Top 16 Unique Dining Destinations Around the World
Photo Credits: @thiago.lopez
Dining is where we celebrate milestones, anniversaries, success, and most importantly, where we make long-lasting memories that we will cherish forever.
If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind dining experiences, look no further than these 16 unique dining destinations around the world.
Photo Credit: @thiago.lopez
Enjoy a romantic evening or lunch outing of an al fresco dining experience at The Grotto at Rayavadee situated beneath a limestone cliff on the edge of the stunning Phranang Beach with the Andaman Sea as its backdrop. Choose a la carte dishes for lunch such as squid ink linguini with grilled rock lobster, cherry tomatoes fresh chilies, Espelette chili pepper basil, garlic, and lemon.
For all you sunset lovers out there, book the twilight set menu dinner during golden hour where you can enjoy an intimate ambiance illuminated by lanterns and candles. Savor dishes such as wood-fired andaman lobster with miso butter, garlic, and yuzu and chargrilled pumpkin with saffron risotto, roasted garbanzos, carrots, turmeric mousseline, pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin crisps. Toast to the relaxing views with “The Grotto” cocktail made with rum, Malibu, amaretto, white mint liquor, and coconut purée.
Note: The Grotto at Rayavadee is accessible only to guests of the Rayavadee Resort or by special arrangement. The resort itself is located on the Railay Peninsula, which is accessible by boat from Krabi, Ao Nang, or Phuket.
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in Rangali Island, Maldives
Known as the world’s first undersea restaurant, Ithaa Restaurant lies 16 feet beneath the ocean with views teeming with coral, sharks, and stingrays.
The restaurant requires diners to be barefoot and arrive in tropical chic attire. Choose from a four-course set menu lunch, a seven-course set menu dinner, or a mid-morning cocktail hour to spice things up while on vacation.
The menu is seafood-heavy with dishes such as butter poached lobster, Oscietra caviar, and Carabineros prawn tartare.
Ice Restaurant, Lapland Hotels SnowVillage, Finland
Head to this sub-zero restaurant located within a Finnish Forest in Lainio nearby the ski resorts of Ylläs and Levi. Built out of snow and ice blocks carved from a nearby river, this dining destination is a real-life winter wonderland. This restaurant has a yearly theme and is open December through early April.
Take part in a three-course meal where you can dive into local fare such as reindeer carpaccio, Bothnian whitefish, and fried artic char sautéed in brown butter, parsnip, and brown butter sauce. For dessert, indulge in chocolate fondant, vanilla ice cream, and locally foraged bilberries.
After your dining reservation, head to the Ice Bar to enjoy a shot of Finnish peppermint vodka.
Photo Credit: @paigunna
Take dining to a new level (literally!) and revel in the tropical foliage of Koh Kood island’s ancient rainforest with a meal in a bamboo pod 36 feet in the air overlooking the Gulf of Thailand amongst Ko Chang monkeys and Asian golden weaver birds nearby and below.
Guests can choose from Gourmet or Luxury Picnics in the air that are delivered by a personal ziplining waiter. The Luxury Picnic is two-hours and can be combined with champagne and prosecco tastings and for food, enjoy fondue, caviar, crab canapes, rillettes, oysters, and a shrimp cocktail. The Gourmet Picnic option lasts for an hour and includes a charcuterie board and a selection of tea-size sandwiches. It is recommended to book in advance because there is only one pod available.
El Diablo in Lanzarote, Spain
Have you ever dreamed of dining atop a volcano? Now is your chance.
Head to Timanfaya National Park on the island of Lanzarote in Spain to El Diablo. The grill encompasses nine layers of basalt rock that are six feet above the mouth of a volcano with bubbling lava at 400 degrees Celsius. The meat is cooked through geothermal heat with hot vapor rising up from the volcano. Choose from chicken, pork and chicken skewer, or sirloin steak cooked in the heat of the volcano.
Diners can soak up the expansive views through the circular floor-to-ceiling glass walls of the vast red sands and volcanic rock surrounded by ”Montañas del Fuego,” or Fire Mountains (roughly 100 volcanos that sprung up on the island in the 18th century). Don’t worry, the volcanoes are dormant and the last eruption was in 1824.
Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya
Giraffe Manor is a boutique hotel set within a historic building built in the 1930s in the style of a Scottish hunting lodge. Located on 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in Nairobi, the hotel is part of the Giraffe Centre focusing on the conservation and education of the endangered Rothschild's giraffe.
Home to a resident herd of Rothschild's giraffes, the long-necked beauties frequently visit the hotel guests during breakfast and dinner times, poking through the windows in search of tasty treats. Guests can feed and take photographs and selfies with the giraffes, creating a truly unforgettable experience.
Photo Credits: @marcobaumstark
Head to Max's Restaurant at the Northern Light Inn located in Grindavik, a small fishing town in Iceland close by one of the world’s top geothermal spas, the Blue Lagoon.
Enjoy views of the Northern Lights from the restaurant during September and April with surrounding expansive lava fields. Try the restaurant’s Nordic-flavored dishes such as the Smoked Trout Tartare with blini, shallots, and capers, the Lamb Shank with mashed potatoes, beetroot, romanesco, and red wine glaze, and the irresistible Skyr Cake with berries and crumbles.
Hobbiton in Matamata, New Zealand
Hobbiton located in Matamata, a small town on the North Island of New Zealand, is well known as the iconic movie set of the films, "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit."
For foodies, the picturesque 12-acre set features The Green Dragon Inn™ and the Millhouse, along with other landmarks such as the Hobbit holes and gardens. Movie fans and food lovers can choose from multiple food tours, such as the Second Breakfast Tour where fans can enjoy a shared tour of the Movie Set followed by a delicious breakfast served inside the Millhouse.
Tour the movie set then set foot inside The Green Dragon™ Inn and sip on a complimentary beverage from the Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ range, then explore the inn and cozy up by the fireplace while you anticipate your breakfast feast at The Millhouse. Enjoy cold meats, fresh fruit, breads, pastries, and preserves, along with an assortment of a Hobbit's breakfast staples such as scrambled eggs, streaky bacon, potatoes, grilled sausages, and rosemary mushrooms. Enjoy coffee and tea in the rustic aesthetic of the Old Mill then waltz through the pathways of The Shire.
For a night tour experience, book the Evening Banquet Tour where you can indulge in a feast inside The Green Dragon™ Inn and wander the Shire at moonlight. Guests will view the 12-acre site, listen to stories about the trilogies, then head to The Green Dragon™ Inn and sip on a complimentary beverage from the Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ range and partake in a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit. After the satisfying meal, wander down the paths of The Shire illuminated by path lighting as you carry your handheld lantern and gaze at the Hobbit Hole™ chimneys smoking.
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant in Diani Beach, Kenya
Magic awaits at Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant tucked away in a natural coral cave thought to be between 120,000 to 180,000 years old. Diners can enjoy their meal while taking in the cave's natural beauty, which is softly lit by candles and lanterns. The restaurant also offers an open-air section, allowing guests to dine under the stars.
The restaurant specializes in seafood, offering a diverse menu with local and international flavors offering dishes such as fresh Indian Ocean oysters with red wine vinegar and onions, freshly caught lamu crab bisque with spinach, ricotta, and basil reduction, barracuda with roasted red pepper sauce, and lobster thermidor. Don’t forget dessert. Try the crepe suzette soaked in orange liqueur flambéed at your table and paired with vanilla ice cream.
Photo Credits: @chamonixadventures
Aiguille du Midi Restaurant, also known as "Le 3842," is located at an altitude of 3,842 meters (12,605 feet) in Chamonix, France. The restaurant is named after the Aiguille du Midi mountain peak, which is part of the Mont Blanc Massif mountain range, and is accessible by the Aiguille du Midi cable car, one of the highest vertical ascent cable cars in the world.
The restaurant offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps, providing diners with an unforgettable backdrop as they enjoy their meal. Its large windows ensure that guests can appreciate the stunning views from every angle.
Le 3842 is known for its traditional French cuisine with a modern twist, prepared by skilled chefs using fresh, local ingredients. The menu features a variety of appetizers, main courses, and desserts, as well as an extensive wine list showcasing the best of French wine regions. Some popular dishes include Raclette, Tartiflette, and Fondue Savoyarde, which are specialties of the region.
Under in Lindesnes, Norway
Under is a stunning architectural underwater masterpiece situated on the southernmost tip of the Norwegian coastline. The building is partially submerged with its 34-meter-long structure extending down into the icy waters of the North Sea. The dining area sits about 5 meters below the surface, offering 40 diners an unparalleled view of marine life through a massive, 11-meter-wide panoramic acrylic window.
Highlighting the rich biodiversity of the surrounding waters and focusing on locally sourced, sustainable ingredients such as sea arrow grass, sea rocket, and salty sea kale. Guests are surprised with the ‘immersion’ menu and can choose to pair with wine or order cocktails and beverages a la carte.
The Cave in Bali, Indonesia
Recently opened in 2022, The Cave is a 22-seat subterranean restaurant serving a seven-course or ten-course menu with optional wine and cocktail pairing. These courses are served simultaneously with seven interludes between meals projected on the cave's natural walls. Soak up the scene of the mesmerizing stalactites while you nosh on impeccable dishes such as a Hokkaido Scallop with pickle leeks, black radish, and kaffir lime, tiger prawn with napa cabbage, XO sauce, and buttermilk, Nori Cannelloni with ricotta, dates, and shio kombu, and much more!
Photo Credits: @jeremyaustiin
Gaze across the Indian Ocean as you dine amongst the treetops in one of seven bamboo nests. Nosh on world-renowned dishes such as Miyazake Wagyu beef and Alba white truffle, complemented by an extensive collection of premium wines and the resort’s signature Krug Champagne handpicked by the first Maldives’ Krug Ambassador.
Haab at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico
Enjoy an authentic taste of ancient Mayan culture in an immersive atmosphere at Haab located within the Banyan Tree Mayakoba resort. Haab's ambiance is designed to evoke the spirit of ancient Mayan gatherings with an open-air setting surrounded by the natural beauty of the Mayakoba resort. The name Haab refers to the Haab calendar, which is part of the ancient Maya civilization's calendar system.
Dishes are prepared through traditional Mayan cooking techniques blended with contemporary culinary concepts such as the "pib" technique, which involves slow-cooking ingredients in an underground oven. Try the traditional lime soup with fried tortilla chips, turkey, and roasted bell, ancestral water with sour orange water, xcatic chili essence, and xtabentun licor, and peppers, and the catch of the day wrapped with chaya leaves, egg, and red pipian sauce.
Vertigo Restaurant and Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Bangkok hotel in Bangkok
Take in panoramic views of the city skyline at the Vertigo Restaurant and Moon Bar located on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Bangkok hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Named as one of the world’s top rooftop bars, savor cocktails such as Devil’s Margarita, Queen’s Park Swizzle, and the Clover Club.
Hungry? Dine on dishes such as King Crab Tempura Maki, Crispy Chicken Burger, Pan Fried Gnocchi, and Nua Toon Lumyai (slow cooked beef short ribs with longan and spices).
Iris in Hardanger Fjord, Norway
Recently opened restaurant, Iris in Fjord, Norway (second largest fjord in the country) introduces gastrophiles to the expedition of dining and brings guests to the ingredients. Located in a remote region of Norway, the journey kicks off with a boat ride from the idyllic town of Rosendal complete with a small tasting at Chef Anika Madsen's boathouse on the island of Snilstveitøy. Diners then take a jetty to the Salmon Eye, a floating art installation covered in more than 9,000 stainless steel scales. The underwater 24-seat dining experience includes an 18-course tasting with a backdrop of the surrounding fjord, glaciers, and mountains. Chef Anika Madsen is committed to sustainability, innovation, and discovering new ingredients. Dishes include locally sourced ingredients such as juniper-smoked blue mussels, beets crab bullion, and peas of the ocean in the form of blanched ruck wheat.
Plus! A rooftop terrace (weather permitted) is the setting for one course that is grilled over an open fire. After dinner, guests are taken via boat back to Rosendal to stay and spend the night.