Ranked: America's bucket-list restaurants with the wow factor

Feasts for the eyes

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 colourful 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 our gallery 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.

39. Columbia, Tampa, Florida

The world seems sepia-tinted at 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 colour. 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.

38. Chart House Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii

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. Do note, Chart House Waikiki is temporarily closed for renovations. 

37. Mattie’s, Austin, Texas

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 bar – is fresh and chic in shades of teal, pink and duck-egg blue.

36. Boat House, Tiverton, Rhode Island

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 shrimp fritters and roasted halibut.

35. Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, California

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.

34. Stephanie Inn Dining Room, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Stephanie Inn Dining Room – part of a hotel resort – just happens to have an oceanside perch in one of the coastline's very best bits: Cannon Beach. Sandy beaches the colour of shortbread and distinctive sea stack Haystack Rock can be viewed from the restaurant, which combines a quaint, cosy 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.

33. Peekamoose, Big Indian, New York

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, taxidermy 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.

32. Cap’s on the Water, St. Augustine, Florida

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 specialises in seafood with Southern and Mediterranean flavours, 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, plus windows that can be thrust open to allow the balmy breeze in on warm nights.

31. Bacchus, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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 classic, brown leather booths and the gorgeous conservatory (pictured), a light-filled space with graphic floor tiling. Dishes like charred octopus and cheesecake mousse with candied orange zest live up to the surroundings.

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30. Osage, Ridgedale, Missouri

Part of Big Cedar Lodge’s Top of the Rock, Osage Restaurant specialises in elevated comfort food such as seared crab cake, wood-fired rotisserie chicken, and macadamia nut-crusted seabass. 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.

29. Brooklyn Winery, New York City, New York

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-panelled 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. Visitors can take a tour before settling down to delicious cheese and charcuterie boards and sharing dishes such as short-rib tacos and grilled chicken lollipops.  

28. The Olde Pink House, Savannah, Georgia

The elegant exterior of The Olde Pink House looks like something dreamed up for Instagram, with its putty-pink walls and lush greenery. It's housed inside an 18th-century Georgian mansion, with a grand portico entrance and latticed windows. Inside, it’s a jewellery box of grand, plushily decorated rooms filled with art and antiques. It specialises in classic Southern cuisine that perfectly suits the setting, with crispy fried lobster tails among the signature bites.

27. Dauphin’s, Mobile, Alabama

Part of Dauphin’s beauty is that it’s just so unexpected. It’s tucked away on the 34th floor of a skyscraper in the charming port city of Mobile. This place offers 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 flavours 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.

26. The Mill at Simon Pearce, Quechee, Vermont

The Mill at Simon Pearce is tucked inside a 19th-century woollen 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 baked Boston cod with horseradish sauce or roasted duck with blueberry compote while gazing at, and listening to, the cascade.

25. Hunan Taste, Denville, New Jersey

This ornately decorated restaurant in Denville bursts with colour and opulence – just as dishes such as kung po shrimp and sizzling fillet mignon burst with flavour. 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.

24. The Lost Kitchen, Freedom, Maine

The Lost Kitchen is located 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 an 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.

23. Nepenthe, Big Sur, California

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 and drinks from its enviable clifftop perch along the Big Sur coast since 1949. Its terrace, with colourful 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.

22. Pink Cadillac Diner, Natural Bridge, Virginia

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.

21. Lurcat, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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, honey-glazed chicken and poached oysters.

20. Ladyfinger’s Tea Lounge, Newburyport, Massachusetts

Resplendent in pink, Ladyfinger’s Tea Lounge has customers clamouring 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.

19. Canoe, Atlanta, Georgia

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 colourful gardens, for alfresco 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.

18. Commander’s Palace, New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans’ culinary scene is beautiful inside and out, with restaurants ranging from historic French Quarter classics to bars that resemble opulent jewellery 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 out on the tree-dotted courtyard.

17. Sazón, Santa Fe, New Mexico

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 delicious nine-course tasting menu featuring California seabass with mole verde. 

16. Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California

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.

15. Cecconi’s Dumbo, New York City, New York

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.

14. Beatnik West Town, Chicago, Illinois

Beatnik West Town is a glorious example of how apparently clashing colours, 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.

13. Gemma, Dallas, Texas

Chic and cheerful, sleek and sophisticated, warm and welcoming – Gemma would be right at home on the California coast, with its 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 centre. The menu is equally fresh and zingy, with dishes like spicy salmon tartare and rabbit pappardelle.

12. Wright & Company, Detroit, Michigan

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 wild ahi crudo and grilled scallops. 

11. The Preacher’s Son, Bentonville, Arkansas

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 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.

10. Le Cavalier, Wilmington, Delaware

French brasserie Le Cavalier, in Wilmington’s Hotel Du Pont, first opened in the early 20th century – and it exudes historic splendour, with a few modern touches. Think oak panelling, 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.

9. Bottiglia, Henderson, Nevada

A gorgeous firepit, vintage Italian-style murals and colourful 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, king crab bucatini with the kitchen's signature lemon sauce, is a must-try. 

8. One if by Land, Two if by Sea, New York City, New York

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.

7. Chart House, Weehawken, New Jersey

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 specialises in posh surf ’n’ turf, overlooks the Hudson River with enormous windows filled with views of those gleaming skyscrapers over the water.

6. Flagstaff House Restaurant, Boulder, Colorado

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.

5. Snake River Grill, Jackson, Wyoming

Set in a beautiful log cabin, Snake River Grill combines elegant touches with a relaxed, cosy 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 panelling and a shiny oak bar. The restaurant has several James Beard Award nominations under its belt and has a classy menu featuring dishes such as steak tartare pizza with garlic aioli, and Alaskan halibut with cherry tomato. 

4. The French Laundry, Yountville, California

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 fairy tale–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.

3. The George, Seattle, Washington

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 black cod with white bean ragout. 

2. Casa Tua, Miami, Florida

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 cosy 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.

1. The Marine Room, La Jolla, California

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 drinks and small plates.

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Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.