Forget dinner and a movie while in New York City -- try dinner and a view! The Big Apple comes with its fair share of impressive cityscapes to ogle over. And you can do so over dinner and a few drinks. Many New York hotels are capped off with great restaurants with excellent views. Expect to splurge a bit though. But don’t worry; with so many cheap flights to NYC, you’ll be able to afford a few dinners complemented by iconic vistas.
Here are a few eateries whose food is as good as the views they offer.
The View (1535 Broadway, Theater District)
Aptly named, The View Restaurant, it is the only rotating rooftop restaurant in New York City. Situated at the top of the 48-story Marriot Marquis, The View looks directly over Time Square. Patrons can enjoy a dinner, cocktails or a Sunday morning brunch. The whole restaurant revolves in an hour. You will be able to catch sight of notable landmarks like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.
Gigino at Wagner Park (20 Battery Pl., Battery Park, Lower Manhattan)
At Gigino, it’s all about Italian food that is simply irresistible. Make sure you leave your diet back in the hotel. Unlike most touristy restaurants that rely solely on their views, it is actually the food at Gignio drawing the patrons. And those views again? How about you’re looking across the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty as you eat perfect pasta. Gigino at Wagner Park has a full menu of mouthwatering dishes and even a kid’s menu. Consider the linguine with clams for yourself and the rigatoni in pink cheese sauce if you have a kid in tow. Gigino is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
The Water Club (The E River at 30th St., Manhattan)
With soft lighting, a piano bar and fireplace, The Water Club is more Long Island than Manhattan Island. You never feel rushed as you are at other Manhattan eateries. At The Water Club, it’s all about taking your time and savoring every bite. Remind yourself that you’re still in Manhattan by looking out windows across the East River. Make the most of good weather by enjoying patio-style dining in the “The Crow’s Nest”. The menu is traditional American and East Coast seafood. The Water Club offers lunch and dinner daily (closed Mondays). The Sunday brunch is very popular at the Water Club.
Robert (2 Columbus Circle, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan)
Atop the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is a restaurant called Robert. Yes, Robert. The name might be a little unusual but it is the views of the city that are truly rare. After you admire the art exhibits at MAD, enjoy a meal that comes with views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. Make sure you score a table near the floor to ceiling windows. You should consider easing yourself into dinner with drinks in the cocktail lounge. The high-styled interiors are all that you would expect from a restaurant that shares a building with a museum for art and design. Robert Restaurant is open for lunch on weekdays, brunch on the weekends and cocktails and dinner daily.
The River Café (1 Water Rd., Brooklyn)
The River Café is one of the most popular restaurants in New York City and it’s not hard to see why. The food is sensational and there are views to match. This restaurant sits under the iconic Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side of the East River. Without a doubt, the River Café comes with some of the most startling views of the Manhattan skyline to be found anywhere in the five boroughs. It had its humble beginnings in 1977. Back then, the Brooklyn dockyards where not considered the ideal location for a restaurant. Today, The River Café has become one of the city’s finest dining locations. It attracts big name chefs that prepare dishes as enchanting as the views. While a little on the pricey side, the food and the romantic backdrop that comes with it are worth it. Consider the yellowfin tuna with fois gras stuffing for the appetizer, and for the main you can’t go wrong with the delectable crisp duck breast with white truffle honey and pollen glaze. The River Cafe’s signature dessert is the chocolate Brooklyn Bridge, which is a feat of engineering in its own right.
# New York City Unique Restaurants
# New York City Things To Do