Skylon Tower’s Revolving Dining Room

Skylon Tower’s restaurant perched high above Niagara Falls would be impressive enough with its views of North America’s famous natural feature. Add the fact that every diner gets the opportunity to enjoy the best seat in the house during their visit, and booking a reservation becomes even more compelling. 

Niagara Falls’ iconic observation tower rises 520 feet from ground level, but the distance between the top of the structure and the water of Niagara Falls Gorge is 775 feet, creating spectacular vistas that have made the landmark a legend since it opened in 1965. Diners can catch sight of the Maid of the Mist or Niagara City Cruises excursion lines crossing the falls’ basin like toy boats in a bathtub. Across the way, visitors to Cave of the Winds at the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls look like tiny ants traversing the attraction’s wooden boardwalks.

These memorable sights are available to every diner because, as its name implies, the Revolving Dining Room makes a 360-degree rotation every 60 minutes. Tables are next to the enormous glass windows, providing plenty of photo opportunities. Diners are treated to spectacular views as soon as they are seated, and the room slowly rotates as it frames Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, Ontario’s Niagara Region and — on clear days — a glimpse of the Toronto skyline. The falls are illuminated with color each evening, making a trip to the top of Skylon Tower after the sun goes down distinctly different than a visit during daylight hours. 

Reservations for lunch or dinner are a must, and the restaurant is accessible via separate elevators from those who are visiting the observation deck only. (All dinner reservations include free access to the observation deck that sits above the restaurant.)  

The view is the main course, but the menu offers a lineup of continental cuisine that spans entrees like filet mignon, salmon, roast chicken breast and rack of lamb, as well as a vegetarian and a vegan option. 5200 Robinson St., Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 2A2, 905/356-2651, skylon.com