Long gone are the days of reaching for your Zagat Survey only to leaf through the pages of the most decorated, celebrated restaurants in your city. Nowadays, modern restaurants run on two currencies: food, and Instagrammability, with the latter arguably being more important, depending on who you are.
And with this in mind, the statistical experts at Slingo combed through Tripadvisor ratings, Google reviews, and Instagram followers to determine the most picturesque haunts on the planet.
1. Coming in at first place is Odette inside the National gallery in Singapore with a score of 9.45. Over 12% of all reviews called the surroundings ‘beautiful’ and ‘scenic’ with one review describing it as having a ‘beautiful ambience with excellent service. Every single dish is visually stunning.’ Based on the photos, this looks like what the Greeks described as Mt. Olympus.
2. In second place is Morimoto in Qatar, with a rating of 9.3. This Japanese palace is curated by acclaimed Chef Masaharu Morimoto, with 8% mentioning its scenic aspects, one reviewer noting ‘the ambience was beyond what I expected.’ Contrary to Odette, if one likes a bit more untz untz during your dining experience, this might be your place of preference.
3. La Sponda in Italy came in at number 3, with a score of 8.88, and is renowned for its romantic views and picturesque atmosphere. Located in the Le Sirenuse hotel in Positano, the restaurant is submerged in the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast, boasting a menu of rich, Mediterranean flavours. Basically, if you really want your own Talented Mr. Ripley, this is the place to go.
See the full list of the top 10 below.
| Restaurant | Country | Tripadvisor reviews | Tripadvisor rating | Percentage of Tripadvisor reviews that are five stars | Percentage of Tripadvisor reviews that mention “beautiful”, “picturesque”, or “scenic” | Google review rating | Instagram followers | Scenic eatery score (/10) |
| Odette | Singapore | 504 | 4.5 | 75.4 | 12.9 | 4.7 | 89,900 | 9.45 |
| Morimoto | Qatar | 702 | 5.0 | 89.0 | 8.0 | 4.7 | 11,800 | 9.30 |
| La Sponda | Italy | 991 | 4.5 | 68.8 | 23.4 | 4.4 | 463,000 | 8.93 |
| Le Louis XV | Monaco | 1,039 | 4.5 | 76.0 | 7.3 | 4.6 | 177,000 | 8.84 |
| Le Normandie | Thailand | 1,263 | 4.5 | 80.1 | 8.2 | 4.5 | 92,100 | 8.70 |
| Botánic | Spain | 201 | 4.5 | 72.1 | 10.9 | 4.6 | 18,500 | 8.29 |
| The Jane | Belgium | 1,675 | 4.5 | 73.1 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 105,000 | 8.00 |
| La Trattoria | Morocco | 1,619 | 4.5 | 63.6 | 12.8 | 4.4 | 97,500 | 7.89 |
| Liza | Lebanon | 294 | 4.5 | 63.6 | 18.4 | 4.4 | 38,700 | 7.80 |
| Pink Mamma | France | 2,652 | 4.0 | 60.3 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 355,000 | 7.13 |
Europe came in first place with 5 restaurants, and The Middle East scored second with 3 on the list, and perhaps surprising is that not a single American restaurant made it on the list. And, as mentioned, if one were to look at the interior of both Odette and Morimoto, one would notice that two are vastly different: the latter is starkly white, understated, and appears almost absurdly serene; the former gives off more moodier vibes, in a brooding, dimly lit setting.
Additional findings:
- High Note SkyBar in Budapest, Hungary, tops the list for the most scenic rooftop bar in the world. With a Tripadvisor rating of 4.5 based on 908 reviews, 66.3% of which are five stars, it’s clear visitors are impressed by their experiences here.
- Nautika, located in Dubrovnik, Croatia, tops the list as the most picturesque waterside restaurant in the world. Situated at the very edge of the Adriatic Sea, patrons are accompanied by the deep blue sea right in front of them.
- Delaire Graff in South Africa is voted the best view in the world. Perched in the Stellenbosch wine region, the views include sprawling vineyards and mountaintops.
Perhaps surprising is that neither Dubai or Riyadh made the list, but one can only assume that it’s just a matter of time, as lavish new restaurants sprout like mushrooms across both cities.