During times, restaurants were looking to set tables in places with dramatic or stunning views. If at the beginning the food was not so good as the scenery, now we can find the perfect combination between a delicious meal, excellent service and a stunning view that takes your breath. Here is a top ten restaurants with the most spectacular views in the world.
10. Sierra Mar, Big Sur, California
Can you imagine a restaurant on top of the cliff, where you can see the best sunset over the Pacific Ocean? It exists at Post Ranch Inn, on a cliff 1,200 feet above the sea. The glass walls allow you to watch the ocean all day long, but you will see the most stunning views during sunset, when the sun is melting into the ocean. As for food, the restaurant is combining Asia, French and Mediterranean influences. Try the grilled squab breast with foie gras or the oysters with Champagne. For dinner, reservations are required.
9. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania
Dinning on the edge of the last unbroken volcanic caldera in the world will offer you spectacular panoramas that you didn’t know exists. From this wild-designed restaurant you can watch with binoculars animals, listening to their roam around the property. This place is perfect if you want to try Pan-African meals, like duck with kumquat and chili marmalade.
8. Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, British Columbia, Canada
To get to this restaurant you will need to take a 15 minute gondola ride that will lift you at 7.700 feet above the sea. But this place offers views over more than 1.000 snow-capped peaks in Rocky Mountains, Purcell and Selkirk. Try the salmon and the beef. The restaurant is open from June to October and December through Easter.
7. Felix, Hong Kong
This 28th-floor restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong will offer you dramatic cityscape and delicious diners. Designed by Phillippe Starck, the floor-to-ceiling windows look out on the Victoria Harbour ships with a neon skyline in the background. The menu is contemporary and offers fresh seasonal dishes. Try the crab salad with tuna tartar or the sea bass with black shrimp mousse. If you want to watch the Hong Kong’s nightly laser show, go there at 8 PM.
6. Baan Rim Pa, Phuket, Thailand
Just imagine the crush of the waves on the rocks, right below you. This open air restaurant is built on a cliff, right above the golden sands. You will have great views with the sun on the boats and the Andaman Sea. Try the Thai food, like Panaeng Ped – duck curry with lychee or Goong Lai Sarong – prawns in vermicelli. The restaurant offers also recipes served in the Thailand’s Grand Palace. Visit it during the live jazz and blues concerts in the piano bar.
5. Vertigo and Moon Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
You will sit in an open-air restaurant, at the 61st floor rooftop of Banyan Tree Hotel. The restaurant is in the heart of the business district, which allows you to look at the skyscrapers, the river and the city skyline. Try the signature recipes of the place, such as the roasted snow fish, tenderloin, wagyu or the Vertigo appetizer plate. You should go there for sunset, but expect a pricey menu.
4. Le Jules Verne, Paris, France
One of the most popular restaurants in the world, Le Jules Verne stays 410 feet above the ground, on the Eiffel Tower’s second level. The expansive views over Paris will take your breath away. Go for lunch if you want to admire the city and for dinner if you want to see Paris’s twinkling lights. You can try traditional French meals here, with a modern touch, while the wine is 100 percent French. The only problem is that you need a reservation, and they go really fast. However, you can book it only three months in advance, through their website.
3. Rosellinis, Ravello, Italy
A restaurant in the Palazzo Sasso with terrace tables that look out on the cliff and coves of the Amalfi coast, what can you wish more? You can watch the fishing boats or enjoy the amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea. If you cannot find a table, go to the Terrazza Belvedere, which is not so popular but still has wonderful views. Try the Italian traditional food, such as the amberjack fillet served with roasted artichoke and anchovy sauce. The restaurant is open only from March through October, only for dinner. The tables are first-come, first-served, but reservations are accepted.
2. Ambrosia, Santorini, Greece
Built on the edge of a volcanic crater in the village of Oia, Ambrosia is a restaurant with terrace tables that offer the best views over the blue Aegean Sea. You can also see the rocky caldera rim and the far away volcanic islands. We would recommend you to try the Greek dishes and the seafood, as calamari in pesto served with salmon tartar and avocado, lamb cutlets with grapes and mint sauce, or the shrimps with grilled mango. The terrace is open from April to October, but you will need a reservation at least one month in advance.
1. Asiate, New York City, the United States
Asiate is the restaurant of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, located on the 35th floor. Through its 16 foot high windows you can watch Manhattan’s skyscrapers and the Central Parks. You are still in the middle of the city, but you can take a break from the buzz and the crowds of New York City. The restaurant offers Asian and French dishes and we recommend you to try the entrees – the Atlantic halibut with shishito pepper and citrus sabayon, or the main dishes – the Long Island duck with summer berries and hibiscus. If you don’t want to eat, you can go in the Lobby Lounge, where you can have a cocktail or a tea and enjoy the breathtaking views.