Built on a cliff overlooking the ocean, El Farallon in the Waldorf Astoria feels more like a movie set than real life. Seafood is brought in daily and the menu is designed around what’s caught. Try a bit of everything by ordering the “Baja bounty,” a mixed grill selection of bluefin, red snapper, yellowfin tuna, or jumbo shrimp. You’ll want to make a reservation well in advance, but regardless of whether you snag a spot for a fresh lunch or a candle-lit dinner at the restaurant’s elegant cliffside terrace, El Farallon always delivers.

photo credit: Michael Vos