( Travel + Leisure ) -- Warm beige tones , rich graphic accents , and futuristic chairs give Le Jules Verne a contemporary elegance , while dishes from superstar chef Alain Ducasse create a joie de vivre in diners ' mouths . But the real showstopper at this restaurant -- set more than 400 feet above Paris in the Eiffel Tower -- is its panoramic view . From the tower 's south pillar , diners look out on barges navigating the Seine and clusters of steely gray rooftops stretching for miles . Sierra Mar , in Big Sur , California , is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific . Restaurants have long been setting tables in locales with dramatic views , but often the food has paled in comparison . With the dramatic evolution of the global culinary scene , however , it 's more than safe to look past the cocktail menu at many of the world 's most beautifully situated restaurants . `` They actually have a view and good food at the same time , '' says Tim Zagat , co-founder of the Zagat Survey restaurant guides . `` It 's a combination that was rare 10 or 20 years ago . '' So where are the top places that harmonize amazing vistas with delectable victuals ? At Asiate , in New York 's Mandarin Oriental Hotel , eyefuls of Midtown Manhattan 's cloud-grazing buildings and the lush refuge of Central Park draw locals , tourists and special occasion diners , and executive chef Toni Robertson is up to the task of keeping the Asian-influenced cuisine at the same high level as the 35th-floor restaurant . `` The challenge I have is I have to compete with the view , but as a chef , I always win , '' she says . The Big Apple is hardly alone in providing winning skyscraper meals . At Felix , on the 28th floor of Hong Kong 's Peninsula Hotel , guests soak in the city 's striking setting from a slick dining room designed by Philippe Starck while feasting on dishes like Tasmanian salmon with parsnip gratin and seared duck breast with blood oranges and duck confit . Travel + Leisure : World 's best hotels 2008 . Of course , some of the world 's most spectacular restaurant views are born , not made . At Ambrosia , on the Greek island of Santorini , the island 's sea-filled volcanic crater provides a rocky perch for the terraced restaurant , from which diners gaze out on an inky blue sea . Santorini fava puree with grilled octopus and caramelized onions brings Grecian flavors to the Aegean seascape . Travel + Leisure : Amazing waterside restaurants . And up in British Columbia , diners at Eagle 's Eye Restaurant -- part of Kicking Horse Resort -- survey snow-capped peaks as they tuck into Rocky Mountain cuisine infused with hints of chef Alain Soret 's native France . Riding a gondola up to the restaurant 7,700 feet above sea level gives some guests the impression they 're going to an alpine snack shack . `` Lots of people expect to find burgers and doughnuts up there , '' says Soret . They 're surprised to be greeted with romantic fireside dining and entrees like roasted venison with almonds , pancetta and juniper jus served with fig-saffron risotto . Whether you crave rough-edged mountains or deep ocean views , a glitzy skyscraper scene or a secluded retreat , these restaurants offer mesmerizing views with menus worthy of the scenery . Planning a beach getaway ? Do n't miss Travel + Leisure 's guide to Affordable Beach Resorts . Copyright 2009 American Express Publishing Corporation . All rights reserved .
11 restaurants that marry heavenly views with multi-starred menus . Diners at Eagle 's Eye Restaurant in British Columbia survey snow-capped peaks . At Ambrosia , Santorini 's sea-filled volcanic crater provides a rocky perch .