Around the world, there are special restaurants that offer both unforgettable flavours and stunning views, from the mountains of Peru to the seabed of Bali, Indonesia. Here are 5 restaurants that will dazzle us all.
There are only a few restaurants in the world that can be described as “spectacular” in every respect. This applies equally to the food, the service, the environment or any other magical element that makes a restaurant stunning. In this article, we've selected restaurants from 5 inhabited continents (sorry, Antarctica, you don't qualify) that are spectacular in their own unique way.
AUSTRALIA: FERVOR
“One day we are in the Pinnacles Desert, the next day on a remote island off the south coast of Western Australia” - says Paul Iskov, chef and owner of Fervor. The restaurant changes with the seasons to take advantage fresh ingredients and local products, which are offered in a unique location.
Fervor is creating dishes with ingredients that were previously misunderstood or underrated, such as marron, quandong, bush banana and boab tuber. By working with local communities and businesses, the restaurant aims to pay homage to the traditions of Australia's land and celebrate the best of the country.
NORTH AMERICA: VESPERTINE - LOS ANGELES, USA
According to chef Jordan Khan, Vespertine is a „dreaming experience” that combines food, art, architecture, music and sculpture. The restaurant seats 22 guests at a time, who can enjoy more than 18 courses. Vespertine is described as „a place of uncategorizable cognitive dissonance” that explores the dimension of food that is neither tradition nor culture. The vision is physically represented in the two-storey steel and glass building designed by Eric Owen Moss.
EUROPE: ALCHEMIST - Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish chef and restaurateur Rasmus Munk explores „how theatre can enrich gastronomy”. His answer to this question is that the basic restaurant formula has changed little in the last 100 years. Munk's aim is to redefine dining through an all-encompassing sensory experience that lasts 4-6 hours and takes you into unique physical spaces. In his eight-page manifesto, the Alchemist describes how this restaurant is not a place to socialise, but a place to contemplate human limitations.
Guests can experience up to 50 “effects”, with drink pairings. These effects may have ethical or political implications, but taste, high quality ingredients and expert preparation remain essential.
DÉL AMERICA: MIL - CUSCO, PERU /span>
According to Condé Nast, this is “the ultimate destination restaurant”. Virgilio Martínez Mil-je is located in Peru's Secret Valley, 3,500 metres above sea level, on the edge of the ruins of Moray, and the restaurant's panoramic view is absolutely stunning and enchanting “You can meditate all day or pick potatoes, depending on how curious you are” -explains Martínez. His menu consists of eight courses, paired with infusions, for vegetables, focusing on tuber crops and cereals. Water is harvested from the Andean snowmelt, the Maras pink salt from local ancestral terraces. Mil is not only a restaurant, but also a laboratory of Peruvian culture, products and identity. Also interestingly, the team works closely with the surrounding indigenous communities, working together to find and develop new plants.
ASIA: KORAL RESTAURANT - KABUPATEN BADUNG, BALI
Koral is the first restaurant to introduce the concept of underwater dining in Bali and has been named the most iconic restaurant in the world by TripAdvisor in 2021. The restaurant is located in the Apurva Kempinski Hotel, drawing inspiration from Bali's tropical character and the heritage of the Majapahit Empire. Koral claims to stimulate all the senses at once, as the “complete bistronomic experience” is accompanied by a hypnotic soundtrack and the activity of more than 80 marine species in the surrounding aquarium. Chef Andrea Astone will present dishes and cocktails that draw on indigenous flavours and are made with local ingredients. Three tasting menus offer seafood, meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Experiential dining is gaining ground around the world, and restaurants that reimagine traditional food and the dining experience are gaining huge popularity. The restaurants featured in this article are all role models in this category, and we are sure that you will have an unforgettable experience at any of them.
