The World’s Most Incredible Restaurant Views
Sometimes just good food and great service simply aren’t enough; the gourmands amongst us want our mealtimes to be memorable on every level. For truly unforgettable culinary experiences, check out our selection of international restaurants with spectacular views.
Club Del Doge, Venice
What: Stunning Views Of The Grand Canal
Why: Perched on the Grand Canal, the 15th century palazzo hotel The Gritti Palace occupies one of the very finest spots in Venice, and with a terrace overlooking the magnificent Salute church, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Club Del Doge, could hardly be better situated. Serving authentic Venetian cuisine in the most opulent of surroundings, the restaurant’s menu is overseen by Executive Chef Daniele Turco, who displays his love of the city’s culinary heritage in his award-winning dishes, which include bigoli pasta with cuttlefish sauce and cold veal.
Website:
www.thegrittipalace.com
Le Jules Verne, Paris
What: Fine Dining At The Eiffel Tower
Why: Part of chef legend Alain Ducasse’s stable, this restaurant on the second floor of Paris’s most famous landmark is a pleasingly contemporary and elegant space. During daytime, natural light pours throughout the restaurant; and in the evening, the atmosphere is somewhat magical, thanks to the thousands of fairy lights twinkling on the tower’s exterior. But the view across the city is always incomparable. Executive Chef Pascal Féraud has created a unique tasting menu that delivers a contemporary French flair. Dishes on this “menu experience” include duck foie gras and a crispy chocolate “Tower Nut”.
Website:
www.lejulesverne-paris.com
La Sponda, Positano
What: The Most Dolce Vita Imaginable
Why: The very best local ingredients are used to prepare the traditional Mediterranean and Neapolitan dishes at this Michelin-starred restaurant, which is situated at the wonderful Le Sirenuse hotel in people-watcher’s paradise, Positano. Romance is high on the agenda here in the evenings: no less than four hundred candles illuminate the restaurant and the sunset over the Amalfi Coast is spectacular.
Website:
www.sirenuse.it
The Beachcomber Café at The Brando, Tetiaroa
What: Desert Island Dishes
Why: No wonder Marlon Brando fell in love with and bought the exquisite Polynesian atoll of Tetiaroa, located 30 miles north of Tahiti. The eponymous resort that has been created on this private atoll combines sheer luxury and charm, as well as being incredibly eco-friendly. Overlooking the picture perfect turquoise lagoon, the informal Beachcomber Café serves Polynesian-inspired dishes alongside classic French cuisine. An innovative and sophisticated vegan menu has also just been commissioned, which incorporates fresh vegetables handpicked from the resort’s own organic garden.
Website:
www.thebrando.com
Sirocco, Bangkok
What: The World’s Highest Alfresco Restaurant
Why: Occupying the 63rd floor of the Lebua Hotel in Bangkok, Sirocco is considered the very height of world-class fine dining. The restaurant even managed to score a perfect ten in all four of Thailand Tatler’s restaurant guide categories – this is the hippest place in Bangkok. Enjoy a vertig0-inducing cocktail at the achingly hip Sky Bar, before an authentic Mediterranean dinner, beautifully created with the freshest ingredients from the world’s finest markets by Chef de Cuisine Sebastien Pinson.
Website:
www.lebua.com/sirocco
Emerson on Hurumzi, Tanzania
What: Renowned Rooftop Restaurant In The Soul Of Zanzibar
Why: On the roof of a beautifully restored old merchant’s house with 11 rooms, this teahouse restaurant serves a menu of traditional Persian and Omani dishes prepared with authentic ingredients. Get there in time for sundowners before dinner, and enjoy your cocktail and banana chips while overlooking the rooftops of the Stone Town and out to the beautiful Zanzibar coast.
Website:
www.emersononhurumzi.com
Chetzeron, Switzerland
What: Panoramic Restaurant On Top Of The Slopes
Why: Perched 2112m high, on top of the slopes and hiking trails of Crans Montana, the Chetzeron Restaurant heaves with skiers and hikers enjoying a truly unforgettable Alpine dining experience. The menu offers an “Alpine refined” flavoured cuisine from traditional Valais-based specialities to contemporary inspirations, and promises local and seasonal produce. If you can’t quite face the ski back down the mountain after your meal, you’re just 10 metres from the ski lift, or you could always bed down for the night in one of Chetzeron’s plush lodge rooms or suites.
Website:
www.chetzeron.ch
Felix, Hong Kong
What: Vertiginous Views At The Peninsula
Why: Offering spectacular views of Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from the 28th floor of the Peninsula, Felix is the European-inspired restaurant creation of renowned avant-garde designer Philippe Starck. If you can peel your eyes away from the Hong Kong skyline for a moment, you’ll notice the futuristic dining room itself, which is testament to Starck’s signature design genius. The menu is just as inventive too, with dishes combining both European and Asian flavours.
Website:
www.hongkong.peninsula.com/felix
Dasheene, St Lucia
What: Award-Winning St Lucian Cuisine
Why: Within one of St. Lucia’s most unique and luxurious resorts, one thousand feet above the deep blue Caribbean Sea and nestled into a lush volcanic ridge with postcard sea and mountain views, is beautiful Dasheene restaurant. Offering fresh and native ingredients from island farmers and neighbouring plantations that grow their produce primarily for the resort, Executive Chef Nigel Mitchel’s menu features stylish interpretations of traditional St. Lucian dishes, such as sweet potato and coconut soup, Caribbean lamb salad and plantain gratin with coconut rum sauce.
Website:
www.ladera.com
Aqua Dining, Sydney
What: Contemporary Italian Cuisine With Spectacular Cityscape Views
Why: Situated above North Sydney Olympic Swimming Pool, Aqua Dining offers a quintessential Sydney dining experience with unrivalled harbour views that sweep from Luna Park to the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Drawing on inspiration from local Australian produce and the restaurant’s iconic location, Head Chef and Co-Owner Davide Rebeccato offers a seasonal menu that reflects his interpretation of contemporary Italian cuisine.
Website:
www.aquadining.com/au
Nobu, Malibu
What: The Million-Dollar View
Why: One of the world’s most famous sushi restaurants, Nobu Malibu remains one of the places to see and be seen on the west coast of the USA. Iron Chef Nobu Matsuhisa oversees the exquisite Japanese-inspired delicacies on the menu, such as lobster ceviche, monk fish paté with caviar and, of course, the world-famous black cod with miso. The space itself is bright, open and glorious, and overlooks stunning Malibu beach. No wonder celebrities are still flocking to the place after all these years.
Website:
www.noburestaurants.com/malibu
Min Jiang
What: Authentic Chinese Overlooking Kensington Gardens
Why: We couldn’t let a guide to the world’s most spectacular restaurant views slide by without mentioning one from our very own hometown. Situated on the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, Min Jiang commands the most wonderful views over Hyde Park and across London. On a clear day, the Gherkin and the London Eye are easily visible. And the food more than matches up to those views: the Peking duck, in particular, which must be ordered in advance, comes highly recommended.
Where: Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, Kensington, W8 4PT
Website: