Some of the most popular things to do in New York City consist of Broadway, Madison Square Garden, art museums, and Yankee Stadium, but when it comes down to it, New York is a city of food, drinks, and views. Below is a compilation of some of the best places to hit all three at once. No matter where you are in the city, there are sure to be amazing NYC restaurants with a view!
Alma (Brooklyn)
Alma’s year-round rooftop is the perfect spot for sunset margaritas and Mexican food on a nice day. Situated on the water on the outskirts of Cobble Hill, the view of Governor’s Island and lower Manhattan is perfectly on display. They serve an array of delicious Mexican dishes as well as weekend brunches and happy hour Monday through Friday.
SAGA (Lower Manhattan)
SAGA is a fine dining restaurant on the 63rd floor of 70 Pine Street, an Art Deco tower built in the Jazz Age located in the Financial District. The restaurant consists of four floors: private dining salons on floor 62, SAGA on 63, Overstory, a contemporary cocktail bar, on 64, and an observation deck on 66. Not only are they one of the best NYC restaurants with a view, expect impeccable service and an impressive menu, too.
Related Reading: Check out our picks for the best restaurants in the Financial District!
Panorama Room (Roosevelt Island)
Roosevelt Island’s Panorama Room is located on the 18th floor of the Graduate Roosevelt Island hotel, which is an island directly in between Midtown East and Long Island City. You can take a tram, bike, ferry, or car to the island, where you’ll be greeted with stunning 360-degree sights of Midtown and Brooklyn while you sip on cocktails and munch on American bites.
Pilot (Brooklyn Piers)
Brooklyn’s piers are known for captivating locals and travelers alike. They offer sweeping views of lower Manhattan, situated among lush parks, waterfront seating areas, and sports fields.
Pilot, however, gives you views of the water, from the water. The seasonal oyster bar is aboard one of the country’s most famous wooden schooners, which over the last 100 years has been a competitor as the fastest sailboat in the world, the country’s longest serving pilot ship, and a research ship that circumnavigated the world twice. They serve sustainably raised oysters, hand-crafted cocktails, and skyline views like none other.
Insider’s Tip: Looking for more great panoramas? Check out our post on the best views in NYC!
Laser Wolf (Williamsburg)
Laser Wolf is The Hoxton hotel’s latest restaurant in Williamsburg, and serves Israeli dishes. One of the best NYC restaurants with a view, this restaurant provides sweeping views of Manhattan and the East River.
Named after “Lazar Wolf,” the butcher in the musical Fiddler on the Roof, everything is cooked over a charcoal grill, which is an ancient cooking style that offers intense flavor.
Dear Irving (Midtown)
Dear Irving on Hudson is one of Manhattan’s poshest cocktail bars, located on the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel near Times Square.
The décor is a mix between James Bond and Art Deco with swanky craft cocktails and Manhattan views. They have a vast drink menu and serve small plates like avocado toast, shrimp tempura, and filet mignon bites.
RH Rooftop Restaurant (Meatpacking District)
The RH Rooftop Restaurant in the Meatpacking District is on the sixth floor of Restoration Hardware. In a neighborhood known for its swanky eateries, fashion stores, and picturesque cobblestone streets, this restaurant extenuates the posh, photo-worthy vibes.
The restaurant itself is dripping in chandeliers, plants, and fountains, giving diners a luxury dining experience with an American grill inspired menu. Not only is RH Rooftop one of the best NYC restaurants with a view, its interior is beautiful as well!
Molly Wilcox is a New York based writer with a passion for travel and food. When she’s not reading and writing, she’s usually biking around New York City in search of new flavors and sites. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, Architectural Digest, Cultured Mag, SFGate, Salon, Observer, and V Magazine, among others. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mol_wilcox