Il Tridente Restaurant at Hotel Poseidon.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Poseidon
7 Romantic Valentine’s Day Restaurants with Showstopping Views
From a centuries-old château perched high above the Mediterranean Sea to a design-forward restaurant overlooking Bangkok’s royal temple, these bucket list-worthy spots know how to capitalize on location, location, location
Restaurants have become as much an attraction while traveling as landmarks like the Louvre or Tower of London. Case in point: the Eiffel Tower’s second-floor Le Jules Verne, as equally coveted for its starred cuisine and as its singular locale. When it comes to upping the romance factor, nothing quite compares to dinner for two on Venice’s Grand Canal or an al fresco terrace where a panorama of the Amalfi Coast is the scene-stealer.
No need to go chasing Michelin stars to find restaurants that’ll take your breath away—although those on the list certainly have perfected the arts de la table. Sometimes, a seaside setting and plate of handmade pasta is all it takes for a meal to become one of your most memorable. Candles and rose petals may be the hallmarks of Valentine’s Day, but these seven spots everywhere from Santorini to the South of France know how to dial up the romance simply based on their dreamy locales, where sunset is as much part of the equation as the cuisine ahead.
Bonnie Paris. Photo: Courtesy of Bonnie Paris
1. Bonnie Paris | France
In a city like Paris, the view is as important as the cuisine—and often, you don’t have to compromise on either. Rooftop restaurants continue popping up across the City of Light, but one 360-degree panorama that truly stands out is at Bonnie Paris, which sprawls across the 15th and 16th floors of sleek high-rise hotel SO/ Paris. The combination restaurant, bar, and club—whose name is a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot duet Bonnie and Clyde—blends retro, 1960s and ‘70s vibe with New York brasserie-inspired elegance (shell-shaped booths, dramatic cylinder contemporary light fixtures). Floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows frame views over the Seine, Notre-Dame, and Eiffel Tower, which are even more dramatic on the summer terrace, where they’re reflected in the mirrored ceiling, an artwork by Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann dubbed The Seeing City.
MIA’S Santorini. Photo: Courtesy of MIA's Santorini
2. MIA’S Santorini | Greece
Couples crowd the winding cobbled streets of Oia for snapshots of Santorini’s famous sunset. While the panoramas from the whitewashed rooftops carved into the caldera live every bit up to the island’s reputation, one of the best is from MIA’S Santorini, whose sweeping terrace sits unassumingly on the edge of Oia’s honeymoon-worthy cave hotels—meaning you’ll have views over the iconic, blue-domed churches and volcanic sister island of Thirasia all to yourselves. Reclaimed wooden doors frame the entrance to the intimate interior of the restaurant, where tables are swathed in handwoven linen and crowned with sleek brass candle holders. Greek-American restaurateur Sellia Georges works with local purveyors sourcing ingredients across Santorini, Crete, and the Aegean for contemporary Greek fare like fresh lobster in warm tarragon butter that’s best savored with a glass of assyrtiko from the eatery’s standout Greek wine list.
Nusara. Photo: Courtesy of Nusara
3. Nusara | Bangkok, Thailand
Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn’s three-story Nusara sits in an old shophouse across from Wat Pho, and while each of the spaces with their floor-to-ceiling views of Bangkok’s oldest temple is equally as breathtaking, the pièce de résistance is the glass-encased lounge crowning the top. Start with a glass of champagne or local Thai sparkling wine before settling into a table at the intimate, 10-seat restaurant for a tasting menu that pays tribute to the Michelin-starred chef’s grandmother with bites and plates like the signature blue swimming crab curry topped with a crispy rice noodle lattice.
Château Eza. Photo: Courtesy of Château Eza
4. Château Eza | Èze, France
Once the winter residence of the prince of Sweden, Château Eza is built within the medieval village walls of Èze on the French Riviera, between Nice and Monaco. Originally a series of homes 400 years ago, the hilltop hotel’s two-tiered terrace has long been a favorite in the Côte d’Azur for its sweeping views of the yacht-filled sea and billionaire haven Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat below. The 50-seat starred restaurant’s panoramic dining room is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to balconies in summer, so you can soak up vistas of the French Riviera’s dramatic coastline before cozying up by the fireplace for a nightcap in the cobblestone-clad lounge bar.
Club del Doge Restaurant. Photo: Marriott International
5. Club del Doge Restaurant at The Gritti Palace | Venice, Italy
Paris may be nicknamed the “City of Love,” but Venice is equally as romantic—especially when you’re dining on the Renaissance palazzo-lined Grand Canal. The grande dame of them all, The Gritti Palace hasn’t lost its private residence feel since its noble start in the 15th century—perhaps best represented in the cornerside Club del Doge, whose fresco-filled dining room exudes Old World charm (and shows off shots of the water from both sides). Expect the restaurant to pull out all the stops for an elegant evening, from the blue-and-white china and fine crystal to the presentation of dressed-up dishes like homemade maccheroncini with foie gras and black truffle.
Terrace at Il Tridente. Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Poseidon
6. Il Tridente Restaurant at Hotel Poseidon | Positano, Italy
Stretching like a balcony over the Mediterranean, Il Tridente Restaurant at Hotel Poseidon shows off uninterrupted views of Positano’s crayon-colored homes clinging to the cliffside. Lanterns illuminate the violet hydrangeas woven into the pergola, and each of the white tablecloth-adorned tables feels like its own intimate space positioned perfectly to watch as the sunset casts a pastel glow over the coastline. The rooftop restaurant’s views are definitely a draw, since it’s one of the best perches in Positano, let alone the entire Amalfi Coast, but the seasonally shifting, Neapolitan cuisine is just as spectacular, incorporating local ingredients into generations-old recipes.
Chefs Warehouse. Photo: Courtesy of Chefs Warehouse
7. Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic | Cape Town, South Africa
The arrival to Chefs Warehouse is as much part of the experience as the meal itself, as you cruise along the Atlantic on Chapman’s Peak Drive—considered among the world’s most scenic stretches—before hopping into one of Tintswalo Atlantic’s vehicles for the winding ride down to the water. The oceanside terrace is a favorite at sunset, while tables inside give off a more fine dining feel, tucked away by the glass-encased wine cellar or a nook by the fireplace. The contemporary coastal cuisine is tailored around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from land and sea for beautifully plated, tapas-like courses, such as linefish sashimi with kumquat dressing and yuzu jellies.
Cover: Il Tridente Restaurant at Hotel Poseidon.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Poseidon
More from Galerie
