MomSkoop
New York’s dining scene reaches new heights when restaurants combine amazing food with breathtaking views. Hilltop restaurants across the state offer diners the perfect blend of delicious meals and stunning scenery. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want to enjoy dinner with a view, these elevated eateries provide unforgettable experiences. From rooftop terraces overlooking the city skyline to mountaintop establishments surrounded by natural beauty, these restaurants prove that great food tastes even better when served with spectacular views.
1. Crown Shy & OverStory
Perched high above Manhattan’s Financial District, this two-story dining destination offers completely different experiences on each level. Crown Shy occupies the ground floor with its innovative American cuisine, while OverStory sits 64 floors up, providing panoramic city views.
Chef James Kent creates seasonal menus that change with New York’s weather patterns. The rooftop location features craft cocktails and small plates perfect for sharing. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the Hudson River and Brooklyn Bridge.
Reservations fill up weeks in advance, especially for sunset dining times when the city lights begin to twinkle below your table.
2. Tavern on the Green
Central Park’s most famous restaurant sits like a fairy-tale castle among towering trees and rolling hills. Glass walls and outdoor terraces provide diners with front-row seats to the park’s natural beauty throughout every season.
Executive Chef Bill Telepan focuses on farm-to-table American cuisine using ingredients from local Hudson Valley farms. The restaurant’s crystal chandeliers and twinkling lights create a magical atmosphere, especially during evening hours. Outdoor seating areas feature heat lamps and cozy blankets during cooler months.
Weekend brunch offers stunning views of joggers, cyclists, and families enjoying the park’s winding paths and open meadows just beyond your dining table.
3. Saga
Located on the 63rd floor of a Wall Street skyscraper, Saga delivers both culinary artistry and jaw-dropping metropolitan views. Chef James Kent’s tasting menus change seasonally, featuring ingredients sourced from farms across New York State.
Floor-to-ceiling windows surround the intimate dining room, offering 360-degree views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. The restaurant’s minimalist design ensures nothing distracts from the spectacular scenery outside. Each course arrives perfectly timed with the changing light throughout your meal.
Dinner service begins at sunset, allowing guests to watch the city transform from daylight to a glittering urban landscape while enjoying world-class cuisine.
4. The View Restaurant
Times Square’s only revolving restaurant slowly rotates 360 degrees every hour, ensuring every guest enjoys constantly changing views of Manhattan’s most famous landmarks. The movement is so gentle you barely notice the rotation while dining.
Located atop the Marriott Marquis, the restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine with international influences. Large windows stretch from floor to ceiling, providing unobstructed views of the Empire State Building, Hudson River, and Central Park. The dinner menu features fresh seafood, premium steaks, and seasonal vegetables.
Brunch service offers unlimited champagne while you watch the city wake up below, making it perfect for celebrating special occasions with unforgettable urban scenery.
5. Rainbow Room
Art Deco glamour meets modern cuisine at this legendary 65th-floor restaurant that has been serving New York’s elite since 1934. The octagonal dining room features stunning views in every direction, from Central Park to the Hudson River.
Executive Chef brings contemporary American flavors to classic dishes while maintaining the restaurant’s elegant atmosphere. Crystal chandeliers and polished floors create an atmosphere of old Hollywood glamour. The bar area offers craft cocktails with names inspired by the restaurant’s golden age history.
Live jazz music fills the space during weekend evenings, creating the perfect soundtrack for romantic dinners while city lights sparkle far below your table.
6. Hilltop Restaurant & Bar
Nestled in the rolling hills of upstate New York, this family-owned establishment has been serving comfort food with mountain views for over three decades. The wraparound deck provides outdoor seating overlooking the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.
Chef-owner Maria Rodriguez creates hearty American dishes using ingredients from local farms and producers. The menu features everything from wood-fired pizzas to slow-cooked pot roast, all prepared with homemade touches. Large picture windows ensure indoor diners also enjoy the scenic mountain landscape.
Fall foliage season brings spectacular colors to the surrounding hillsides, making autumn dinners particularly memorable as leaves change from green to brilliant reds and golds.
7. Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Farm-to-table dining reaches its peak at this award-winning restaurant located on a working farm in Pocantico Hills. Chef Dan Barber creates ever-changing menus based entirely on ingredients grown on the surrounding 80-acre property.
The dining room overlooks rolling pastures where grass-fed cattle and free-range chickens roam freely. Large windows frame views of vegetable gardens, orchards, and farmland that stretch to the Hudson River valley. The restaurant’s philosophy centers on sustainable agriculture and seasonal cooking.
Multi-course tasting menus feature vegetables you’ve probably never heard of, all harvested within walking distance of your table while you watch farm workers tend the fields outside.
8. Hill Top Inn
Perched on a scenic overlook in the Finger Lakes region, this historic inn has been welcoming travelers since 1889. The dining room’s picture windows showcase sweeping views of Seneca Lake and surrounding vineyards that stretch for miles.
Executive Chef Sarah Thompson specializes in regional cuisine featuring local wines, fresh lake fish, and produce from nearby farms. The wine list highlights bottles from dozens of local wineries, many visible from your dining table. Outdoor terrace seating allows guests to enjoy meals while breathing fresh country air.
Summer evenings offer spectacular sunsets over the lake, creating romantic ambiance as golden light reflects off the water and illuminates the surrounding wine country landscape.
9. Panorama Room
Brooklyn’s highest restaurant sits atop the Graduate Roosevelt Island hotel, offering unparalleled views of Manhattan’s East Side skyline. The indoor-outdoor space features retractable glass walls that open to create an al fresco dining experience.
Chef Michael Lomonaco’s menu celebrates New York’s diverse culinary heritage with dishes inspired by the city’s immigrant communities. The bar program features craft cocktails named after famous New York landmarks visible from the restaurant’s windows. Communal fire pits on the outdoor terrace provide warmth during cooler evenings.
The restaurant’s position provides unique perspectives of both Manhattan and Queens, making it perfect for visitors who want to see the city from a completely different angle.
10. Ocean Prime
While not traditionally hilltop, this upscale seafood restaurant occupies multiple floors of a Midtown Manhattan high-rise, with the main dining room positioned to maximize city views. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the bustling streets far below.
Executive Chef specializes in fresh seafood flown in daily from both coasts, creating dishes that highlight natural flavors with minimal preparation. The raw bar features oysters from Long Island Sound and Maine lobsters. The wine list emphasizes crisp whites and light reds that pair perfectly with ocean-fresh ingredients.
Business lunch crowds appreciate the restaurant’s efficient service and impressive views, while evening diners enjoy watching the city’s lights come alive as darkness falls over Manhattan’s concrete canyons.