21 Places To Wine And Dine With Unbeatable City Views (Slideshow)
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
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.
19. SE-STO on Arno Florence, Florence
Florence may not have an up-to-the-heavens skyline, but its highest building is certainly heavenly. Florence's massive and awe-inspiring Duomo, an historic church, is the closest thing to a skyscraper you'll find in this charming European city, but that doesn't make the skyline any less beautiful. Florence is blanketed with squat, fairytale homes and buildings that make for a romantic architectural wonderland, all set against rolling hills. The SE-STO at the Excelsior offers a modern Mediterranean menu and the experience it provides is a great way to fall in love with it all.
18. 360 Restaurant at the CN Tower, Toronto
Feel like you're dining in the clouds at 360 Restaurant. Aptly named, 360 Restaurant offers a 360º revolving view of Toronto from more than 1,500 feet in the air. Look out at the stacks of buildings as they line the streets below while having a glass of wine from 360's award-winning selection of more than 500 international and Canadian vintages. Book your table soon, though; this nighttime view won't last for long. As of September 6, 2014, 360 Restaurant will only be open for lunch, with a prix-fixe menu supplemented by vegetarian and seafood options.
17. P.O.V. Bar and Rooftop Terrace, W Hotel, Washington, D.C.
At the 11th-floor Point of View, you'll find city views that can't be found anywhere else: The White House and the Washington Monument (in case you didn't know) are major D.C. landmarks, and no view of the capital would be complete without them; the terrace at P.O.V. is easily the best place for a panoramic outlook on them and the rest of this historic cityscape. The retro and neo-speakeasy cocktails, along with a menu that goes beyond typical bar food, don't hurt either.
16. Skye Bar & Restaurant at the Unique Hotel, São Paulo
The Skye Bar & Restaurant atop the Unique Hotel — which looks like a gigantic boat, or, some say, a watermelon — will make you feel like you're floating away into the stunning sights of the city. The place somehow effortlessly manages to make this lively and sometimes overwhelming city look gentle. Grab a drink — perhaps go for one of Brazil's famous caipirinha cocktails, offered in a number of delicious versions here — or peruse the sushi bar before getting yourself lost in the view.
15. Aer, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai
In a city as hectic as Mumbai can be, Aer makes Mumbai look a city that knows no conflict or hardships. This magical bar offers a different view of Mumbai than the one you may see by day or night as you walk around the streets, and its location at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel makes it the highest bar in Mumbai. The urban jungle wraps around you at this open-air lounge, and the skyline seems so close you feel like you can touch it. Serve yourself a different slice of Mumbai and head up to Aer for some tapas and the sunset Happy Hour, which offers champagnes by the glass and all cocktails at half price every evening.
14. Le Jules Verne, Paris
Le Jules Verne markets itself as a unique venue infused with dreams and whimsy, inviting its guests along on a "magical journey ," and it's easy to see why. Set inside the heart of Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower, Le Jules Verne makes the City of Light seem miniscule. Enjoy a world-class dinner of contemporary French cuisine — the restaurant is part of famed chef Alain Ducasse's empire, and boasts a Michelin stat — paired with its entirely French wine list, and you'll take a journey through France while Paris unfolds around you. Look out onto the miles of lights below, or watch the whole of the city come alive under a radiant afternoon sun.
13. Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at the Rosewood Hotel, San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, will take you by surprise. Head to the Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar and watch the magic unfold as the beauty of this old city perfectly enhances a casual dining experience. The old-world charm of San Miguel with its castle-like buildings off in the distance and its swaths of terracotta rooftops and buildings will make you feel like you've stepped into another time and place entirely. Add on an international tapas menu and quality margaritas, and you'll be in heaven.
12. Ciel de Paris, Paris
A view of the city of Paris from the Eiffel Tower is pretty, but having the Eiffel Tower in sight is even better. Located on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse, Ciel de Paris is the go-to restaurant for sweeping views of this European city of love, mixed with top-notch French cuisine. At night, the Eiffel Tower will look like the crown jewel among a sea of glittering diamonds that surround it.
11. Signature Room at the 95th, Chicago
From its location in the sky-high John Hancock Center, the Signature Room at the 95th in Chicago will make you feel as if this urban metropolis is in the palm of your hand. Though the Signature Room is a fine dining restaurant where diners can enjoy modern American cuisine, it delivers an atmosphere and an experience that will be a treat for all the senses. From this high up, Chicago is a glittering canvas.
10. O Bar and Dining, Sydney
In Sydney, a coastal city indented with harbors, there are plenty of beautiful views to be had. You can marvel at the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge from below or afar, but Sydney is truly a sight to be seen from above. Though you won't be dining al fresco, O Bar and Dining has a layout that allows for a 360-degree view with windows that reveal the full expanse of the city — and it rotates!. The restaurant is under the guidance of internationally acclaimed chef Michael Moore, who focuses on balanced, healthy food that still oozes with flavors, so expect to be dazzled all around.
9. Vue Bar at Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai
There is no better place to get a view of Shanghai than from the city's Vue Bar at Hyatt on the Bund. Occupying both the 32nd and 33rd floors of the hotel, Vue Bar paints the perfect portrait of neon-drenched Shanghai. There is an extensive list of cocktails, premium spirits, champagnes and wines to choose from. Pick your poison and settle into the night with an unobstructed view of both sides of the Huangpu River, taking in the Bund on the Puxi side of town along with the colorful skyline of the Lujiazui area on the Pudong side. Shanghai's cityscape is something to marvel at.
8. Walking on the Cloud Bar, Seoul
Korea's buzzing city of Seoul is not to be overlooked — at least not in the figurative sense. Walking on the Cloud Bar sits on the 59th floor of Yeouido's landmark 63 Building and offers one of the country's most recognizable venues. There are clear views of the city by day and a superb panorama of the chaotic maze of streets dripping with lights by night. Go for a drink, be it a wine from the cellar of more than 1,500 selections or order one of its Mediterranean/European inspired dishes. Either way, one glimpse of Seoul lighting up the sky will leave you dizzy with wonder.
7. Asiate, New York City
What was that you ordered? A jaw-dropping, up-close look of Manhattan? Coming right up. From its home on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental in Time Warner Center, Asiate delivers stomach-churning views of the world's most famous concrete jungle as it hugs Central Park. New York's grid layout makes it stand out among most other cities in the world, and seeing it in person should be on everyone's bucket list. Asiate, which serves contemporary versions of traditional American fare and a prix-fixe brunch menu on the weekends, comes with a price tag, but this is one experience that is worth every penny (and bite).
6. Felix at the Penninsula, Hong Kong
Located on the 28th floor of the Peninsula Hotel, Felix delivers incredible views of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon area, and the Victoria Harbor that will leave you sitting and staring in awe at one of Asia's most mystifying cities. Order a delicious meal from a menu that focuses on modern European cuisine, nurse your drink of choice, and prepare to be rendered speechless. IIf you like, go for the early dining option and watch the sun drop below the city as you wine and dine your night away.
4. Breeze Restaurant, lebua at State Tower, Bangkok
You'll be swept away by the views from Breeze Restaurant. This al fresco dining spot sits on the 53rd floor of Bangkok's lebua Hotel. Though there are higher restaurants — there's a heated debate locally bout the superiority of lebua's views over those of Banyan Tree Hotel — Breeze offers a spectacular view of Bangkok, nestled against the Chao Praya River, that spreads out as far as the eye can see. Couple that with a standout and extensive menu of Asian-inspired dishes, and Breeze is certain to take your breath away.
3. Oblix at the Aqua Shard, London
The Aqua Shard made headlines around the globe for being the tallest building in Europe when it opened in 2013. Oblix s one of the hottest places to eat — and catch a view — in London. Resting high atop the city on the 32nd floor, it offers a view of that stretches from the Tower of London to the city's skyscrapers and on to St. Paul's and the London Eye. Diners can find a menu, under the direction of Rainer Becker of the famed Zuma chain, that offers a long list of starters and focuses on "from the grill" dishes. Be prepare to be enchanted.
2. New York Grill at the Park Hyatt, Tokyo
If you've seen Lost in Translation, then you've seen the New York Grill, situated at one end of the Tokyo's Shinjuku skyscraper district. With its 52nd-floor location and its floor-to-ceiling windows, there are some pretty dramatic views of the city to be had here, with a menu to match. Diners can enjoy an array of prime quality Japanese and imported beef, market fresh seafood, and poultry roasted on the rotisserie. The flashing, glowing lights that snake their way below will make Tokyo look like it is in a permanent state of jubilation. This is one city skyline that is sure to put you in a trance.
1. The River Cafe, Brooklyn
You've seen it on posters, you've seen it on TV, but you've never seen the beauty of Manhattan until you're looking at it from the other side of the river. The River Cafe in Brooklyn has a view of Manhattan's skyline that will set free the dreamer within you. Stare with childlike wonder at the jagged peaks of the endless buildings and the Brooklyn Bridge spanning proudly across the Hudson, or drink in the reflection of the lights glowing against the river, should you visit at night. When it comes to that classic New York City view mixed with a menu of modern cuisine that calls for the freshest and finest ingredients, the River Cafe is as good as it gets.