by Marnie Hunter March 24, 2014
Warm beige tones, rich graphic accents and futuristic chairs give Jules Verne a contemporary elegance, while superstar chef Alain Ducasse's dishes create joie de vivre in diners' mouths. But the real asset of this restaurant, located more than 400 feet above Paris in the Eiffel Tower, is its panoramic view. From the tower's southern pillar, diners admire the barges navigating the Seine and the steel-gray roofs that stretch for miles.
Restaurants have long set their tables in locations with spectacular views, but the food often pales in comparison. However, with the global culinary scene changing dramatically, it's more than prudent to look beyond the cocktail menu at many of the world's most beautifully located restaurants. “They actually have a view and good food at the same time,” says Tim Zagat, co-founder of the Zagat Survey restaurant guides. “It’s a combination that was rare 10 or 20 years ago.”
So, where are the best places that combine incredible views with delicious food?
At Asiate, in New York's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the buildings of Midtown Manhattan and the lush haven of Central Park attract locals, tourists and special occasion diners, and executive chef Toni Robertson delivers. the task of guarding the Asian restaurant. influenced cuisine at the same high standard as the restaurant on the 35th floor. “My challenge is to compete with the view, but as a chef, I always win,” she says.
The Big Apple isn't the only one offering winning skyscraper dining. At Felix, on the 28th floor of Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel, guests soak up the city's striking surroundings from an elegant dining room designed by Philippe Starck while feasting on dishes like Tasmanian salmon with cream eggplant-tomatoes crushed with horseradish and a dark-roasted Challans duck breast. sesame hummus.
Of course, some of the world's most spectacular restaurant views are born, not created. In Ambrosia, on the Greek island of Santorini, the island's sea-filled volcanic crater provides a rocky perch for the terrace restaurant, from where diners gaze out over an unearthly blue sea. Santorini fava puree with grilled octopus and caramelized onions brings Greek flavors to the Aegean seascape.
And in British Columbia, diners at Eagle's Eye Restaurant, part of Kicking Horse Resort, peer at snow-capped peaks while enjoying Rocky Mountain cuisine infused with notes of chef Alain Soret's native France. Riding a gondola to the restaurant at 7,700 feet above sea level makes some guests feel like they're going to an alpine snack bar.
“A lot of people expect to find burgers and donuts there,” Soret says. They are surprised to be greeted with a romantic dinner by the fire and dishes like roast venison with almonds, pancetta and juniper jus served with fig and saffron risotto.
Whether you crave rugged mountains or deep ocean views, a glitzy skyscraper scene or a secluded retreat, these restaurants offer mesmerizing views with landscape-worthy menus.
In this slideshow:
Asian, New York
Cuz's Fish Shack, Barbados
Limousine, Cusco, Peru
Il Pirata, Praiano, Italy
Osteria Bancogiro, Venice Italy
Ambrosia, Santorini, Greece
Rosellini, Ravello, Italy
The Jules Verne, Paris France
Baan Rim Pa, Phuket, Thailand
Felix, Hong Kong
Eagle's Eye Restaurant, British Columbia, Canada
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania
Sierra Mar, Big Sur, California
El Tovar Dining Hall, Grand Canyon, Arizona
La Chèvre d’Or, Èze, France
He'eia Pier General Store & Deli, Kaneohe, Hawaii
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