With so many of the city centre's best restaurants and bars competing for business, it's no surprise that diners have increasingly high expectations of the local social scene.
And in Newcastle, the new venues that have opened in the last pandemic year are there to meet those expectations by offering - quite literally - high-end wine and food.
3 Sixty at Hadrian's Tower; Roof Thirty Nine in Fenwick and ABOVE at the Vermont Hotel have joined a number of city venues that can add spectacular views to their list of attractions and it's these views that tempt diners as much as the food and drink on offer.
Here, we've picked out places in Newcastle where you can enjoy a drink, lunch or dinner against a backdrop of spectacular views of the city by day and night and alongside the places you may not have tried yet, we remind you of the old favourite where you can be late for a visit. If you're looking for more spectacular locations to visit, you can view more options here.
3Sixty at Hadrian's Tower
The new 3Sixty bar at Hadrian's Tower, Newcastle
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
The finishing touch to the new luxury apartment building on Newcastle's St James's Boulevard is its 26th-floor 'sky lounge' bar, which opened in May and was immediately booked for weeks.
It features a Laurent Perrier Sky Lounge and, as well as the heady mix of champagne, cocktails and fine dining, these 36-degree views are touted as the best in the area.
With landmarks such as St James' Park and Sage Gateshead, as well as Sunderland and even the sea, visible from these floor-to-ceiling windows, it's certainly hard to argue with that.
Roof Thirty Nine at Fenwick
New Roof Thirty Nine dining and cocktail experience opens at Fenwick in Newcastle
Newcastle's flagship department stores' also opened its roof in May, for an open-air dining experience offering "stunning views over the city's rooftops".
Before welcoming its first customers, Fenwick shop manager Kieran McBride said, "This is the first time we've opened this part of the roof and, with its east-facing location and views over Northumberland Street, visitors can enjoy views and an outdoor dining experience like no other in the city."
Named after the shop's street number, the new bar and restaurant then added music to the mix in June with the launch of its Rooftop Summer Sessions combining food and cocktails with live performances.
Rooftop garden at The Botanist
The views from the roof terrace of The Botanist in Newcastle
The Monument's bar and restaurant has a hidden rooftop terrace garden, which comes as something of a surprise to patrons who tend not to venture beyond its main bars.
The Botanist is known for its stunning views over Gray Street and diners always want to pack the restaurant's window tables for the best views, but climb up to the rooftop bar and you'll be rewarded with an unobstructed view of the monument - and you'll find you're almost at the same level as Earl Grey's head.
Chaophraya in the Grey district
Chaophraya Thai restaurant in Grey's Quarter in Eldon Square
(Image: Tony Hall)
Just a short walk from the Botanist is this Thai restaurant in Eldon Square's restaurant quarter.
If you've only ever caught a glimpse of its observation window when you've looked up from shopping in the hustle and bustle around the landmark, you'll be surprised to discover just how magnificent the view from its roof terrace is when you're inside.
It's a unique vantage point and there's something particularly appealing about watching people from a height while you go unnoticed by everyone passing below.
ABOVE at Hotel Vermont
Above at Hotel Vermont in Newcastle
Following pandemic delays, the hotel at the end of the High Level Bridge opened its long-awaited new rooftop bar and lounge in August.
The refurbished space - which can also be used as a rooftop cinema, restaurant and wedding venue - offers panoramic views that can be enjoyed in all weathers as one half is protected by a glass cover and the other is open to a canopy of stars.
Those who have admired the view from the roof of the adjacent Newcastle Keep will have an idea of what to expect here - except that the bar's 360-degree views encompass the historic keep itself.
Six at the Baltic
Six at the Baltic offers unobstructed river views
The rooftop restaurant was relocated during the pandemic to the ground floor mezzanine of the Gateshead Art Gallery, but diners are now welcome on both levels.
While the Riverside area, with its outdoor terrace, has its own attractions, it's rooftop Six that really packs a punch with its spectacular views over the raised quays along the river, including what has the best outlook of any ladies' toilet.
Six is open Wednesday to Sunday, with the Riverside serving brunch, lunch and drinks while the top floor restaurant serves dinner and afternoon tea.
Before you sit down, you can enjoy an aperitif in the adjacent viewing area with its panoramic views over Gateshead and Newcastle.
The Crescendo
