The Restaurant With the Best View in Every State

The best restaurants keep regulars coming back for ambiance and atmosphere as much as for the food — and nothing says ambiance like a stellar view. Every state in the country is home to restaurants surrounded by stunning scenery that lets you feast with your eyes as much as your taste buds. We scoured reviews and rankings by expert food writers and countless hungry customers to find these 50 restaurants worth visiting as much for what you see as for what you eat.

Editor's note: This story has been revised since publication.

Related: The Bucket List Restaurant in Your State

Fairhope

Sunset Pointe wants you to stop in for a "bight," a geographic term that refers to a shallow bay, not unlike the one the restaurant sits on. But the "bights" at Sunset Pointe are a pleasing selection of food, from appetizers to salads to sandwiches and entrees.  The drink menu features regional craft brews, curated wines, and classic and seasonal cocktails, all of which can be enjoyed while taking in the relaxing views of Fly Creek Marina.

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Juneau

The Timberline Atop Mount Roberts serves authentic Alaskan cuisine from the land and sea. Enjoy crab nachos, or salmon or halibut tacos, or other specialties, such as the salmon bake. No matter what you order, your meal is served with a side order of the best views in Juneau. From 1,800 feet above some of the world's most rugged wilderness, you'll gaze down upon the city, the rainforest, and an alpine meadow, and view Mount Juneau.

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Phoenix

Head to Phoenix to dine in style while basking in sky-high panoramic views of the city's twinkling skyline — and the endless desert beyond. That's what you'll get at Different Pointe of View in the Pointe Hilton. The view from the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows is especially striking at sunset.

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Paris

There's classic Southern cuisine on the menu at Skycrest and rustic furniture and massive interior timbers adding to the ambiance inside. But the mountain lodge also sits 2,753 feet above the Petit Jean River Valley, and Blue Mountain Lake can be seen in the distance.

La Jolla

The Ocean Terrace at George’s at the Cove offers Southern California cuisine served at a table or elevated bar overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There's even an extended "ocean view bar" to enhance the already jaw-dropping views.

Colorado Springs

The name of the Elevations Restaurant says it all. The impressive Front Range of the Rocky Mountains provides the backdrop while you enjoy locally sourced dishes and drinks served daily inside the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

Simsbury

Millwright's Restaurant, as the name implies, was actually a mill and has a history dating back to 1679. Now, it's a modern restaurant that serves chic cuisine, but the rustic charm remains — as does the spectacular view of the surrounding landscape, waterfall and all.

Selbyville

Catch 54 prides itself on coastal cuisine that is simple but elegant — and the same could be said about the views. Perched right on a bay, Catch 54 offers diners expansive views of the area between Assawoman Bay and Little Assawoman Bay. 

Boynton Beach

Locals have been flocking to the Banana Boat since 1978. The landmark restaurant sits right alongside the Intracoastal Waterway and provides views not just of the waterway, but also of the endless parade of boats that use it as a highway all day long.

Atlanta

Perched atop the cylindrical Westin Peachtree Plaza tower, the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View is true to its name. Until a lawsuit in 2017, the restaurant itself rotated 71 stories above the city, but the rotation feature is “currently unavailable,” according to restaurant’s website. “In the meantime,” it says, “you can still enjoy the 360 degree views,” along with contemporary American cuisine sourced locally.

Lahaina

The views from the Sea House Restaurant stand out even by the outsized standards of exotic Hawaii. Tucked into crescent-shape beach of Napili Bay, the Sea House serves sea-to-plate cuisine with views of Maui's blue water, soaring palm trees, and tanned tourists.

Twin Falls

Gastronomes will appreciate Elevation 486 for its enticing lunch and dinner menus, but no diner can ignore the sheer beauty of the view. The Snake River winds into the canyon that bears its name under the Perrine Bridge, all of which is backdropped by the Magic Valley. When you dine at Elevation 486, you have boundless panoramic views of it all.

Chicago

IO Godfrey boasts the largest indoor/outdoor lounge in Chicago. A retractable roof and two-level fire pit make it an all-year escape for diners in search of the ultimate view. The fourth-floor lounge isn't the highest point in the Windy City, but its views can compete with any of the building's bigger cousins.

Lawrenceburg

The views are so stunning at RiverWatch that you might just forget you're eating in a floating restaurant on the Ohio River. Located in the far southeast corner of the Hoosier State, RiverWatch works hard to give off a Key West vibe in the heart of the Midwest, and if you're not careful, you might just mistake the Ohio River for the Gulf of Mexico.

Balltown

Those looking for a more traditional dining experience combined with expansive views can do little better than Breitbach’s Family Dining. Offering both menu and buffet selections, the sixth-generation family-run restaurant serves familiar lunch and dinner fare at budget-friendly prices. The view of the Mississippi River valley is one of the best in northwest Iowa — and perhaps reason enough to stick around for a second piece of homemade pie. 

Kansas City

It may not be for everyone — meaning those who aren’t into sports — but Turn 2 offers views of both the Kansas Speedway and the gaming floor from its perch within the Hollywood Casino, and the menu ranges from $5 soups to $28 rib-eye steaks.

Burkesville

Three of the four walls at Island View Restaurant are made of glass. On the other side of that glass are stunning views of Dale Hollow Lake and its many islands. The adjoining Dale Hollow Golf Course often appears in "Kentucky's best" top 10 lists for its level of play, but also for its powerful natural beauty.

New Orleans

It's hard to claim the title of "the best seafood in New Orleans," but Landry's does its best to live up to the boast. Fresh-caught Gulf seafood streams out of the kitchen, but the real draw just might be the scenic views of Lake Pontchartrain — the restaurant is right on the shore.

Portland

Locals and tourists flock to Diamond's Edge for classic fine island dining — but also for the view. A short boat ride away from the bustling Old Port district in Portland sits a former artists' retreat that continues to stoke creative thinking with stunning views of Diamond Cove, Casco Bay, and Great Diamond Island.

Essex

The views greeting diners at River Watch restaurant feature the marina and its surrounding waterways, including the beautiful Middle River and Hopkins Creek. River Watch is as confident in its food as it is in its scenery — the restaurant's slogan is "Where the food is better than the view all year long."

Boston

Venezia makes city dwellers feel like they're a million miles away. The restaurant describes its boundless views of Boston Harbor as "breathtaking," and the atmosphere and the food have earned Venezia a spot on countless New England "best of" lists.

Holland

Perched on the shores of Lake Macatawa, Boatwerks is a casual dining staple with massive windows on the north wall and glass walls along the boardwalk, opening stunning lake views to indoor diners. Want to get a closer look? There's an outdoor patio and deck.

Waconia

In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, there's no shortage of awesome waterfront dining options. Lola's Lakehouse not only offers picturesque views of Lake Waconia, but also the yesteryear, Cape Cod-esque surrounding landscape, complete with split-rail fences, red barns, and docking boats.

Ocean Springs

All-you-can-eat family-style catfish, chicken, and shrimp are served in massive portions at Aunt Jenny's. The real draw, however, is the scenery. Indulge in classic Delta cuisine while relaxing on the mouth of the Biloxi Bay surrounded by oak trees that have been growing there for half a millennium.

Lake Ozark

The Lake of the Ozarks is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and at Baxter's, you can take in some of the most spectacular views in the region. You'll be enjoying authentic Midwestern cuisine in one of the country's greatest and most underrated tourist destinations.

Whitefish

Head to Casey's and grab a Huckleberry margarita, which you can sip at the only rooftop bar and restaurant in the Flathead Valley. Casey's is bursting with live music, fire tables, and a weather-adaptable shade system.

Omaha

It's not often you can eat overlooking a rainforest teeming with white-handed gibbons — particularly if you're at a restaurant in Omaha. But that's exactly what you'll get at TreeTops Restaurant, which is inside Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

Las Vegas

Don't just go to Las Vegas, go above it. At Top of the World at the Strat Casino, Hotel & Tower, customers enjoy some of the highest-end fine dining in the city while sitting 800 feet above the Las Vegas Strip. In case you don't feel like moving to take in the unobstructed 360-degree views, the restaurant rotates every 80 minutes.

Portsmouth

Family-owned for more than half a century, Geno's has won more chowder- and lobster-related awards than it can list — and that's saying a lot considering it's in Portsmouth, the heart of New England seafood territory. Then there's the view. Located on the Piscataqua River, Geno's has been the subject of countless paintings and postcards, and you can stop in and find out why.

North Bergen

The best views of New York City aren't in New York City — they're across the river in New Jersey. Among the best in the state can be found at Waterside, where an internationally acclaimed chef serves high-end cuisine to match the towering views of the Manhattan skyline.

Santa Fe

Executive chef Kai Autenrieth is the mind behind Terra, where classic Southwestern fare is infused into cuisine from around the world. You'll also enjoy The Bar, where indoor or terrace seating provides magnificent views of the surrounding New Mexico mountains and valleys.

Brooklyn

In praising the restaurant's off-the-beaten-path feel, Zagat referred to the Manhattan skyline views from the rooftop at Alma as "mind altering." Even in a city packed with restaurants atop skyscrapers, Alma stands out.

Asheville

Locally sourced ingredients and hand-cut steaks and chops earn rave reviews for the Omni Hotel's Sunset Terrace. The views, however, keep the locals coming back. Even for those who live in Asheville, the soaring Blue Ridge Mountain views are awe-inspiring.

St. Michael

On the shore of Devils Lake is The View, the house restaurant of Spirit Lake Casino & Resort. It's known for its steak specials as well as towering windows that connect customers to the natural beauty beyond.

Cleveland

The draw of Bar 32 is right there in its name: Part of the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Bar 32 soars 32 stories above the city. The venue's "high-style bar menu" is complemented by picturesque views of not just the city, but of Lake Erie beyond.

Oklahoma City

Sporting awesome lake views and an impressive selection of seafood entrees, Hefner Grill offers dishes as simple as fish and chips and as impressive (and classic) as grouper in veracruz sauce. Chicken and meat selections are also offered, and wine lovers will appreciate the $20 featured bottles on Wednesdays.

Hood River

As early as the mid-1960s, Riverside has been the only waterfront dining option on the Hood River. The ingredients used to make the restaurant's Italian fare change every month, but the panoramic views of the Columbia River don't.

Dauphin

Stoney Creek Inn is one of the few restaurants on this list where you can see and hear the view — because there are indoor and outdoor options. You can dine right next to the roaring Stoney Creek waterfall.

Newport

Few seafood towns in America are more authentic than Newport, home of The Landing. In the heart of the city's downtown, it whips up some of the freshest seafood on Earth. Between courses, you won't have to do much except look east for captivating views of historic Bowen's Wharf.

Charleston

The Ashley River and Charleston skyline serve as eye candy for anyone who wanders into the Harborview Restaurant & Lounge. Whether you're there for a sunrise breakfast or dinner at sunset, you can watch yachts sail by as you get your fill of Harborview’s take on American cuisine.

Lead

The Latchstring Restaurant, adjacent to the Spearfish Canyon Lodge, traces its roots back over 100 years and promises “cuisine that is as magnificent as the scenery.” Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Latchstring features American cuisine served in a casual atmosphere. Weekly dinner specials include rib-eye steaks and a burger of the week. Also worth checking out are the hearty buffalo stew and the cheese curds, voted best by readers of 605 Magazine as South Dakota’s best.  

Memphis

Just getting to the Lookout at the Pyramid is interesting — it requires riding the world's tallest free-standing elevator to the top of the Memphis Pyramid. The restaurant's steampunk decor is complemented by a massive indoor aquarium and bordered by 360-degree views of Memphis below.

Austin

Abel's on the Lake keeps things interesting with a 60-tap selection including 17 locally brewed beers. While you sip, you can stare through a wall off windows out onto scenic Austin Lake. The massive double deck outside isn't bad either.

Sundance

The Tree Room began life as a cabin built around a tree when Robert Robert founded Sundance Moutain Resort in 1970. The restaurant — accented with Native American art from the actor's collection — has since grown but maintains its rustic roots. The food is equally artful, and the views of the Wasatch Mountains are impressive.

Fairlee

The Lakeside Dining Room at Lake Morey Resort isn't just lakeside. Choose the Lakeside Dining Room and you'll enjoy lake views that can compete with any other in Vermont; at the country club, you can also dine overlooking the 10th tee of one of the state's premier golf courses.

Moneta

Nearly every seat in the Landing Restaurant has waterfront views of Smith Mountain Lake. Inside you'll enjoy "modern French-American cuisine with a touch of Andean Nuevo influences" — but outside it's 100% pristine Virginia wilderness.

Seattle

Seattle has no shortage of restaurants with postcard views — but Ray's Boathouse might top them all. Situated on the edge of the water, the wall of windows that perimeters the restaurant gives diners blazing panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Lansing

The New River Gorge is one of the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes in the world — and Smokey's Steakhouse is perched in the center of its rim. Big portions are served to diners who may not be able to concentrate on their food thanks to sprawling views of the endless Appalachian Mountains.

Milwaukee

Harbor House claims "Milwaukee's best view" — and it's got good reason to brag. Customers gobble up the restaurant's trademark fresh seafood with the banks of Lake Michigan stretching to the horizon. But the real view faces inland toward the Milwaukee skyline.

Related: The Most Beautiful Restaurant in Every State

Wapiti

Founded as a stagecoach shop, the Trail Shop Inn & Restaurant is thick with Wyoming's Western mystique. Whether you're inside looking out through the restaurant's massive windows at the surrounding Wapiti landscape or outside on the log deck, the surrounding mountains will be your dinner guests. 

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