If we really do eat with our eyes, there are some restaurants that wow even before the amuse-bouche is served – and, in some cases, before we’ve even stepped inside. Think elegant historic spots, magical courtyards strung with twinkly lights, and colorful dining rooms filled with artworks. From enduring classics to spots with incredible views, here's our ranking of the most beautiful restaurants across the US.
Click or scroll through to discover the most stunning restaurants the US has to offer, counting down to the most beautiful of all.
We've based our ranking on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
The world seems sepia-tinted throughout Columbia, Florida’s oldest restaurant, operated by the same family since 1905. That is, apart from the flamenco dancers that often entertain diners, lighting up the space with a blaze of color. Columbia opened as a small café in 1905 and now dominates an entire block of Ybor City, an area of Tampa founded by Cuban, Italian, and Spanish cigar barons in 1885. It’s the history that makes it beautiful, showcased through fading frescoes, eye-catching fountains, sculptures, mosaics, and stained glass.
It’s the setting that really elevates this popular date-night (or any special occasion) spot. The most coveted tables at Chart House Waikiki are on the balcony overlooking Ala Wai Boat Harbor, which looks especially lovely as the sunset casts a pink and golden glow. Beautiful blooms and rustic wooden furniture add to the charm of the restaurant, which is known for its succulent seafood platters, juicy steaks, and generous wedges of chocolate mud pie.
Locally focused Mattie’s doesn’t feel like it belongs in a city. In fact, it doesn’t feel like it belongs in this era; it has a sort of timeless elegance that makes it stand out even in such a dynamic place as Austin. It occupies a 19th-century Victorian building that was once a farmhouse, and is set amid beautifully kept grounds with a wrap-around porch. The inside – where guests can nibble top-notch fried chicken and hearty salads in the family dining room, music room, or wine bar – is fresh and chic in shades of teal, pink, and duck-egg blue.
A terrace wraps around this restaurant, which perches on a bluff jutting out over Mount Hope Bay. Inside, rows of picture windows line the walls like paintings in a fine-art gallery. So, there’s really no getting away from the views, whether those windows are framing the vivid blue of the water, the sail of a boat, or the golden glow of the sunset. Naturally, given the location, the menu focuses on seafood, cooked into dishes like lobster fritters and herb-crusted tuna steak.
From the exterior, with its glossy subway bricks and theatre-style sign, to the brick courtyard strung with fairy lights, this Mission Street mainstay is gaspingly gorgeous. And that’s even without a classic or cult movie projected on the wall. High ceilings, velvet drapes, tall windows, and impeccable design details – from exposed raw concrete to striking light fittings – all conspire to make Foreign Cinema arguably San Francisco's most beautiful hangout.
Stephanie Inn Dining Room – part of a hotel resort – just happens to have an oceanside perch in one of Oregon coastline's very best bits, Cannon Beach. Sandy beaches the color of shortbread and distinctive sea stack Haystack Rock can be viewed from the restaurant, which combines a quaint, cozy vibe with tall arched windows to make the most of the surroundings. The menu is also rooted in a sense of place, drawing inspiration and ingredients from the Pacific Northwest.
Peekamoose is as cute as its name suggests. Its surroundings are incredible, with the Catskill Mountains and a wild forest preserve on the doorstep, though the interior is equally beguiling. The restaurant occupies a former farmhouse and is beautifully – and quirkily – curated with vintage furniture, taxidermized animals, wooden shelves fashioned from fallen branches, and wall art made with found objects. Warm lighting and a menu of seasonal dishes and house-made charcuterie complete the picture – while an indoor treehouse kicks the decor up another notch.
There are few more special spots for watching the sun go down than Cap’s on the Water, which has tables scattered around the huge outdoor deck and jetty by the Intracoastal Waterway. Trees provide shade and make the restaurant, which specializes in seafood with Southern and Mediterranean flavors, look even lovelier. The indoor areas haven’t been neglected, though, with raffia booths and plush sofa-style seating, gorgeous light fittings and wall lamps, and windows that can be thrust open to allow the balmy breeze in on warm nights.
The only way to get closer to the outside – and the views of Lake Michigan – would be to remove the walls of Bacchus altogether. The interior decor is just as – if not even more – enchanting, though. There’s the wall of wine (which displays bottles in one dynamic work of art), the classic, brown leather booths, and the gorgeous Conservatory (pictured), a light-filled space with graphic floor tiling. Dishes like charred octopus and amaretto cake with pear live up to the surroundings.
Part of Big Cedar Lodge’s Top of the Rock, Osage Restaurant specializes in elevated comfort food such as braised short ribs, lobster pappardelle, and cauliflower steak. It’s also elevated in other ways, too, from its setting on a bluff overlooking the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake to its rustically elegant decor. Chunky wooden tables surround a cylindrical fireplace, which forms the glowing heart of the circular room, while artwork decorates the walls. Huge windows bring the outside in, with the views especially spectacular at sunset.
In the heart of Brooklyn’s vibrant Williamsburg district, this urban winery with an onsite bar and restaurant is the next best thing to an actual vineyard. Exposed-brick and wood-paneled walls are warmed by soft lighting and decorated with vertical planting and shelves bearing bottles and lamps, while the floor is beautifully tiled in black-and-white mosaics. Small-batch wines are produced on the site, and visitors can take a tour before settling down to delicious cheese and charcuterie boards and dishes including blackened half-chicken and vegan chili.
The elegant exterior of The Olde Pink House looks like something dreamed up for Instagram, with its putty-pink walls and lush greenery. The building is actually an 18th-century Georgian mansion, with a grand portico entrance and latticed windows. Inside, it’s a jewelry box of grand, plushily decorated rooms filled with art and antiques. It specializes in classic Southern cuisine that perfectly suits the setting, with crispy fried lobster tails among signature bites.
Part of Dauphin’s beauty is that it’s just so unexpected. It’s tucked on the 34th floor of a skyscraper in the charming port city of Mobile. It’s a window – or rather, several windows – onto the city, with downtown streets and Mobile Bay framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Plates of seafood infused with classic Southern flavors are served in an elegant space with white tablecloths and breezy blue decor. The chef’s table, which seats six in the kitchen facing a picture window, is another beautiful surprise.
The Mill at Simon Pearce is tucked inside a 19th-century woolen mill that’s also home to a glass and pottery workshop – and the dining rooms certainly display an artist’s touch. Exposed brick, lofty ceilings, and arched windows are complemented by polished floors, warm wooden furniture, potted plants, and pieces of glass art. The most spectacular bit, though, is the mill’s dramatic perch above Ottauquechee River’s waterfall. Diners can feast on dishes like horseradish-crusted cod or sage and sumac tagliatelle while gazing at, and listening to, the cascade.
This ornately decorated restaurant in Denville bursts with color and opulence – just as dishes such as Kung Po shrimp and sizzling filet Mignon burst with flavor. There’s a second outpost in Montclair, too, which is all shiny leather booths, exposed-brick walls, and statement wallpaper – though this gilded dining room has a little more wow factor, from its grand entrance to the traditional Chinese decor and pressed tin ceilings.
The Lost Kitchen is in the hometown of chef and founder Erin French, who created the space in a renovated 19th-century grist mill. Open from spring until the end of the year, the restaurant is a gorgeous space with wooden tables made from reclaimed barn boards and an open kitchen where the chef and her all-female team create the ever-changing tasting menu based on locally sourced produce. The setting, with the building reached via a bridge that crosses a babbling brook, is magical.
Nepenthe arrived early to bag what’s arguably the best spot along one of California’s most beautiful stretches of coastline. The restaurant has been serving burgers, beers, and cocktails from its enviable clifftop perch along the Big Sur coast since 1949. Its terrace, with colorful parasols and stone benches scattered with cushions, is one of the best places from which to watch the sunset, with views across the treetops down to the creamy beaches that skirt the Pacific. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure inside diners get a good look, too.
This palace of pink might not be to everyone’s taste, but those who do fall for its kitsch charms tend to return again and again. The entire hotel is a riot of giant boulders, copper countertops, themed bedrooms, and not-too-subtle accents of every shade of pink. But it’s the flamboyant Gold Rush Steak House that really wows. The ceiling is decorated with a glittering tangle of chandeliers, with magenta leather booths below. The menu is a little more traditional than the decor, with a focus on barbecue.
A chic venue with stunning views across to Loring Park, Lurcat’s decor is incredibly elegant, with a navy-and-gold ceiling, classic checkered flooring, white leather seating, and glamorous chandeliers. It’s so beautiful that couples often book out the restaurant for weddings. Aside from the gorgeous surroundings, Lurcat’s menu is special, too, featuring dishes such as Korean barbecue salmon, smoked duck leg, and poached oysters.
Resplendent in pink, Ladyfinger’s Tea Lounge has customers clamoring to sample its famous afternoon tea and pose for pictures. You must book well in advance, but it’s more than worth it for the delicious finger sandwiches and sweet treats, tea served in fine china cups, pink velvet seating, Elizabethan portraits and gilt mirrors on the walls, and Art Deco chandeliers.
Tucked away on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, Canoe is the perfect spot to swing by if you want to really feel like you’re getting away from it all. With a beautiful riverside location, the restaurant is surrounded by colorful gardens, for al fresco dining with a view. Inside is equally striking; the decor combines impressive ironwork, exposed brick walls, and a wooden ceiling, creating a casually elegant atmosphere.
New Orleans’ culinary scene is beautiful inside and out, with restaurants ranging from historic French Quarter classics to bars like opulent jewelry boxes. Yet this legendary restaurant in the Garden District stands out in more ways than one. Commander’s Palace is impossible to miss, with a peppermint-and-white striped exterior that’s both eye-catching and elegant. Inside, Creole classics like bronzed redfish and bread pudding soufflé are served in warmly lit dining rooms or the tree-dotted courtyard.
James Beard Award–winning Sazón could easily pass for the most beautiful of galleries, or perhaps the studio of Frida Kahlo, whose portraits are plastered on the warm, off-white walls. It’s stylish, warm, and chic, with earthy tones that make the paintings, ceramics, and sculptures pop. The zingy Mexican dishes on offer include a mole menu, where diners can choose from different types of the rich, complex sauce to be paired with meat or seafood.
Americana can be blazingly, boldly beautiful when it’s done right, and this dreamily pink diner is a fine example. It’s pure nostalgia, from the bubblegum shades on the wooden exterior and the vintage (pink, obviously) Cadillac parked out front to the classic menu of burgers, fries, and ice-cream sundaes. The inside also bursts with retro joy, with baby-blue booths, 1950s memorabilia and a juke box. There are statues dotted around the grounds, too, including a giant King Kong clutching an airplane and a life-sized Elvis by the door.
Beautiful restaurants abound in New York City, though Cecconi’s Dumbo stands out thanks to its gorgeous interior decor and incredible location. It’s located in Brooklyn Bridge Park and some tables have views of the dramatic bridge, while others gaze at the Manhattan skyline. It’s tough to compete with that, though striking design details like striped flooring, sparkling crystal chandeliers, and slate-blue leather bar stools give it a good go.
Beatnik West Town is a glorious example of how apparently clashing colors, patterns, and textures can come together to create something truly beautiful. It’s just a gorgeous space, from the low-lit, velvety dining room to the plant-filled conservatory that floods with natural light by day and twinkles with lamps and chandeliers by night. Inspired by the bohemian beatnik lifestyle of the 1950s, the New American restaurant mixes striking patterns such as the chevron tiled floor with unique artworks and salvaged streetlamps.
Chic and cheerful, sleek and sophisticated, warm and welcoming – Gemma would be right at home on the California coast, with a breezy palette of white and ocean blues lifted by wood accents and steel fittings. The owners moved here from California’s Napa Valley, bringing a touch of the Golden State to Dallas’ sleek, cosmopolitan center. The menu is equally fresh and zingy, with dishes like spicy salmon tartare and rabbit pappardelle served with an impressive wine list.
Wright & Company, inside a 19th-century brick building, is a beautifully designed haven of warm, relaxed decor, with curved leather booths that are irresistibly inviting. Industrial-chic elements, like exposed brick and piping, are balanced with touches of vintage glam from chandeliers and bold murals. The menu is equally appealing, with a focus on small plates made to share, like pork belly sliders and the best mac ’n’ cheese.
Housed in a converted church, The Preacher’s Son is simply stunning, with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and stained-glass windows. The light, airy restaurant also has striking artwork displayed on its white walls, and there's an impressive-looking bar built into a massive alcove complete with gold-painted brickwork. The pièce de résistance is the jaw-dropping installation of 288 gold bells hanging from the roof of the former bell tower.
French brasserie Le Cavalier, in Wilmington’s Hotel Du Pont, first opened the early 20th century – and it exudes historic splendor, with a few modern touches. Think oak paneling, gilded Spanish chandeliers, plush velvet banquette seating, a stunning, ornate ceiling, and beautiful original terrazzo flooring, plus a striking marble bar, all of which make for a glamorous dining experience.
A gorgeous firepit, vintage Italian-style murals, and colorful flowers greet you on arrival at Bottiglia – and the beauty continues inside. The light and airy space, overlooking the Las Vegas desert, features pink and floral-print chairs, a chic tiled floor, and stunning light fixtures. The house special, pappardelle Bolognese with braised short ribs, truffle ricotta, and piquillo pepper gravy, is a must-try.
This Greenwich Village stalwart is set in a historical carriage house, and it’s easy to see why it’s often voted the most romantic restaurant in New York City. Diners are bathed in candlelight with impressive chandeliers hanging overhead, creating a truly special atmosphere. The sumptuous surrounds include navy leather seating, exposed brick walls, a beautiful stained-glass feature window, and stunning flower displays.
New York City has plenty of beautiful restaurants with incredible views. But the best way to look at the Manhattan skyline is from a distance, and the tables at this sleek spot have views of the city that few can rival. Chart House, which specializes in posh surf ’n’ turf, overlooks the Hudson River with enormous windows filled with views of those gleaming skyscrapers over the water.
Dining here is a very special experience indeed. Located 6,000 feet (1,829m) up in the Rocky Mountains, Flagstaff House not only offers breathtaking views, but it’s also decorated beautifully, with calming neutral tones and elegant table settings. The restaurant serves New American cuisine, focusing on the region’s rich ingredients. Highlights include Maine lobster with pecorino risotto, and Colorado lamb rack.
Set in a beautiful log cabin, Snake River Grill combines elegant touches with a relaxed, cozy feel. The pretty deck area, complete with white tablecloths and umbrellas, has incredible views of the river, while inside you’ll find a candlelit restaurant with huge mirrors, wood paneling, and a shiny oak bar. The restaurant has several James Beard Awards nominations under its belt, and has a classy menu featuring dishes such as steak tartare pizza with garlic aioli, and Atlantic halibut with eggplant yogurt.
The French Laundry in Napa Valley boasts three Michelin stars, and its decor is as sleek, sophisticated, and simply stunning as the food, somehow combining minimalism with a magical fairytale-like setting. Tables here are among the world’s most coveted thanks to Thomas Keller’s famed tasting menus and the rustic setting, which adds to the sense of luxury and exclusivity. The restaurant was renovated in 2018 with a modern kitchen, wavy ceilings, and an enormous wine cellar. The gardens, gorgeously lit and dotted with Japanese maple trees, are particularly lovely.
This beautiful brasserie oozes Art Deco–style glamour, with huge, curved windows, a mirrored ceiling, striking light fittings, abstract artwork, and tiled flooring. The George opened in 1924 – and, while it retains some original features, it's been given a modern overhaul in more recent years. It serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, with standout dishes including the signature carbonara with salmon roe and crab.
Casa Tua is Spanish meaning 'your house' – and anyone would be lucky to live in this glamorous Miami Beach villa. Every inch is just gorgeous, from indoor dining spaces in the cozy Library and Chef’s Table to garden and patio areas surrounded by lush greenery and beautifully lit in the evening. Club members have access to an exclusive bar and lounge, too, though all guests can select from the Mediterranean-inspired menu of dishes like lobster linguine and fettuccine with wild mushrooms and truffle.
At high tide, the water comes so close to the huge picture windows of The Marine Room that it can feel like you're dining on a boat. We’re talking a yacht or a glamorous cruise ship, rather than a dinghy, because this is one of the most elegant dining rooms around. The seafood-driven menu perfectly complements the views, which are glorious at any time of day. There's also a lounge area, where you can order cocktails and small plates.
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Last updated by Dominique Ayling.