch Inn’s award-winning restaurant, is a sight to behold. Suspended on a Pacific clifftop, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean (and, at night, a starry sky), it’s everything you could want from a coastal Californian restaurant – inventive, creative and unforgettable. The ever-changing menu includes dishes like white sea bass crudo, Monterey abalone (shellfish) and black cod. Currently dining is only available to overnight guests, but check the website for updates.
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The Restaurant at the King Estate winery, Lorane, Oregon
Wine lovers will find an oasis at Oregon’s King Estate where, after tasting the estate’s renowned pinot noir and pinot gris wines, a meal rich in regional organic produce can be enjoyed while taking in the peaceful vineyard setting. Oysters, salads and pasta are on the menu alongside such delights as filet mignon and braised beef short ribs. The restaurant is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions but check the website for its reopening plans.
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Barrel House Tavern, Sausalito, California
Located on the edge of San Francisco Bay, Barrel House offers views of San Francisco, Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge. The understated wooden-clad dining room leads to a large arched window that frames the waterscape and local landmarks. Craft cocktails, an oyster bar and Californian-inspired cuisine are on offer and dishes range from ahi crudo to chickpea tagine.
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The Tiller Restaurant, Cape Neddick, Maine
There are few places that do sweeping Atlantic views quite like the classic New England inn Cliff House and its restaurant The Tiller – the picture windows allow for panoramic vistas of the craggy, windswept coast and ocean. Here you can enjoy sunsets and sunrises (it opens at 6.30am) while enjoying seasonal, farm-fresh produce and line-caught fish. Maine mussels, salt cod beignets, lobster chowder and strip steak are all there for savoring in a stylish, elegant setting.
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Rainbow Room, New York City, New York
Open on and off since 1935, the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza has earned its rightful place in New York mythology and has been declared a landmark by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. With such a colorful history (it hosted the 20th Tony Awards and featured in When Harry Met Sally), prime location and exquisite dishes, it’s expensive, but when you can get this close to the Manhattan skyline, it’s worth it.
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The Mill at Simon Pearce, Quechee, Vermont
Next to the on-site workshop, where Simon Pearce’s handmade glassware and pottery is created, sits one of America’s most romantic restaurants. Diners at The Mill are treated to sunsets over the Ottauquechee River waterfall while tucking into braised short rib of beef, horseradish crusted cod and ricotta gnocchi. The lunch menu is slightly lighter with quiche du jour and grilled chicken sandwich on the menu.
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Top of the World, Las Vegas, Nevada
One of the best places in Las Vegas for food, views and atmosphere, the slowly revolving Top of the World restaurant is 800 feet (243m) above the city, in The STRAT Hotel & Casino. Romantic, glitzy and very high up, the menu is a hymn to surf (crab, shrimp or lobster) and turf (USDA Prime rib-eye and filet mignon).
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The Dining Room at Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie, Washington
The vibrant sustainable produce of the Pacific Northwest is the order of the day at The Dining Room at Salish Lodge, which looks down on the splendid Snoqualmie Falls and Snoqualmie River. Indulge in a four-course country breakfast if staying the night or visit at dinner for tomahawk steak from St Helens Ranch, pan-roasted Chinook salmon and Pacific scallops.
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Seven Glaciers, Girdwood, Alaska
Because of its location, Alaska is often overlooked in restaurant round-ups but, given this state’s fair share of incredible landscapes, Seven Glaciers has to be mentioned. Perched on a mountain top accessible by a scenic tram ride, the award-winning restaurant at the Alyeska Resort offers a unique 360-degree view of the Alaskan wilderness from every table and was named one of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants in 2019. The elegant menu, which includes Alaskan oysters, scallop bisque and king crab legs, emphasizes local and seasonal produce.
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The River Café, New York City, New York
Wow is the word that springs to mind when looking at the vista from NYC’s River Café. From the restaurant’s location underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, diners are treated to a visual spectacle that includes the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. Open since 1977, this Michelin-starred restaurant has come to be regarded as an institution not only for its enviable location but for its impeccable service, nightly piano music and excellent menu that includes poached Nova Scotia lobster and roasted rabbit.
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Mariposa, Sedona, Arizona
Located on the edge of Sedona’s Red Rock State Park, Mariposa’s large picture windows with 360-degree views certainly bring the outside in. The restaurant uses local and organic produce where possible and the Latin-inspired menu includes such winners as handmade empanadas, shrimp ceviche with spicy popcorn and churros or tres leches cake for dessert. It’s reservation only and no parties over six.
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Mister A’s, San Diego, California
For more than 50 years Mister A’s has served quality food with sweeping panoramas of the city, bay and the Pacific to match. This elegant penthouse restaurant focuses on sustainable, organic produce fashioned into such exquisite dishes as plancha grilled octopus, striped bass crudo and local swordfish with pomegranate.
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The Montford, Asheville, North Carolina
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El Five, Denver, Colorado
With its unhindered view of Denver’s cityscape, El Five is a great spot to take in the sunset while enjoying Mediterranean food with influences from Spain, Turkey and Morocco. Sharing is key at this stylish restaurant – mezze platters, traditional and Middle Eastern-inspired tapas as well as sharing paellas make up the bulk of the menu.
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Different Pointe of View, Phoenix, Arizona
A local institution with the longest consecutively awarded AAA Four Diamond restaurant in the Valley, Different Pointe of View is on top of Phoenix’s North Mountain overlooking the Valley of the Sun. Both the terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the city and the innovative menu is just as pleasing as the panorama – blue crab stuffed rainbow trout and pulled lamb shank risotto are among the standouts.
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Top of The Standard, New York City, New York
New Yorkers and visitors alike are spoiled for choice when it comes to rooftop dining options but there are a few that stand out, including Top of The Standard. Situated in Meatpacking district, it’s glamorous, pricey and unmissable. Go for the live jazz, the cool supper lounge vibe and small-plate menu dishes with specialty cocktails once it reopens; check here for updates. Oh, and the gorgeous cityscape of the Big Apple.
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Marination Ma Kai, Seattle, Washington
Marination started life as a food truck but now has Ma Kai too – a permanent dockside restaurant with a patio overlooking downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. The food is a fusion of Hawaiian and Korean cuisine. There are kimchi quesadillas, kalua pork sliders and fish tacos – heavenly dishes to be savored while appreciating one of the finest views in town. It’s currently open for takeout and outdoor dining; check the website for further updates.
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Dauphin’s, Mobile, Alabama
Dining more than 424 feet (129m) in the air is always going to be an experience and the view from Dauphin’s doesn’t disappoint. Mobile’s urban regeneration and unforgettable sunset vistas can be witnessed from this classy restaurant on the 34th floor of the Trustmark Building. It serves French Creole and Southern-style dishes such as fresh fish and shrimp from the Gulf, fried alligator and classic shrimp and grits. There’s also a Sunday Jazz Brunch from 11am to 3pm every week.
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The Rim at Volcano House, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Not many restaurants can claim to be situated in such a distinctive location as The Rim, which has views over the Kilauea caldera and the billowing Halema’uma’u Crater. Found in Volcano House, which is Hawaii’s oldest hotel (Mark Twain visited when he climbed the summit), The Rim offers locally sourced meat, fresh-caught island fish and island greens and veg. It’s currently closed but check here for updates.
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Chisos Mountain Lodge Restaurant, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Not far from the Mexican border, Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only lodging to offer camping, rooms and dining within Big Bend National Park. The restaurant offers Texan comfort food, soups and salads with a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery. It’s currently closed but check here for updates.
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Primavista, Cincinnati, Ohio
There’s classic Italian food to be had at Cincinnati’s illustrious sky-high restaurant Primavista. More than quarter of a century old, this tasteful restaurant specializes in fresh fish and veal dishes such as saltimbocca, marsala and picatta, alongside pizzas, salads and pasta dishes. Eat, drink and be merry while overlooking the city’s skyline and the Ohio River. You can also order from the whole menu for takeout.
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Boat House, Tiverton, Rhode Island
Regarded as one of the best alfresco restaurants in the US, the Boat House – one of Rhode Island’s favorite waterfront restaurants – sits overlooking the Sakonnet River with views out to Mount Hope Bay. The menu pays homage to the abundant local seafood and produce available in the region – think native oysters, clam chowder and lobster fritters and pan-roasted cod.
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Altius, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
One of Pittsburgh’s finest, Altius on Mount Washington serves contemporary American dishes alongside sustainable and organic wine. Executive chef Jessica Bauer’s elevated cuisine includes spicy crab bisque, Chilian seabass and braised lamb shank. Service is excellent and the view over Pittsburgh and its rivers is simply breathtaking.
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Cliffside Restaurant, St George, Utah
The clue is in the name – sitting on a hill above St George, Cliffside Restaurant is part of the Inn on the Cliff, offering broad vistas over the city and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area beyond. The menu offers some seriously delicious choices from salads to seafood, but it’s the steaks including New York strip, seared flat iron and grilled filet mignon that stand out.
