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Red’s Java House sits at the edge of the bay on Piers 30-32 in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, June 1, 2012

17 San Francisco Restaurants With Spectacular Views

Restaurants to best view San Francisco’s natural splendor and gorgeous man-made wonders

by Lauren Saria and Eater Staff Updated Feb 24, 2023, 12:50pm PST

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by Lauren Saria and Eater Staff Updated Feb 24, 2023, 12:50pm PST

1 comment / new

Photo By Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Every direction of San Francisco offers a lovely view, and in its center, there’s a vibrant urban landscape that offers its own kind of beauty. For this list of restaurants with absolutely stunning surroundings, we're focusing on the spots that give you the greatest vistas to gaze upon; some of these restaurants have good food and some of them have great food. Either way, all of them get you an eyeful of the best the city has to offer.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Mersea Restaurant, Bar and Venue

Treasure Island is still technically part of San Francisco — in fact, it offers the best views of the city, from halfway across the Bay Bridge. Mersea is a restaurant built into an old shipping container, and the cafe serves comforting burgers, fish and chips, chowder, and cioppino.

Open in Google Maps

699 Avenue of the Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130

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Scoma's Restaurant

Sitting on the proverbial dock of the bay, Scoma’s is a seafood institution, serving local fish pulled straight from the boat since 1965. The restaurant is kind of slung low like a ship’s cabin, winding through several bars and dining rooms, filled with warm woods and rich leather. But slide into a booth and look out the window, and the bay is lapping just outside, with boats floating by.

1965 Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

Scoma’s

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Greens

This groundbreaking vegetarian restaurant first opened as part of the San Francisco Zen Center in 1979. It was a pioneer of Californian farm-to-table cooking in the 80s and 90s, with all due respect to the legendary nut loaf. Today, it’s still well worth a visit to Fort Mason, where it serves fresh vegetable soups, salads, pastas, pizzas, and more in a warehouse space with views of the bay, bridge, and headlands.

Open in Google Maps

Building A, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greens (@greensrestaurant)

Also featured in:

18 Classic Restaurants Every San Franciscan Must Try

Radhaus

Fort Mason beer hall Radhaus is lined on one side with large windows that offer a panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bavarian-style restaurant has a menu of wursts, salads, and cheeses, as well as nine taps of German brews.

Open in Google Maps

Landmark Building A, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Red Window

Colombus Avenue lit up at night is truly a sight to behold. It’s a straight shot down the street to the Transamerica Tower and offers a good view of historic haunts like City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio. From inside Red Window, with its prime location where the thoroughfare meets Stockton Street, you can soak it all in over a low-ABV cocktail and a feast of Spanish tapas. By night it’s a cozy spot for a date or casual dinner, but weekend brunch in the colorful space is worthwhile, too.

Open in Google Maps

500 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Hog Island Oyster Co.

The Ferry Building has plenty of great dining options but if a memorable view is on your checklist, here’s the pro-move: grab a seat either on the Hog Island Oyster Co. patio or at the raw bar. From either perch you’ll be able to watch the ferry boats come and go, take in the Bay Bridge, and those gorgeous blue waters while you slurp fresh-caught oysters and sip a glass of something bubbly.

One, Ferry Building, #11, San Francisco, CA 94111

Visit Website

A view of the Bay Bridge from inside Hog Island at the Ferry Building.

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Empress by Boon

The Empress of China — a Chinese banquet hall that ruled for nearly half a century — always had a regal view from its sixth-story vantage above Chinatown. It sadly shuttered in 2014, but now the new Empress by Boon has opened in the historic space and is serving modern Cantonese fare, as well as views north across Chinatown and North Beach, and east looking down into Portsmouth Square and the Financial District.

Open in Google Maps

838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

The Empress at Sea cocktail at Empress by Boon

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Top of the Mark

High atop the Intercontinental is the Top of the Mark, offering small plates, a pricey Sunday brunch, and views of the city, bays, and bridges. It’s occasionally greyed out by the fog, but that's gorgeous, too.

1 Nob Hl, San Francisco, CA 94108

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Top Of The Mark

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Epic Steak

The patio views are unparalleled at Epic Steak, where diners find themselves gazing up at the Bay Bridge. On clear days this is a power lunch destination, but at night, the lights of the Bay Bridge are ideal for a sassy date, or just people who love looking at nice things. Sister restaurant Waterbar makes an equally strong option if you’re craving seafood rather than red meat.

369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Epic Steak (@epicsteak)

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The Rotunda

San Francisco’s downtown may be slower to rebound from the pandemic than some other cities, but Union Square remains a shopping mecca and there’s no better place to get a bird’s eye view of the action than the Rotunda. Perched at the top of the multi-level Neiman Marcus store just off the square, the rounded dining room allows diners to take in the bustle of the area while sipping on a glass of bubbles and tucking into a plate of the famous popovers served with strawberry butter. Tea service is a favorite, but no matter what you do make sure to look up: the view of the gorgeous stained glass dome is also incredible.

Open in Google Maps

Level Four, 150 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Rotunda at Neiman Marcus

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Red's Java House

Meanwhile at Red’s Java House you can score big on Bay Bridge views without having to break the bank. This old-school, no-frills burger spot (though there are other food options including fish and chips and sandwiches) sits right on the water, practically underneath the bridge, so you can gape up at the blue sky, down toward glittering water, and out at the city itself while enjoying a cold Budweiser and a basket of excellent onion rings.

pier 30 The Embarcadero S, San Francisco, CA 94105

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A bottle of beer with the Bay Bridge in the background.

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KAIYO ROOFTOP

One of San Francisco’s newest rooftop rarities, Kaiyo soars above the SoMa skyline, just a block or two away from Oracle Park. The location southeast of the freeway means you can take in the full expanse of downtown skyscrapers from one side of the Peruvian-Japanese bar and restaurant, while the other direction features a panoramic view of the Bay Bridge and Berkeley Hills in the far distance.

Open in Google Maps

701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

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A view of downtown San Francisco from the east.

Also featured in:

CAVAÑA

Here’s a little secret: From one of the patios at this new Latin American rooftop bar you can pretty much see the outfield of Oracle Park. That means you can sneak free peeks at any events that make take over the baseball field, including games, yes, but also concerts, when the sound carries nicely on the bay breeze over to the bar. The cocktails fuse less-common spirits like pisco and cachaça with flavors from south of the border — think delicately floral papaya and purple chicha morada. If you need a bite, the menu of aguachiles, flaky Brazilian pastels, and arepas should more than suffice.

Open in Google Maps

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

There may be a parking lot between the Beach Chalet and Ocean Beach, but eventually, your gaze will meet the horizon. A great view of kite-boarders, beach-goers, and turbulent Pacific Ocean waves is available from this second-floor restaurant, which brews its own beer, offers a full bar, and serves lunch, dinner, and brunch.

Open in Google Maps

1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94121

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beach Chalet (@beachchalet)

Mission Rock Resort

This double-deck waterfront restaurant hovers over the Bay, providing a great view of passing boats and ships. The lunch and dinner menu is focused on seafood, and brunch (which, on warm days, is best enjoyed in its outdoor seating area) is an eggs and oysters affair.

Open in Google Maps

817 Terry A Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

The Lookout

Perched above 16th and Market streets, the Lookout isn’t just a Castro District gay bar with a reliable menu of sandwiches, tacos, and pizzas: It’s also one of the best views one can get of one of the city’s busiest and most fascinating intersections.

Open in Google Maps

3600 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Also featured in:

San Francisco’s 10 Best Restaurants and Bars to Nurse a Broken Heart

El Techo de Lolinda

Ascend to the El Techo rooftop to gaze on Mission Street below. El Techo de Lolinda offers great city views right in the middle of the Mission, and serves rooftop cocktails and Latin street food-style snacks.

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Mersea Restaurant, Bar and Venue

699 Avenue of the Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130

Treasure Island is still technically part of San Francisco — in fact, it offers the best views of the city, from halfway across the Bay Bridge. Mersea is a restaurant built into an old shipping container, and the cafe serves comforting burgers, fish and chips, chowder, and cioppino.

Open in Google Maps

699 Avenue of the Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130

Visit Website

Scoma's Restaurant

1965 Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94133

Sitting on the proverbial dock of the bay, Scoma’s is a seafood institution, serving local fish pulled straight from the boat since 1965. The restaurant is kind of slung low like a ship’s cabin, winding through several bars and dining rooms, filled with warm woods and rich leather. But slide into a booth and look out the window, and the bay is lapping just outside, with boats floating by.

1965 Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

Scoma’s

Greens

Building A, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123

This groundbreaking vegetarian restaurant first opened as part of the San Francisco Zen Center in 1979. It was a pioneer of Californian farm-to-table cooking in the 80s and 90s, with all due respect to the legendary nut loaf. Today, it’s still well worth a visit to Fort Mason, where it serves fresh vegetable soups, salads, pastas, pizzas, and more in a warehouse space with views of the bay, bridge, and headlands.

Open in Google Maps

Building A, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greens (@greensrestaurant)

Radhaus

Landmark Building A, San Francisco, CA 94109

Fort Mason beer hall Radhaus is lined on one side with large windows that offer a panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bavarian-style restaurant has a menu of wursts, salads, and cheeses, as well as nine taps of German brews.

Open in Google Maps

Landmark Building A, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Red Window

500 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Colombus Avenue lit up at night is truly a sight to behold. It’s a straight shot down the street to the Transamerica Tower and offers a good view of historic haunts like City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio. From inside Red Window, with its prime location where the thoroughfare meets Stockton Street, you can soak it all in over a low-ABV cocktail and a feast of Spanish tapas. By night it’s a cozy spot for a date or casual dinner, but weekend brunch in the colorful space is worthwhile, too.

Open in Google Maps

500 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

Hog Island Oyster Co.

One, Ferry Building, #11, San Francisco, CA 94111

The Ferry Building has plenty of great dining options but if a memorable view is on your checklist, here’s the pro-move: grab a seat either on the Hog Island Oyster Co. patio or at the raw bar. From either perch you’ll be able to watch the ferry boats come and go, take in the Bay Bridge, and those gorgeous blue waters while you slurp fresh-caught oysters and sip a glass of something bubbly.

One, Ferry Building, #11, San Francisco, CA 94111

Visit Website

A view of the Bay Bridge from inside Hog Island at the Ferry Building.

Empress by Boon

838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

The Empress of China — a Chinese banquet hall that ruled for nearly half a century — always had a regal view from its sixth-story vantage above Chinatown. It sadly shuttered in 2014, but now the new Empress by Boon has opened in the historic space and is serving modern Cantonese fare, as well as views north across Chinatown and North Beach, and east looking down into Portsmouth Square and the Financial District.

Open in Google Maps

838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

The Empress at Sea cocktail at Empress by Boon

Top of the Mark

1 Nob Hl, San Francisco, CA 94108

High atop the Intercontinental is the Top of the Mark, offering small plates, a pricey Sunday brunch, and views of the city, bays, and bridges. It’s occasionally greyed out by the fog, but that's gorgeous, too.

1 Nob Hl, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Top Of The Mark

Epic Steak

369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

The patio views are unparalleled at Epic Steak, where diners find themselves gazing up at the Bay Bridge. On clear days this is a power lunch destination, but at night, the lights of the Bay Bridge are ideal for a sassy date, or just people who love looking at nice things. Sister restaurant Waterbar makes an equally strong option if you’re craving seafood rather than red meat.

369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Epic Steak (@epicsteak)

The Rotunda

Level Four, 150 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108

San Francisco’s downtown may be slower to rebound from the pandemic than some other cities, but Union Square remains a shopping mecca and there’s no better place to get a bird’s eye view of the action than the Rotunda. Perched at the top of the multi-level Neiman Marcus store just off the square, the rounded dining room allows diners to take in the bustle of the area while sipping on a glass of bubbles and tucking into a plate of the famous popovers served with strawberry butter. Tea service is a favorite, but no matter what you do make sure to look up: the view of the gorgeous stained glass dome is also incredible.

Open in Google Maps

Level Four, 150 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Rotunda at Neiman Marcus

Red's Java House

pier 30 The Embarcadero S, San Francisco, CA 94105

Meanwhile at Red’s Java House you can score big on Bay Bridge views without having to break the bank. This old-school, no-frills burger spot (though there are other food options including fish and chips and sandwiches) sits right on the water, practically underneath the bridge, so you can gape up at the blue sky, down toward glittering water, and out at the city itself while enjoying a cold Budweiser and a basket of excellent onion rings.

pier 30 The Embarcadero S, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

A bottle of beer with the Bay Bridge in the background.

KAIYO ROOFTOP

701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

One of San Francisco’s newest rooftop rarities, Kaiyo soars above the SoMa skyline, just a block or two away from Oracle Park. The location southeast of the freeway means you can take in the full expanse of downtown skyscrapers from one side of the Peruvian-Japanese bar and restaurant, while the other direction features a panoramic view of the Bay Bridge and Berkeley Hills in the far distance.

Open in Google Maps

701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

A view of downtown San Francisco from the east.

CAVAÑA

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158

Here’s a little secret: From one of the patios at this new Latin American rooftop bar you can pretty much see the outfield of Oracle Park. That means you can sneak free peeks at any events that make take over the baseball field, including games, yes, but also concerts, when the sound carries nicely on the bay breeze over to the bar. The cocktails fuse less-common spirits like pisco and cachaça with flavors from south of the border — think delicately floral papaya and purple chicha morada. If you need a bite, the menu of aguachiles, flaky Brazilian pastels, and arepas should more than suffice.

Open in Google Maps

100 Channel St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158

Visit Website

Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94121

There may be a parking lot between the Beach Chalet and Ocean Beach, but eventually, your gaze will meet the horizon. A great view of kite-boarders, beach-goers, and turbulent Pacific Ocean waves is available from this second-floor restaurant, which brews its own beer, offers a full bar, and serves lunch, dinner, and brunch.

Open in Google Maps

1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94121

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beach Chalet (@beachchalet)

Mission Rock Resort

817 Terry A Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94107

This double-deck waterfront restaurant hovers over the Bay, providing a great view of passing boats and ships. The lunch and dinner menu is focused on seafood, and brunch (which, on warm days, is best enjoyed in its outdoor seating area) is an eggs and oysters affair.

Open in Google Maps

817 Terry A Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Lookout

3600 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Perched above 16th and Market streets, the Lookout isn’t just a Castro District gay bar with a reliable menu of sandwiches, tacos, and pizzas: It’s also one of the best views one can get of one of the city’s busiest and most fascinating intersections.

Open in Google Maps

3600 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

El Techo de Lolinda

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Ascend to the El Techo rooftop to gaze on Mission Street below. El Techo de Lolinda offers great city views right in the middle of the Mission, and serves rooftop cocktails and Latin street food-style snacks.

2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Related Maps