12 Restaurants with the Best Views in the World

From the verdant shores of Thailand to the picturesque mountains of California, take in some spectacular scenery while you dine in style. Also see bars with the best views.

By Brian Clark Howard

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view of tables and ocean at beverly hills restaurant koh samui, thailand
Sandeep Babu/SJB Vision/Flickr
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Beverly Hills Restaurant, Thailand

There are few experiences more pleasant than enjoying a great meal while taking in a gorgeous view. This is perhaps even more true today, when most of us spend more and more time cooped up inside. So kick back and enjoy our tour of some of the eateries around the world with the best scenery. And tell us what we forgot in the comments.

We begin with the appropriately named Beverly Hills restaurant, a popular spot in Koh Samui, Thailand. Here, guests can relax in the sea breezes and watch the play of light across the water.

peaks restaurant in palm springs california
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Peaks Restaurant, Palm Springs

Visitors to the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway can treat themselves at Peaks Restaurant, which offers stunning views of the California desert and glittering city below. The contemporary cuisine is sourced largely from the surrounding Coachella Valley.
restaurant overlook at ngorongoro crater lodge tanzania, africa
Courtesy of &Beyond
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Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Crater along the eastern arm of Africa's Rift Valley...and the food is pretty good, too, thanks to luxury travel provider &Beyond. The region is a great place to see African wildlife, as well as traditional Maasai herders.
cite restaurant on top of skyline in chicago
Courtesy of Cite Restaurant
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Cite Restaurant, Chicago

For 35 years, Cite Restaurant has been a Chicago institution, offering 360-degree views of the skyline and Lake Michigan, from 70 stories above Lake Point Tower. The food is French, seafood and steak.
Nathan Livings/Flickr
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Albergo Lorelei et Londres, Italy

Overlooking notorious Mt. Vesuvius and the Italian coast, Albergo Lorelei et Londres is a small hotel and restaurant with a big view. An elevator takes guests down the steep cliff to a perfect beach. And the food at the restaurant is widely praised.
Courtesy of Baan Rim Pa
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Baan Rim Pa, Thailand

Dine like a king at Baan Rim Pa in Phuket, Thailand: literally! The menu is based on "Royal Thai Cuisine" -- dishes formerly found only in the kingdom's Grand Palace. Baan Rim Pa is an open air, two-story affair that provides panoramic views of the spectacular beach at Patong and the Bay of Kalim. Savor the sound of the rolling waves along with your coconut sauce.
Courtesy of Cliff House
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Cliff House, San Francisco

San Francisco's Cliff House has been an historic landmark since the 1800s, offering epic views of the Pacific, all the way to the Marin coastline. Dine on fresh seafood at one of Cliff House's two restaurants, while you watch seals frolic in the waves, or maybe glimpse a passing whale.
Courtesy of Post Ranch Inn
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Sierra Mar, Big Sur

Also perched above the dazzling Pacific coast is Sierra Mar in Big Sur. The award-winning restaurant offers an innovative, four course, prix fixe menu, which changes daily and features organic and seasonal ingredients. Part of the historic Post Ranch Inn, there's no other place quite like it.
Courtesy of Le Jules Verne
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Le Jules Verne, Paris

What's more romantic than the Eiffel Tower? Enjoy sweeping views of Paris, the City of Light, from high atop the landmark, when you savor the elegant French cuisine of Le Jules Verne restaurant.
Courtesy of The Roof Gardens
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The Roof Gardens, London

Enjoy panoramic views of London from Babylon, the seventh-floor rooftop restaurant in a gorgeous urban garden setting. Babylon is on the pricey side, but offers an award-winning take on fine contemporary British cuisine. There's a terraced private room for special events.
Courtesy of Skyline Queenstown
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Skyline Queenstown, New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the world's foremost destinations for adventure travel, and Skyline Queenstown on the South Island is a good place to start. Take a thrilling ride down the complex's wheeled luge course, or ride the gondola to experience spectacular views of mountains and Lake Wakatipu. Enjoy a hearty buffet at the Skyline Restaurant, then head out for a day hike.
Courtesy of Ambrosia Restaurant
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Ambrosia Restaurant, Santorini

Take in breathtaking views of an ancient volcanic caldera and the Aegean Sea from the terrace of Ambrosia Restaurant, one of the most sought-after eateries in Santorini, in the fabled Greek islands. Get a romantic table for two and feast on Mediterranean and Modern Greek Cuisine. Sample local Greek wines and enjoy a memory to last a lifetime.
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