While food, ambiance and the company of others all contribute to an enjoyable restaurant experience, for some dining options location is key.
Whether straddling the sea, looking out over lakes, or tucked in the hills, these restaurants offer scenic and picturesque views to accompany your meal.
After polling our readers and followers, check out a list below of some of the best dining options from the Berkshires to Barnstable County with spectacular sights to see and perhaps your next best photo opportunity.
The hairpin turn on the Mohawk Trail in Clarksburg, Massachusetts. Situated at the turn is the Golden Eagle Restaurant with views out to the hills and mountains of the Berkshires. Photo by ToddC4176 via Wikimedia Commons, no changes made.
The Golden Eagle Restaurant, Clarksburg
Located at the hairpin turn on the Mohawk Trail, this two-story eatery offers balcony and lounge seating overlooking the hillsides of the northern Berkshires paired with a classic American fare menu. Pull over and park at this uniquely-located restaurant open for 40 years, that just barely inches over the town line into Clarksburg to enjoy its “magnificent view.”
A sunset on Pontoosuc Lake, located in Pittsfield and Lanesborough, Massachusetts. Photo by Michelle Murphy, courtesy of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau through The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism via Flickr Creative Commons. No changes made.
Proprietor’s Lodge, Pittsfield
This “completely renovated” restaurant and event space with a lakeside patio is located on Pontoosuc Lake while providing views of Massachusetts’ highest peak, Mt. Greylock, and can accommodate up to 300 guests according to its website.
It offers a wide-ranging lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch menu and as well as a space to host weddings, community events, galas and more. The restaurant also regularly gives shoutouts to patrons who visit on their birthday online.
A view of the Berkshire Hills from the Tanglewood music venue in Lenox. Photo by Natalie Maynor via Flickr Creative Commons. No changes made.
Bellflower Restaurant & Terrace, Lenox
This restaurant is located within the Apple Tree Inn, a hotel with an 1885 Victorian main house holding 13 rooms infused with “historic charm and modern amenities” as well as a 21-bed rustic lodge which overlooks the “lush rolling hills of the Berkshires,” according to its website.
Described as “lively and refined,” the restaurant offers “picturesque views” of the hotel’s landscaped grounds and of course the rolling hills as well. The all-day menu of “modern American haute cuisine” incorporates seasonal flavors and specials intended to distill the tastes of the “rich farming region,” it said, all in a setting of “impeccable service.”
The hotel and restaurant are also just minutes in walking distance from the famous Tanglewood music venue.
This April 24, 2011 photo shoes a diner relaxing at an outdoor table at the Night Kitchen, in Montague, Mass., located next door to a used bookstore called the Bookmill. The bookstore store is housed in an 1842 gristmill on the banks of the Sawmill River. (AP Photo/Beth Harpaz)ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Montague Bookmill, Montague
This former grist mill built in 1842, turned used book store, features two eateries on its property — The Lady Killigrew Cafe and The Watershed Restaurant — which overlook the “stunning view” of the Sawmill River, set amid the serenity of the forested landscape.
The Watershed Restaurant offers an “eclectic menu” rooted in “gourmet comfort food,” with a “must try” mac-n-cheese, while Lady Killigrew offers a range of lighter options from bagels, to sandwiches, to fresh salads and a variety of beverages from coffee, to tea, to alcoholic options, all while set next to a waterfall.
When not taking in the views or grabbing a bite to eat, head inside the bookmill for your potential next best read with generally half-priced options ranging from “Austen and anarchy to Zola and zoology.”
The view can be seen from the Tavern On The Hill restaurant parking lot.
Tavern on the Hill, Easthampton
This restaurant offers an “eagle eye view” of the Pioneer Valley whether dining inside or out on its deck, according to Tavern on the Hill. No matter the season you visit, Tavern on the Hill said mountain breezes will cool you in the summer, while wood burning fireplaces will warm you in the winter.
Its award-winning chef and owner Lawrence Guyette has crafted an “exciting new menu” with smoked barbecue that’s “sure to please,” while also offering other eclectic options including grilled salmon and “some of the best burgers around,” amidst its laid back atmosphere.
Point Breeze, Webster
Located along Lake Chaubunagungamaug, otherwise known by its longer 45-letter name or also as Webster Lake, this restaurant provides a “panoramic” lake view, according to its website, alongside “great food and always friendly friendly service.”
Founded all the way back in 1881 as a private men’s sailing club, the business prides itself as “one of the few restaurants to serve the public the entire 20th Century.”
Nowadays, the year-round full service seafood restaurant offers outdoor deck dining and also acts as an entertainment venue and function facility, providing a space for wedding ceremonies and community-sponsored events.
A view of Lake Lashaway from the 308 Lakeside restaurant in East Brookfield. Photo provided courtesy of 308 Lakeside.
308 Lakeside, East Brookfield
This restaurant invites guests to savor a drink or something to eat from the “outstanding views” of its deck overlooking its 170 feet of frontage on Lake Lashaway, according to its website.
The restaurant’s position lakeside allows for multiple aluminum docks to secure eight or more boats at any given time for residents or visitors along the lake, while in the summertime Lake Lashaway is home to many water skiers and pontoon boat enthusiasts and sailboat races occur on Sundays.
“Favorite” menu highlights include 308 Lakeside’s sirloin beef tips, chicken parmesan, maple glazed scallops and bacon and the “lakeside salad.”
Grill On The Hill in Worcester.
Grill on the Hill, Worcester
This restaurant offers a “laidback atmosphere” and an “amazing view” from its patio overlooking the Green Hill Golf Course and beyond, according to its website. Outdoor dining is available on warm, sunny days.
It also offers a pub-style lunch and dinner food selection seven days a week and live entertainment primarily on weekend dates, featuring local Worcester musicians.
The restaurant’s Skyline Room gives guests the opportunity to book the space and its “breathtaking views” for various occasions from birthday parties, to small weddings, to corporate events and coming-of-age milestones.
Gibbet Hill Grille, located in Groton, Massachusetts. (Photo courtesy of Gibbet Hill Grille)
Gibbet Hill Grille, Groton
Billed as a “farm to fork” restaurant the idyllic country setting of Gibbet Hill Grille is a feast for the eyes while you dine on food and drink from the 500-acre farm’s seasonal menu. Get a seat by one of the large windows to take in the views of rolling hills.
If you really want to get close to nature, sign up for one of the restaurant’s Farm Dinners, which begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a three-course dinner, enjoyed on the deck of The Barn at Gibbet Hill. The Farm Dinners have limited space and are offered on specific dates.
View north from the Donald A. Wilkinson Bridge to the marshes of Plum Island and its surroundings marshes and islands.
Plum Island Grille, Newbury
This “charming” Mediterranean-style restaurant is a short driving distance from downtown Newburyport renowned for its “award winning” and “sensational” sunset views over salt marshlands that are “reminiscent of Key West,” Plum Island Grille said on its website.
The restaurant is housed in what was originally a beach cottage located at the gateway to the barrier island, the restaurant said. It is “charmingly rustic” and has a “laid-back island feel” where guests can enjoy year-round fine bistro dining and service. The menu exemplifies “New American Cuisine at its finest,” it added.
The view from The Landing restaurant in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Photo courtesy of The Landing restaurant.
The Landing, Marblehead
Accessible by land or by sea, this restaurant offers “spectacular views” of Marblehead Harbor “from every table” from its dining room to its open air deck, according to The Landing’s website. It features a chef inspired menu with fresh, local seafoods as well as globally inspired cuisine, it added. The Landing also offers multiple gluten and dairy free menu items.
Established in 1972, The Landing’s kitchen is led by Executive Chef Alex Pineda — a Marblehead native and son of renowned Boston-based Chef Lydia Shire — and Co-Executive Chef Noe Ortega — raised in Mexico and its food culture — both of whom bring their breadths of experience to their roles and to the flavors of the menu.
Pier 6, Charlestown, Boston
Billed as a dining destination with “panoramic views” of the city’s iconic skyline and harbor, Pier 6 also features a roof deck, a large outdoor patio and bar, a private dining room and a dining room with floor to ceiling glass sliding doors to provide “stunning” waterfront views, according to its website.
Pier 6 also just steps from the oldest commissioned naval ship in the world, the USS Constitution, it added.
Guests can get to the restaurant via a water taxi from downtown or can park in a lot adjacent to the restaurant that charges an hourly rate, but only accepts credit cards, Pier 6 said online. Parking is also available at a garage across 8th St. at Flagship Wharf.
The restaurant serves up lunch, brunch and dinner with menu options ranging from raw bar items, to soups and salads, to small and large plate options and desserts.
Westport Point seen from the Massachusetts Route 88 Bridge, Westport Point, Massachusetts. Photo by John Phelan via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.
The Back Eddy, Westport
Located along the mouth of the Westport River, this restaurant on the South Coast near the Rhode Island border offers a “fabulous waterfront view,” with boat access and is just moments away from the beach, according to The Back Eddy’s website.
The restaurant features an outdoor bar, raw bar and grille on the docks on summer weekends, it added. On its menu, the restaurant uses “ultra fresh produce” from Southeastern Massachusetts and coastal Rhode Island as well as alcohol and cheese from local artisan producers.
The seafood restaurant’s name is derived from the term “back eddy” which means “a current that runs counter clockwise to the mainstream,” which the restaurant said defines it “perfectly” as it does things “a little bit differently.”
Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant, Provincetown
Located in the heart of Provincetown, this two-story seaside restaurant with ample deck space offers “180 degree views” of Provincetown Harbor and across Cape Cod Bay, including of three lighthouses, according to its website. Instagram user Haley Aubrey said she came to Pepe’s Wharf for the views, which she showed off in her post.
Just steps from Commercial Street, the restaurant boasts that it has “the best waterfront views in Provincetown,” on its social media, views that are coupled with a vibe described as “chic” and “festive.” Indoor dining is also available and on cooler evenings the restaurant invites guests to sit beside the fireplace.
The restaurant serves up a lunch and dinner menu as well as a wide assortment of wines and cocktails.
Chart Room, Cataumet, Bourne
This restaurant located on board a converted barge inside the Kingman Yacht Center is a longtime “summer tradition” for many, that offers “breathtaking sunsets, freshly prepared entrees, and live, nightly entertainment at the piano bar,” according to its Yelp description.
Chart Room, established in 1966, opens its doors starting on spring weekends and from the last week of June until Labor Day the restaurant remains open daily, until it switches back to a weekend dining schedule in the fall, according to its website.
“We make it our mission to provide customers with the best seafood available and a dining experience they won’t forget,” Chart Room said, adding that many of its menu options are made in house and use “the freshest ingredients available.”
The Ocean House Restaurant, Dennis Port
With seating overlooking the waters of Nantucket Sound, this contemporary restaurant and bar has been named as one of the Top 100 “Most Scenic Restaurants” by OpenTable, according to its website.
The Ocean House described itself as a “new American ocean front bistro and bar” online, adding that it offers guests “impeccably crafted” cuisine and cocktails through its menu.
The Ocean House is open Tuesday through Sunday to customers on a reservation basis starting at 4 p.m. and it asks guests to call directly to reserve dinner at its bar. Entertainment is also provided nightly the restaurant said.
Cru, Nantucket
This now decade-old seafood restaurant and oyster bar sits in the heart of Nantucket harbor waterfront and offers “the ideal back drop any time of day,” according to Cru’s website. Guests can sip on a glass of champagne or rosé, or indulge in caviar or shucked oysters among other selections, it added.
The restaurant describes its venue as “casually elegant,” and Cru won a 2019 “Diners Choice Award” from OpenTable. Cru said since its inception it has earned a reputation as a culinary destination “unmatched on Nantucket.”
It is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with its two bars open until 1 a.m., according to Cru.
A view of the Oak Bluffs Harbor on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. (Photo courtesy of The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism via Flickr Creative Commons). No changes made.
Coop De Ville Restaurant, Oak Bluffs
This Martha’s Vineyard harbor-side seafood and craft beer haven with a waterfront view of Oak Bluffs Harbor “takes pride in providing a quality dining experience” and has done so for over 35 years, according to its website.
Coop De Ville offers “fresh local seafood at affordable prices” to locals and tourists alike it added. It is also known for its “eclectically diverse craft beer selection,” with 60 varieties to choose from, and has been voted Martha’s Vineyard’s “best wings” for 12 years running, according to its Yelp page.
One of its most notable menu deals is its “$22 Lobster Fest Tuesdays” all summer long, Coop De Ville said.
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