Major coastal cities have built fine dining scenes that rank among the most respected anywhere, drawing on the region's exceptional seafood and produce as much as international technique. Wine-region restaurants further south add a different dimension built around complementing some of the country's best vineyards.
The destinations on this list range from harbourside restaurants built around spectacular settings and equally serious cooking to wine-region restaurants designed to complement nearby vineyards.
Booking ahead for restaurants with a view matters especially in the larger cities, where the best tables combine genuinely excellent food with some of the most photographed settings. Wine lists increasingly favour small, local producers over imported labels. Asking for a table with a view when booking also tends to make a noticeable difference to the overall experience.
