Pennsylvania’s best scenic dining: 7 restaurants with amazing views

From Erie to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania features restaurants that pair incredible views with delicious menu offerings for an atmospheric outdoor dining experience.

The season of outdoor dining is upon us. It’s time to trek to rooftop patios, riverside decks, and mountaintop treehouses to enjoy delicious meals while taking in the beautiful scenery that Pennsylvania has to offer.

We’ve put together a collection of seven restaurants that pair incredible views with delicious menu offerings for an atmospheric spring and summer dining experience. Whether you favor the sight of mountains, a city skyline, or the horizon over the water, you’re sure to find a spectacular vista and a great meal here in the commonwealth. 

Tree Tops Restaurant, Acme

At this restaurant within the scenic Laurel Highlands, you can enjoy your dinner in an actual treehouse or sit outside on the patio amidst the tree canopy. Tree Tops Restaurant is located within the Polymath Park campus, which offers architectural tours of two houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and two more by his apprentice, Peter Berndtson. Tree Tops is a key part of some Polymath Park tours, so you can explore a Frank Lloyd Wright house before sitting down to a scenic meal.

The restaurant’s 5-course (“5-branch”) dinner menu costs $150 per person, though you can also make reservations for lunch, tapas, or even teatime.

Stella, New Hope

Charming New Hope is home to many restaurants with picturesque views along the Delaware River, like Stella, which specializes in seasonal, inventive fare in its historic, barn-like building. Stella serves dinner, lunch, and brunch, including many dishes with ingredients local to Bucks County. They even offer a “pup menu” if you bring along your dog! After your meal, you can catch a show at the nearby Bucks County Playhouse or keep the scenic views going by strolling along New Hope’s Delaware Canal Trail.

Grandview Saloon, Pittsburgh

The Grandview Saloon steakhouse atop Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington offers a stunning view of the city skyline. While you can eat indoors, you can also enjoy the view while dining on one of two outdoor patios. Like most restaurants on Grandview Avenue—the street that runs along the edge of Mount Washington—the Grandview Saloon’s fancier food can be a little pricey at dinnertime. But you can also get the same views during lunch or brunch, when some entrees can be ordered for less than $20.

Boulder View Tavern, Lake Harmony

If you’re looking for a restaurant with a view in the Pocono Mountains, might we suggest a lakeside option? Boulder View Tavern is located on the shores of Big Boulder Lake in the NEPA town of Lake Harmony. Copious outdoor seating abuts a sandy beach, which, along with mountains in the distance, frames a lovely view of the lake. The menu is mostly American favorites, like burgers and seafood. The tavern also has a generous drink menu so you can sip a cocktail while you watch the sunset over the lake. 

Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, Erie

Erie’s Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant overlooks the Presque Isle Bay, offering guests the fresh lake air as well as amazing views of Erie. The spacious outdoor deck is ideal for both intimate dates or big parties, with its outdoor bar, atmospheric string lights, and outdoor fireplaces. The restaurant’s menu is vast, with burgers, sandwiches, tacos, seafood, and more.

Presque Isle Bay is separated from Lake Erie by the peninsula that is Presque Isle State Park, which offers lots of opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, and other recreational activities.

Summit View Restaurant, Schuylkill Haven

When the patio opens for the season at Summit View Restaurant in Schuylkill Haven, it’s a cause for celebration. Alongside their menu, this restaurant serves up great views of Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain, a 150-mile-wide ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania. 

When you’re sitting on the patio at Summit View—a favorite destination for special occasion dinners—you can sip on a selection of drinks and order from a menu inspired by classic American as well as global cuisine.

Moshulu, Philadelphia

While there are a number of restaurants and rooftop patios in Philadelphia where one can see terrific views of the city, Moshulu offers a little something extra: it’s a ship. That’s right, the restaurant is a large, four-masted ship docked on the Delaware River. And because the ship is so tall, you not only get to literally eat on the water, but you’re also treated to skyline views of Philly.

The restaurant offers heated, tented seating in the winter; during the warmer months, you can relax in the river breeze and the sun’s rays. The food is modern American, which you can enjoy at dinnertime as well as during brunch or midday lunch on weekends.