This Stunning U.S. City Was Named the No. 1 Place in the World for a Sunset Dinner—Beating Iconic Spots in Greece and Croatia

There's nothing like dinner and a show—especially when you're on vacation, and that show is a spectacular sunset. In July, bespoke vacation company Journeyscape released its list of the world's best destinations for dining at dusk . 

"The rise of dusk dining reflects the way many travelers now think about their holidays. It is not just about seeing a place, but experiencing its rhythm," Rob Holmes , a North American travel expert at Journeyscape, said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure . "Sunset naturally changes the pace of the day. When travelers plan dinner around that moment, they give themselves time to sit, look around, and properly take in where they are." 

But it's not always easy to choose the right destination. That's where Journeyscape's list comes in.

The team at the company completed its research by first creating a seed list of destinations known for their dining, leisure, touring, scenic views, and outdoor experiences. It then evaluated each destination based on the number of restaurants with outdoor dining availability; sunset times from June to August 2026; sunset glow duration (measured as the time between official sunset and the end of civil twilight) for the same timeframe; and average daily rainfall. 

After reviewing the data, it named Sedona, Arizona , the world's best spot for a sunset meal. 

These Are the Best Times To Experience Sedona's Stunning Views and Weather

Over 40 percent of restaurants in Sedona offer outdoor seating. Combined with low average summer daily rainfall (0.7 millimeters) and a 27-minute glow period, conditions for dreamy sunsets are optimal. It's also worth noting that, based on Journeyscape's research, the average summer sunset falls about 43 minutes after the study's 7:30 p.m. dinner benchmark.

Dubrovnik, Croatia , came in second place. While rainfall levels tend to be somewhat higher (1.6 millimeters) and the average sunset occurs about 43 minutes after peak dinnertime, Dubrovnik's outdoor dining availability is one of the highest on the list—56 percent of establishments offer it. The sunset also glows for 31 minutes, so a slightly later meal could be well worth the wait. 

Santorini, Greece , rounded out the top three. Sunset timing skews late here, occurring almost an hour after dinnertime. Still, the island boasts a 27-minute sunset glow, and 61 percent of its restaurants offer alfresco dining (the highest percentage in the top 10). With its stunning sea views, a sunset meal in Santorini will be hard to top.

While two of the top three destinations are in Europe, U.S. travelers don't necessarily need to break out their passports to see something beautiful. Journeyscape's top 10 includes five additional U.S. destinations: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California; Bar Harbor, Maine; Santa Barbara, California; Po'ipu, Hawaii; and Monterey, California. See the full ranking at journeyscape.com .

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure