18 Best Restaurants in NYC with a View
You know the saying: you eat with your eyes first. And luckily, the Big Apple has some of the best restaurants in the world.
There are fantastic eateries tucked away on top of skyscrapers or nestled in hidden alleyways that offer spectacular views of New York, as well as delicious food.
Whether you’re looking for a secluded spot for a romantic date night or a swanky rooftop bar with cocktails, here are the best restaurants in NYC with a view.
1. The Fulton
Rising outside of The Fulton’s floor-to-ceiling windows is the ever-impressive Brooklyn Bridge. Its location at Pier 17 in the Seaport yields some of the city’s best East River views.
Pick between individual table set-ups and comfy booth seats within this modern New York restaurant. Gorge on Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s ocean-bound menu.
Brunches refresh with tartare, crispy calamari herb salads and caviar, while lunch and dinner serve up sashimi slices, oysters on ice and wild-caught mains like za’atar crusted salmon.
2. The River Café
Offering fine dining on the water since 1977, the River Café’s under-Brooklyn Bridge views are matched only by its Michelin-starred menu and outstanding wine list.
Exuding sophistication and romance, it treats you to white-jacketed wait staff, live piano music, and opportunities to dress fancy.
Whet your appetite with lemon glazed oysters and wagyu tartare, before digging into mains such as duck breast crusted with lavender spice, or butter-poached lobster tail.
A vegetarian menu is available upon request, as is the Blandy’s Madeira Dessert Flight.
3. Peak
Literally reaching new heights with dining, the Peak is one of New York’s top restaurants with a view. Play peekaboo with the city at your feet, 101 floors up 30 Hudson Yards.
Their Peak Plateau is a classic selection of iced seafood, while appetizers range from squid ink chitarra to smoked lamb belly.
Entrees include Maine lobster and bouillabaisse halibut, followed by beautifully plated desserts like raspberry tart grounded with white chocolate, chocolate mousse with malt ice cream, and signature cheesecake.
4. Le Pavillon
Le Pavillon joins the list of restaurants in NYC with a view, carving out a serene, upscale oasis in the heart of Midtown.
High ceilings and lush plants create the perfect indoor-outdoor vibe for their ‘vegetable-forward and seafood-centric’ cuisine.
Drawing from land and sea, starters feature saffron-cured Hamachi, wood-fired octopus and creative vegetable mixes.
Seasonal seafood picks result in mains such as grilled sea scallops and roasted Dover soles, as well as stuffed squash and well-marinated lamb. 650+ wine selections contribute to the French flair.
5. Gaonnuri
Gaonnuri is Korean BBQ made fancy. Located on the 39th floor within Koreatown, you’ll be dazzled by the skyscraper surrounding.
Try your hand at the traditional grill – the wide selection of meats run from Iberico pork neck to A5 grade Wagyu. Other specialties include warming stews, Korean cheon, and beef tartare.
Alternative entrees include stone pot bibimbap and fried fish. Wash it down with soju for extra effect.
Stuck on choices? Opt for the 5-course Tasting menu with options between dry-aged ribeye and Wagyu steaks.
6. SERRA by Birreria
Florals and seasonal arrangements have taken over the 14th floor of Eataly NYC Flatiron.
SERRA by Bierreria is the view of this rooftop locale, though you can glance out the windows to appreciate New York’s dense city center.
Just like how the décor changes by the season, so does the menu of this greenhouse space.
Still, the dishes are Italian-oriented, featuring plates like scarola alla griglia and zesty poached carciofo.
Expect salads, antipastas, fried bites and homemade pasta. Crostata and herb-inspired cocktails are other classics.
7. Celestine
Celestine is another waterfront dine-and-view, situated along Brooklyn’s DUMBO hot spot. While the Mediterranean-influenced menu changes seasonally, the Manhattan Bridge view remains a constant.
The earthy, coastal bites are made for sharing. From the mezze and small plates selection, try the flatbread and pistachio feta spread, or PEI mussels for flavor.
The Eggplant Maghmour stands out amongst the mains, though big eaters may prefer the Grass-fed Ribeye.
Weekend brunch treats you to buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches and brioche doughnuts.
8. Robert
Bold and vibrant Robert overlooks Columbus Circle and Central Park from its prime location: the top floor of the Museum of Arts & Design.
Serving modern American fare through lunch, sunset, dinner and brunch – it fits into every art-browsing schedule.
Try something new for the appetizer; the octopus and lobster roll are flavored with pesto and dijonaise.
The rigatoni is a staple, but the Wagyu burger and Scottish salmon make compelling statements. Dinner newly offers black ink pasta, crabmeat stuffed shrimp and black sea bass.
9. SAGA
Perched within the Art Deco landmark, 70 Pine Street, is the fine dining restaurant SAGA.
While relatively new to the scene, its stunning setting and seasonal tasting menu has drawn a lot of attention.
Theatrical lighting leads you to an outdoor terrace, where you’re presented with a welcome cocktail catered to your taste.
A waiter asks for your preferences regarding the multi-course meal, bringing you indoors for a luxurious experience of liquid nitrogen treats, tiered bites, innovative entrées and grown-up confections.
10. Overstory
One floor above SAGA is Overstory – a contemporary cocktail bar that could double as a restaurant in a pinch.
The most important thing is that it comes with a wraparound terrace with 360-degree views over the New York skyline.
Get buzzy with a Notorious, Yucateco, In The Clouds or Matcha Shakerato… or maybe stay grounded with a non-alcoholic Chrysanthemum Sour.
To go with, order iced oysters or the chilled seafood platter. For heavier bites, try the BBQ Lamb Buns with a side of Dips & Falafel.
11. Westlight
Westlight is another bougie lounge with restaurant aspirations. Dominating the rooftop of The William Vale in Williamsburg, it’s a classy meet-up spot with friends.
Original and classic cocktails blend together with names like Don’t Call It A Throwback and The Layover, favoring bases like gin, rum and whiskey.
To complement, the small plates menu is inspired by global street food. From chipotle fries to squash hummus and tempura bass buns, you’ve got a range of flavors.
Large bites include king salmon and ginger-glazed ribs.
12. Bar Blondeau
Looking out over the Bushwick Inlet Park to East River, another Brooklyn bar-cum-restaurant to note is Bar Blondeau.
The Wythe Hotel tenant is decorated in mid-century modern style for a classy but welcoming vibe.
The seafood-forward menu is influenced by French, Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. It touts your staple oysters, scallops and shrimp alongside croquetas, fried squash rings, and heavier fare like ribeye steak.
But the highlight is no doubt the beverage menu, with natural wines and cocktails spanning most of the pages.
13. Manhatta
Manhatta is another restaurant in New York with a view that we can’t forget. This Financial District dining pick sits on the 60th floor for both urban skyline and river views.
Serving mostly New American cuisine, the menu experiments with unique flavors (think beef tartare with hazelnut miso).
Some highly recommended dishes include: the Oysters Manhatta with uni and champagne sabayon, lobster roll, and the burger.
Post-meal, transition from The Dining Room to The Bar. Its cocktails are highly praised; especially the Neighborhood series.
14. Daintree
Velvet meets jungalow at Daintree, a rooftop bar and lounge perched in Midtown South.
The spacious rooftop terrace offers unobstructed vistas of the Empire State Building and cityscape.
Beverages take on a contemporary twist on New York classics, while the wine list leans towards Australian labels.
Crafted cocktails are a must-try here as well. Playful Aussie-Asian grazing plates bulk up the food menu with oysters on ice, steak katsu sliders, crispy halloumi laffa, herbed lobster roll, and aioli house fries.
There are monthly specials on food and drinks between 4-6PM.
15. The View Restaurant & Lounge
Hovering over Broadway in Marriott Marquis, The View Restaurant & Lounge combines those Times Square views with a unique dining experience.
Partnering with the world’s tiniest chef, they use Skullmapping tech to present an animated 4-course meal prep – “Le Petit Chef on Broadway” experience.
The menu is subject to change, but starts with seasonal vegetables as the first course. The second offers up Italian staples like risotto, followed by a main and dessert. Wine pairing comes included.
16. The Rooftop
The Rockaway Hotel houses a generous indoor-outdoor rooftop space, a 6,000-square-foot paradise with food to boot.
The Rooftop promises panoramas over the Manhattan skyline, Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Help yourself to the raw bar, where your oysters, shrimps and clams can be ordered by half-dozen or in generous platters. Portions run from The Cousteau (serving 2-4) to
The Kraken (serving 6-8). Crispy Rice dishes, tacos and flatbreads also prep your stomach for the refreshing cocktails.
17. Grand Banks
How does one top this New York waterfront restaurant? Grand Banks oyster bar sits aboard a historic wooden ship, the Sherman Zwicker, to offer grand views of the Hudson River.
Colorful nautically inspired cocktails and summery wines pair perfectly with unfettered views across the water.
The golden hour special: oysters harvested along East and West Coast. Don’t skip appetizers like clam chowder, brisket meatballs and burrata; entrées are decidedly sea-inspired.
Depending on the season, you may gorge on trout, lobster roll, seared scallops or other delicacies.
18. Alma
Alma serves three floors of Mexican cuisine, just budget and chill enough to draw in young crowds. Dine at rooftop level, which opens up to the lower Manhattan skyline.
Celebrated for its vast collection of tequilas, mezcals and creative cocktails, it has also carved its name amongst restaurants in NYC with a view.
The rooftop menu treats you to grilled gulf shrimp, breakfast burritos, enchiladas, tacos of all stuffings, guac and chilaquiles.
Alma entertains specials like Taco Tuesday and Sunday Funday, as well as Weekend Brunch.
