Many of us have come across a limp hotel buffet or seriously sad room service in our lifetimes. But there are some hotels around the world that have it all: they're great to stay at, and great to eat in. Whether it's celebrity chefs and culinary artistry, or Michelin stars and world-class reviews, or all of the above, these are the world's best hotel restaurants.
Rome has an endless list of heritage sites to visit – the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant’Angelo and Villa Medici to name a few. Diners can see most of these from Imàgo, The Hassler’s panoramic restaurant boasts of offering dinner in the stars. The Michelin-starred menu is inspired by Italian cuisine and focuses on using traditional and seasonal ingredients. Think artichoke and sweetbreads, spaghetti with sea cucumbers, clams with yellow tomatoes and souffle with pistachio and raspberries.
21212 at 3 Royal Terrace has been around since 2009. It’s stayed consistent in its success, receiving multiple awards and positive reviews from chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and critic Jay Rayner. Head chef Paul Kitching uses contemporary French techniques to produce European dishes. However, consider the menu a surprise as dishes change every week. There's the classic menu and one for vegetarians.
Aqua, situated in The Ritz-Carlton, is the only restaurant in Wolfsburg with three Michelin stars. The restaurant’s aesthetic is inspired by its name and aims to create a calming feel for diners. Head chef Sven Elverfield has created a menu consisting of modern European dishes, with ingredients mainly sourced from northern Germany. Dinner guests can expect foie gras with quince, breast of mieral pigeon and egg yolk poached in soy stock.
Take a stroll into Dam Square in the city centre of Amsterdam and you’ll find Hotel TwentySeven – home to Bougainville. Its menu has been designed by award-winning trio Tim Golsteijn, Dorus Floris and Lendl Mijnhijmer, who’ve created dishes combining culinary influences from across Europe. Bougainville is certainly not short of tasting menu options, but its most notable menu is the breakfast experience, which offers diners a selection of sweet and savoury dishes to start the day in the best way.
Experience some Art Deco elegance in The Foyer and Reading Room of Claridge’s in Mayfair, London. The main menu includes British classics such as chicken pie, lobster wellington and tournedos of beef. However, the afternoon tea is especially popular – serving diners unlimited plates of sandwiches and scones, as well as delicate pastries. Guests can also enjoy music from the in-house pianist and violinist while sitting under the restaurant’s impressive chandelier.
Delaire Graff Restaurant is the place for wine lovers to dine. The restaurant is located in Delaire Graff Estate in the stunning Cape Winelands. The option to dine al fresco offers guests the chance to view the vineyards from Simonsberg Peak. Head chef Kayla-Ann Osborn has curated a French-style bistro menu that changes with the season, but the restaurant’s signature dishes are langoustine, tortellini and chicken oysters. A dedicated menu is also available for vegetarian diners.
Expect a history lesson in British gastronomy when visiting Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, which holds two Michelin stars. Heston Blumenthal, renowned for his innovative dishes, has curated a menu inspired by historic cookbooks, the diets of kings and fictional dishes from British tales such as Alice in Wonderland. Everything on the menu dates to a specific period. Be prepared to tuck into the likes of rice and flesh from 1390, black foot pork chop from 1820 and egg in verjuice from 1730.
France is home to some of the best cooking techniques in the world, and you can taste them on full display at Epicure. Located in Le Bristol Paris hotel, this restaurant has three Michelin stars. Head chef Eric Frechon’s tasting menu includes the likes of caviar de sologne, langoustine royales and chocolat d’origine Cuba. Be aware, anyone hoping to dine at Epicure must follow the strict formal wear dress code.
One way to take in the city skyline of Hong Kong is to head up to Felix at The Peninsula. Diners can expect contemporary European-inspired dishes with specials including chef Juan Gomez’s amuse bouche, tenderloin tartare and lemon parfait. Felix also provides a brunch menu for those who are early risers. It also plays host to DJ and mixologist showcases – so entertainment isn’t in short supply.
If you’re keen to see the Acropolis, the Parthenon and Lycabettus Hill, head to Grande Bretagne’s roof terrace where you’ll be able to see all while you dine at GB Roof Garden. The menu is based on Mediterranean culinary traditions. However, this restaurant has a special dessert menu curated by pâtissier and chocolatier Arnaud Larher – making it ideal for diners with a sweet tooth. Expect award-winning chocolates, pastries and other French desserts.
The Rosewood Hotel Georgia's The Hawksworth has received multiple awards. Its menu comprises of organic ingredients and seafood from across Canada. While head chef David Hawksworth has deep roots in Vancouver, he’s also worked in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. Those who decide to dine here can expect Korean fried cauliflower, East Coast oysters and Dungeness crab risotto, paired with vegetables from the local farmers' market.
Indian Accent, housed in The Lodhi, is recognised as one of the best restaurants across Asia. Head chef Manish Mehrotra – one of India’s best chefs – has curated a menu that aims to showcase Indian cuisine using seasonal ingredients as well as some less common ingredients from around the world. Diners can expect pumpkin bitterballen, mud crab and kulfi sorbet. Indian Accent also has a huge range of vegetarian dishes including spiced corn muthia and lotus root shammi.
Isana Sushi Bar has tried to create a minimalist and comfortable atmosphere for guests. In fact, reviews rave about head chef Junichi Onuki’s amazing hospitality. The menu features Edomae sushi, which means the fish is cooked or cured in some way before serving. It's omakase, meaning diners put their trust in the chef, and you can also pair each dish with sake.
Kerridge’s Bar and Grill hasn’t been around very long in comparison to some other fine-dining restaurants. However, when the Corinthia Hotel decided to renovate its famous restaurant, it invited celebrity chef Tom Kerridge to reinvent the space. Despite its fancy aesthetic, the menu has stayed true to Kerridge’s love of classic British dishes. Diners can expect Sunday roasts, fish and chips and prawn scotch eggs, although there is also a dedicated vegetarian menu.
Head chef of Langdon Hall, Jason Bangerter, doesn’t need to go far to find the ingredients for the hotel’s award-winning restaurant. The menu is based on what’s growing in the chef’s garden and wild edibles that can be foraged in Langdon Hall’s 75-acre estate. Guests can expect to dine on regional favourites such as veal tartare, halibut and heirloom tomatoes. Notably, Langdon Hall offers a dedicated vegetarian menu and also caters to children.
The Inn at Little Washington is the first and currently only restaurant in Washington DC to have three Michelin stars. Head chef Patrick O’Connell serves up American-inspired cuisine using products from a string of local farmers. Diners visiting the restaurant – in all its country house glory – can expect dishes such as carpaccio of herb-crusted lamb loin with Caesar salad ice cream.
Lona Misa's walls are covered in Renaissance paintings. The vegetarian restaurant in the Ovolo South Yarra hotel, is the product of well-known chefs, Shannon Martinez and Ian Curley. Their collaboration has resulted in a Latin-American set menu which includes oyster mushroom ceviche, watermelon nikkei (Peruvian ingredients molded by Japanese techniques) and patatas bravas. This can all be washed down with kombucha, which they serve on tap, or one of the many Latin-inspired cocktails.
Maison Boulud stays true to Quebec’s French heritage offering local diners familiar food such as saumon en Bellevue and omble du Quebec. However, Daniel Boulud has incorporated his experiences of New York City into his menus, surprising guests to this fine-dining establishment with hamburgers on the menu. As a result, the restaurant boasts of ‘refined yet soulful contemporary French food’ which has given Maison Boulud its unique identity.
The Copacabana Palace is an iconic destination for those wanting to scout out the hotel that’s played host to vintage Hollywood celebrities. It was also where Barry Manilow conceptualised pop hit Copacabana. However, Ken Hom-helmed MEE – the only pan-Asian restaurant in Rio de Janeiro with a Michelin star – is another reason to visit. Taste your way through Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Think sashimi, nigiri, pad Thai, prawn tempura and an entire dim sum selection.
The Maldives is already considered a place of luxury, sitting against the bright blue Indian Ocean. Out of the Blue at Soneva Fushi is certainly making the most of its location. The menu includes lots of fresh seafood, including spicy tuna poke, tempura and banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancakes). Menus typically consist of Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indonesian cuisine, but diners here can expect a few surprises, as highly-regarded chefs regularly create secret menus for the restaurant.
Quilon, at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate in London, serves up food from Goa and Kerala cuisines. Head chef Sriram Aylur stays true to traditional recipes and practices, encouraging diners to share food to taste the variety of spices used in different dishes. Seafood sits at the heart of Quilon’s menu, so diners should definitely try the seafood moilee, prawn masala and the restaurant’s signature Quilon fish curry.
If you’re looking for a restaurant with historical significance, try Qunu in Johannesburg. The restaurant is situated in The Saxon, where Nelson Mandela wrote his autobiography. Consequently, the restaurant is named after Mandela’s childhood village. Expect contemporary dishes using homegrown seasonal ingredients, including pan-fried linefish, pan-seared duck breast and confit leg, as well as foie gras parfait. Qunu also offers wine pairings sourced from across South African regions.
If you're looking for authentic Cantonese dishes in a fine-dining environment, T’ang Court in The Langham in Shanghai is for you. The restaurant is fairly exclusive, serving only 20 diners per sitting in the a la carte area, as well as offering private dining rooms. Some of the recommended dishes include pan-fried wagyu beef, crispy skin chicken with black truffle and mushroom and braised sea cucumber with preserved plum.
Overlooking Madison Square Gardens, The Clocktower serves up a slice of British elegance. The Michelin-starred restaurant is located in the New York Edition and is under the guidance of chef Jason Atherton. The menu caters to the UK’s love of breakfast, serving up a breakfast and brunch menu including a full English. Meanwhile, the dinner menu serves up classics such as fish and chips, beef wellington and shepherd’s pie.
Restaurant Vendôme at Hotel Schloss Bensberg is known for its precise presentation. Since 2000, it’s been home to head chef Joachim Wissler who is considered first-class in using modern techniques and elevating regional German products. Here guests can expect to taste Scandinavian scallops, red mullet and sea urchin, as well as rübli cake (Swiss carrot cake). The restaurant has two Michelin stars.
Marina Bay Sands may be famous for having the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool, but it’s also made a name for itself as the home of Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda. The restaurant holds two Michelin stars, with the space designed by award-winning designer Yohei Akao. Diners can expect Japanese dishes made with the best ingredients sourced from around the world, including poached octopus and salmon caviar and sea urchin.
If you’re looking for scenic views of Swan River and Perth, head up to COMO The Treasury’s rooftop where you’ll find its restaurant, Wildflower. The menu aims to honour the Whadjuk Noongar people – the indigenous community who originally owned the land. It changes its menu according to the six seasons of the Noongar calendar, following the natural seasonal availability of Western Australia. Head chef Matthew Sartori uses native ingredients and foraging to form the basis of his dishes. The six-course tasting menu includes dishes such as manjimup marron, a native crayfish, and wattleseed crisp, made from edible local seeds.
QT Gold Coast offers guests a slice of Tokyo with its Japanese restaurant, Yamagen. Head chef Adam Lane has designed the menu around izakaya dining – guests share its signature kushiyaki, sushi and sashimi in a casual setting. Diners can expect hot dishes such as teriyaki chicken skewers and miso-glazed toothfish, as well as Hokkaido scallop and kingfish ceviche.
One way to admire Porto’s Douro River and the historic city centre is to visit The Yeatman Gastronomic Restaurant which offers a panoramic view. Head chef Ricardo Costa has stayed true to the local area serving up traditional Portuguese flavours, accompanied by wines from across the country. The tasting menu remains a surprise as it’s updated regularly, however as Porto is a coastal city, the restaurant boasts showcasing the best in seafood.
Altitude is an apt name for a restaurant you’ll find on the 36th floor of the Shangri-La hotel in Sydney. Its height rewards diners with a bird's-eye view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The restaurant's menu – curated by several well-known culinary names – aims to bring the best of Australia to the plate. Here, diners can expect butter-poached marron with fennel salad, triple-cooked chicken with charred baby gem lettuce and panna cotta.