The Best Patio Views in the U.S. Can Be Found at These 10 Spots

Some of the best restaurants are remembered for the food; others for the view. Whether nestled in the mountains, located along the beach, or even high above the city, the restaurants with the best patio views in the U.S. are places where you find yourself lingering. While the food may be delicious, the view becomes the main attraction. I’ve rounded up 10 restaurants with a view in the U.S. These are places that not only satisfy your every craving but are visually exceptional as well.

1. The Salt Line – Washington, D.C.

Your taste buds are in for a treat at The Salt Line in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood. This popular waterfront restaurant combines New England-style raw bar with the bold flavors of the Chesapeake Bay. Dive into classics like coddies (salt cod, Yukon gold potatoes, mustard, pickled shallot, and fried saltines) and entrees like the pan-seared rockfish.

But the menu is only a small part of the experience. The Salt Line sits on the Anacostia River at Dock 79, featuring a large patio where you can enjoy views of the river, the Frederick Douglass Bridge, and more. Plus, if you are a baseball fan, The Salt Line is just steps from Nationals Park, the perfect place for a meal before or after the game.

2. Oceanic Restaurant – Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

You will certainly enjoy outdoor dining with views at Oceanic in Wrightsville Beach. At this NC restaurant, you can devour fresh seafood right along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. While Oceanic may not technically offer a patio, you’ll dine on a historic, 475-foot-long pier, where the ocean landscapes surround you.

The menu focuses on fresh catches from local fisheries, and you can visit for lunch and dinner seven days a week, as well as a Sunday brunch. Just make sure you come hungry because the portions are massive and everything is so good that you won’t want to leave a single crumb on your plate.

3. High Tide Social House – Cape Coral, Florida

High Tide Social House in Cape Coral is the type of place where you can easily sit and stay for a while. Overlooking the marina, you can enjoy beautiful water views (especially at sunset), and if you time your visit just right, you can even enjoy live music to enhance your dining experience.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu features a range of tempting options, like lobster and grits for breakfast and the Salty Sailor for dinner (featuring a salt-and-vinegar chip-crusted grouper, coleslaw, pickled onions, and a garlic-cilantro sauce). Whether you are craving fresh seafood, want something savory, or want to customize your meal, there is a dish for everyone here.

4. Muriel’s Jackson Square – New Orleans, Louisiana

One of the best restaurants with a view in New Orleans is easily Muriel’s Jackson Square. This restaurant serves contemporary Creole cuisine daily, and each dish is prepared with perfection. While every inch of Muriel's is a beautiful place to eat, including the indoor courtyard with a gorgeous glass ceiling, you can overlook Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral from the restaurant's balcony. Keep in mind that food is not served on the balcony except for private events, but you can still enjoy drinks there during Happy Hour each Monday through Friday.

Of course, no matter when you visit, look out for the restaurant's resident ghost named Mr. Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan. In fact, you may just spot him at a table that's set daily for him with bread and wine.

5. Incline Public House – Cincinnati, Ohio

For some of the best views of the Cincinnati skyline and the Ohio River, a visit to the Incline Public House is a must. Located atop East Price Hill, this popular restaurant sits on a site connected to the historic Price Hill Incline, adding a touch of local history to every meal. You can always choose to sit at the bar and enjoy a drink from the vast selection of local craft beers, wines, and high-end bourbons, or sit in the dining room where the atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming.

But the most popular seats at this Ohio restaurant are on the 1,400-square-foot, double-decker patio with panoramic skyline views and fiery sunsets that make you stop and stare. Come hungry because this restaurant serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, and the menu is filled with made-from-scratch favorites, including gourmet sandwiches, pizzas, and salads.

6. Saint Paul Brewing – Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul Brewing may not have patio views featuring city skylines or the ocean, but the scenery here is one of a kind. Saint Paul Brewing is located in the historic Hamm’s Brewery keg house in Saint Paul, and its patio and biergarten are where the horse stables and carpentry shop once stood. As you dine, you’ll not only be surrounded by the historic ruins but also by thousands of flowers and various plants that will make you feel like you are in the middle of an enchanted garden.

While this is a delightful place to eat for the entire family (including your favorite furry friend!), the menu is just as unforgettable with burgers, pizzas, and other local favorites to choose from. And if you really want to create an unforgettable dining experience, the patio hosts theme days, events, and trivia nights.

7. Redrock Canyon Grill – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Enjoy good conversation and even better food while overlooking Oklahoma’s Lake Hefner. Oklahoma's Redrock Canyon Grill features a menu where every dish is prepared to perfection, and the flavor leaves you impressed. From pork ribs to salmon, there are several menu options, but I recommend the wood-fire chicken that's slowly roasted over a hardwood fire.

Open for dinner throughout the week and brunch on the weekends, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take in the views and the flavor. However, I do recommend making reservations—you can thank me later.

8. The Pink Door – Seattle, Washington

While the food is incredible, the views you will experience from the outdoor deck at Seattle’s The Pink Door are unforgettable. Located in Pike Place Market, this restaurant is known for its delicious Italian food. Open for lunch and dinner, as well as late-night cocktails on Tuesdays through Saturdays, every dish here is packed with flavor, and it’s easy to see why it has been a favorite place to eat in Seattle since 1981.

It doesn’t matter if you sit in the dining room or lounge; you can expect an intimate setting with an inviting vibe. However, the newly renovated deck, which offers incredible views of Elliot Bay, may just be one of our favorite spots. The scenery and the food create the most spectacular dining experience.   

9. Nepenthe – Big Sur, California

Big Sur is known for its breathtaking landscapes of the Pacific Ocean, dramatic cliffs, and rugged mountains along California’s Central Coast. One of the best places to capture this postcard-worthy scene is at Nepenthe, a popular restaurant that sits 800 feet above the ocean. Here, you can sit on the large terrace and be captivated not only by the flavor of your meal but also by the most incredible views surrounding you.

Nepenthe serves lunch and dinner with options ranging from delicious sandwiches at lunch to steak and Alaskan halibut at dinner. Nepenthe’s most famous entrée is its Ambrosiaburger, a ground steak sandwich with Nepenthe's famous Ambrosia sauce, served on a French roll.

10. Mama’s Fish House – Paia, Hawaii

When talking about restaurants in the U.S. with the best patio views, no list is complete without mention of Mama’s Fish House on Maui. This popular beachfront restaurant is essentially all one large patio as it’s largely an open-air dining establishment. As you dine, you can stare at the waves of the Pacific Ocean as they roll into shore, feel gentle breezes on your face, and breathe in the fresh air. Here, you’ll also enjoy fresh and tasty seafood and exceptional service.

This award-winning restaurant is often booked months in advance, so you’ll want to make your reservation as early as possible to enjoy its atmosphere, food, and views.

There is nothing quite like good views and delicious food to create an unforgettable dining experience. For even more bucket-list-worthy options, check out this list featuring several additional restaurants in the U.S. with a view. Or, if you want a little adventure with your food, check out 50 iconic hot dogs in the U.S. worth the road trip. We are certainly getting hungry; are you?