The Best Restaurants with a View in New York City

Great views and good food rarely go hand in hand, but Manhatta is a stylish spot that breaks that trend. Set in an iconic skyscraper and located some 60 floors up with Manhattan laid out before you, the dining room possesses all the allure and magic of a penthouse. The tasting menu is approachable in length and seasonal in inspiration. Think smoked burrata with summer melon or wild mushroom ravioli with parmigiano reggiano and chamomile butter. Lunch is also a great time to stop by for stunning daytime views — as well as a special dry-aged cheeseburger. A relaxed, personable team handles the crowds effortlessly with grace and charm.

Pop quiz time. Where is the highest outdoor observatory deck in the western hemisphere? If you guessed The Edge at Hudson Yards, you win. And your prize? Dinner at Peak, the next-door restaurant with jaw-dropping views over lower Manhattan and New Jersey. This spot stands above the competition in this high-end complex, and while the crowd of mostly tourists and business types is largely here for those views, the food is far from a concession. Kick things off with dishes like the hiramasa topped with Kirby cucumber and watermelon radish before a skin-on roasted chicken with roasted kabocha squash and kale pesto. Unsurprisingly, the prices skew high.

An experience at Thomas Keller’s Per Se is one to be savored, recounted and remembered. In a city where space itself is a luxury, the dining room is impressively scaled, offering both stellar views of Central Park as well as precious privacy from table to table. As for the cooking, the French kitchen closely aligns itself with the seasons, sourcing best-in-class products and preparing them with razor-sharp refinement. Signatures like “Oysters and Pearls” or the grand dessert finale are reliable, thrilling bookends. What happens in between is a mature study in confidence and class. An effortlessly choreographed service team rises to the occasion, lending a personable, gracious touch to a dinner that radiates class and comfort.

Set in a landmark skyscraper that towers over the city, Saga is a stunner. An aperitif from the terrace is a striking start before settling into one of several intimate rooms fit with peach and emerald velvet, green marble tables and carved stone accents. An aura of class and comfort takes hold in preparation for a cuisine that is inspired and delightful, as in Hokkaido scallop arranged with shaved fennel and vadouvan (a French-influenced curry) butter sauce; or Australian lamb dressed with a spiced jus and frothed herb sauce. To finish, a lovely Moroccan tea service, paying homage to the late Chef James Kent, is complete with an array of sweet bites.

With The River Cafe’s stunning location in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, complete with an eye-popping view of the Manhattan skyline, a visit to this landmark calls for dressing up (in fact, jackets are still required for gentlemen). While the atmosphere and service are formal by today’s standards, the professional waitstaff operate with such poise that the experience exudes an old-school charm, rather than feeling starchy. The setting makes this a perpetual favorite for romantic couples, and the ample prix fixe menu includes dishes such as Pacific blue shrimp over a bed of whipped corn hominy and a tableside pour of smoked shrimp jus, as well as Dover sole in a Burgundy truffle sauce. To finish, the hazelnut soufflé seals the deal.