21 Places To Wine And Dine With Unbeatable City Views
Cities all around the world are blessed with beautiful skylines that make travelers feel like the world is theirs to hold. When we look at a cityscape, especially when it's lit up at night, we are reminded of the scope and potential of human accomplishment. There is something promising about the silhouette of skyscrapers or the infinite expanse of a city that spreads out so far and so wide it joins the horizon in the distance.
21 Places to Wine and Dine with Unbeatable City Views (Slideshow)
The best way to take in these sights, of course, is over a nice glass of wine or a relaxing dinner. Yes, there are some restaurants and bars with spectacular cliffside or mountaintop views that provide diners with a sense of serenity and peace; but skylines, city lights, and the maze of streets that weave people together in major metropolises come together to deliver a sense of wonderment that no other view can.
We all know that when we travel, we want to see a city for what it is. Sure, getting right into it all and immersing ourselves in the thick of things on the street is the best way to learn about a place and its people, but seeing an entire city spread out before you, and taking in the whole of a city in one, sweeping glance? Now that's a different story. That's a different way to know a city and to see what flows through its veins and to see its heart beat.
The Daily Meal put together a list of some of the best city views around the world, be they from the bank of a river facing the city lights or a restaurant perched atop the tallest building in Europe. These sweeping views will be your windows to the world and change the way you see and connect to a city.
21. Clouds Heaven's Bar & Kitchen, Hamburg
The name alone speaks to a gorgeous view of one of Germany's bigger cities. If you venture to Hamburg, take in the sights and the scenes while dining at this establishment in the city's Dancing Tower. Head to the restaurant and or venture one floor up to the rooftop where you can relax with a drink in hand. Take in the vista that stretches south over the River Elbe to the harbor and all the sparkling city lights.
20. Restaurang Himlen, Stockholm, Sweden
There is something about Stockholm that makes it seem trendy no matter where you are within it, and it's definitely a place where you'll want to sit back and take in the cityscape. With its location on the 25th floor of the Skrapan skyscraper in the Södermalm district, Restaurang Himlen makes for the perfect venue to adore this super-cool city. Go for the fine dining experience of French and Swedish cuisine at the restaurant, or head up one floor to the cocktail bar. Whichever venue you choose, the views across this capital are unparalleled.
Alexandra E. Petri is the travel editor at The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @writewayaround.